A poll about kids, stolen from GP

xDanniellex · February 2011

Saw this and thought it could be interesting.

How old will your (future) child before before you let them:

Have a cell phone?
(girl) Wear makeup?
Get ears pierced (yes, this includes boys)? What about body piercing? Tattoos?
Go out on a date?
Watch a rate R movie?
Get a job?
Stay home alone?

If you think of others, feel free to add them to the list!

xDanniellex · February 2011

Have a cell phone? 16, when they have a car and could be stranded alone.
(girl) Wear makeup? I was 13 in 8th grade. My aunt taught me how to apply it and then we went shopping. I'd like to do the same.
Get ears pierced (yes, this includes boys)? What about body piercing? Tattoos? I'd be willing to pierce my daughter's when she was a baby, something I'd have to discuss with H. Ear piercing for a boy is a bit different. I'd say 16. I think body piercing and tattoos should wait till they are 18 and sign for themselves. I had to wait till I was 18.
Go out on a date? Umm? I have no idea. I didn't date in high school. Maybe like 14, chaperoned. 16, double date. This is so hard.
Watch a rated R movie? I know I was younger than 17 when my mom let us watch Backdraft! Hot firefighter butts! Probably like 14 or so depending on why it was rated R.
Get a job? 16, but only if it didn't interfere with school. I got my first job just before I turned 17.
Stay home alone? Maybe like 11-12, but we won't be gone long. This will depend on the maturity of the child.

cschissell · February 2011

Have a cell phone? Not sure. Maybe 16
(girl) Wear makeup? Light makeup at 14
Get ears pierced (yes, this includes boys)? Whenever they want to What about body piercing? 16 Tattoos? Not till they are 18 and can do it themselves
Go out on a date? 15
Watch a rate R movie? 14 or 15 depending on the movie
Get a job? 15 or 16
Stay home alone? 10ish for short periods of time, 12 or 13 for more extended periods of time. Probably late teens for overnight.

Temp67694062501186 · February 2011

Have a cell phone? Well I'm going to say this depends on what life is like as she grows. It's hard to say. I mean, IMO, the purpose of a cell is so that I can contact her when she is away from me - right? To keep track of her, yes? To allow her a means of communicating in an emergency, of course. But... I don't know how I feel about her being off gallavanting (sp?) without a parent at younger than 15 or 16. I am probably sounding really conservative here... but I mean, I certainly wasn't off on my own ever until I was able to drive - and that happens to be when cell phones became mainstream so I had one - and it served it's purpose well. Things are so different already compared to when I was a teen... I just don't know.
(girl) Wear makeup? light makeup once she's in middle school - so 7th/8th grade for special events or dances and the like.
Get ears pierced (yes, this includes boys)? What about body piercing? Tattoos? Tattoos will not be allowed. At least until it's obvious that she's able to make an adult decision re: getting one. So if she's 26 and still living at home, well that's another story. haha. Piercings: ears are fine - once she asks for them she can have them - to an extent. Other body piercings will not be allowed - same rules to follow as tattoos.
Go out on a date? depends on her maturity level and who the other kid is - have we met him/her, etc. Real dates? Probably 16.
Watch a rate R movie? Depends on her maturity level and what the movie subject matter is.
Get a job? Whenever she wants to. But we will be keeping track of all money coming in and how it is saved/spent.
Stay home alone? No idea yet... my parents allowed me to stay home alone when I was 9 or so when they made trips to the grocery, etc. I seriously doubt I will be doing that. That's way too young. :-/

BMWwife · February 2011

Have a cell phone? They will definitely have a phone by the time they start driving. Before then I guess it will depend on what type of activities they are involved in. Are they after school a lot for sports or clubs? Are they spending weekends at friends houses? Are they staying home during the day (in the summer time) and do we have a house phone? My first phone was a trac phone that was given to my strictly on days that I was going to need it. I'd like to think I will do the same.
(girl) Wear makeup? I guess that will depend on the child. When does she show interest? Do I think she is mature enough? I didnt wear make up until high school and I dont see a problem with that.
Get ears pierced (yes, this includes boys)? What about body piercing? Tattoos? If I have a little girl I will get her ears pierced as a baby. Ill likely consult with my pediatrician but it will mostly likely happen before she is 1. As far as a boy goes I have no idea. I'd say maybe high school. IDK I'm guess it depends on sports and such.
Go out on a date? UGH I dont even want to think about it. I didnt really date until college.
Watch a rate R movie? It depends on the movie.
Get a job? If you want a car, then you need to pay for drivers ed, the car insurance and gas. So depending on what the driving age is (I'm thinking its almost 17 here now) about a year before hand. Again it depends on maturity level, and their ability to keep their school work up.
Stay home alone? I was a latch key kid in elementary school. Once again it depends on maturity level.

karebear304 · February 2011

It depends on the kid, totally and completely for me - especially having been a teacher and seeing the huge range of personalities. That being said I think I'll be fairly leinent so this are my general thoughts:

1. Have a cell phone? I'm thinking about 13, but they'll have restricted minutes and the phone absolutely, positively won't be going to school with them. We don't have a house phone though so I think they'll need a phone and I don't want them always on mine...so maybe 11!

(girl) Wear makeup? I think I wore light makeup for middleschool so that would be 11. I don't see a problem with it.

Get ears pierced (yes, this includes boys)? What about body piercing? Tattoos? Girls can have ears pierced whenever. Boys - probably high school. Tattoos are definitely when they're 18 and out of my house. Other piercings as well.

Go out on a date? Umm...16 I suppose. We didn't really "date" much in highschool - we were always all together so I assume that's how it will be.

Watch a rate R movie? I'd like to say 16 on this, but I'm sure they'll watch them sooner. Internet access makes it a bit hard to police that.

Get a job? Maybe 16, 17 - whenever they can drive b/c I'm sure as heck not bringing them!

Stay home alone? This one majorly depends on the situation. If I knew my neighbors and lived in a good area probably a lot sooner than I would if we just moved somewhere. Maybe 11-13ish?

buckeyethor · February 2011

The best laid plans.. I have ideas about what I would think for these things but I am not going to answer them. If I have learned anything as a parent, it is not to plan what you think you will or won't let your kid do when. It always ends up biting you in the butt.

MadameD517 · February 2011

Obviously this is all hypothetical, things can definitely change!

Have a cell phone? At least middle school
(girl) Wear makeup? Girl or Boy, middle school for light make-up, high school for the whole shebang
Get ears pierced (yes, this includes boys)? What about body piercing? Tattoos? Ears- I don't really care, whenever they start asking for them. Body, not until high school. Tattoos- until they're old enough to get them themselves which is 18 in CA.
Go out on a date? Depends. A chaperoned date is fine in middle school, alone in high school.
Watch a rate R movie? Depends on why it's rated R
Get a job? I started babysitting around 11. My younger brother started doing yard work for neighbors around 8. So I guess it depends on what the job is.
Stay home alone? For an hour? depends on how responsible they are. Alone all night- high school.

A poll about kids, stolen from GP

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