Feb 24, 2016, 8:32 am
Last edit by: JDiver
Unaccompanied Minor Travel
Q. What is "unaccompanied minor" service provided by an airline?
As posted by a FT Flight Attendant: "The UM (service) provides escorted service on and off the plane, as well as handoff to the correct party. It also includes making sure the child gets the proper inflight service (food and beverages). It does not provide entertaining the child or supervising them."
Q. How old must minors be to travel unaccompanied?
The age will differ by airline. Call or read the website of the carrier you will use. If it's multiple carriers, many airlines will refuse to allow an unaccompanied minor.
For one example, read American Airlines' UNMR policy: Link to PDF.
American Airlines: Unaccompanied minor service
Our unaccompanied minor service is to ensure your child is boarded onto the aircraft, introduced to the flight attendant, chaperoned during connections and released to the appropriate person at their destination.
We won’t accept unaccompanied minors when their itineraries include:
Our unaccompanied minor service is to ensure your child is boarded onto the aircraft, introduced to the flight attendant, chaperoned during connections and released to the appropriate person at their destination.
We won’t accept unaccompanied minors when their itineraries include:
- A connection to/from another airline, including codeshare and oneworld® partners
- Ground / co-terminal connections (unaccompanied minors under 15 years, can’t use ground transportation alone)
That will also differ by carrier, just as connection and other policies will differ. American charges $150 for one or two UNMRs each way.
American Airlines:
- The unaccompanied minor service fee is $150 (plus tax) each way
- 2 or more unaccompanied minors from the same family, traveling on the same flights, will only be charged $150 (plus tax) each way
The airline generally requires proof of age for the child traveling alone (birth certificate, passport, etc.). The TSA will likely require this as well.
Q. What documentation do minors require for international travel?
Your unaccompanied minor will generally require his or her own passport for international travel.
Be sure your unaccompanied minor has a letter signed by both parents / guardians (or copy of documentation showing there is one person with sole custody) granting him permission to travel and noting who s/he will be residing with (and I suggest another granting the adults s/he to secure medical care for the minor). The letter should probably be notarized.
US Department of State:
LETTER OF CONSENT FOR TRAVEL OF A MINOR CHILD
Because of increasing instances of child abduction in custody cases, and a growing number of children who are the victims of trafficking or pornography, an immigration officer, airline, or travel company may ask you to provide some form of letter of consent if your child is traveling internationally with only one parent or with another adult, such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc. The sample letter below is a guide only. You may also wish to have the letter of consent notarized.
Link to PDF of sample letter.
LETTER OF CONSENT FOR TRAVEL OF A MINOR CHILD
Because of increasing instances of child abduction in custody cases, and a growing number of children who are the victims of trafficking or pornography, an immigration officer, airline, or travel company may ask you to provide some form of letter of consent if your child is traveling internationally with only one parent or with another adult, such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc. The sample letter below is a guide only. You may also wish to have the letter of consent notarized.
Link to PDF of sample letter.
Q. What if the minor is traveling internationally with another adult (accompanied minor)?
See the letter authorizing travel, mentioned above. As well, you can ask the airline to add a "TCP* note" in his PNR (booking record) to show s/he is traveling with another adult(s) other than both parents (one parent, relatives, friends). It might be useful to do the same for the adult; this also may help the airline to assure they're not assigned different flights in case of travel disruption.
* "To Complete Party"
Unaccompanied Minors
Jul 16, 2007, 8:51 pm
#46
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TA, Jeez lighten up and find out why I suggested what I did before accusing me of suburban paranoia. I was once a 13 year old girl, I suspect you were not. A girl of that age is going to be more comfortable next to a female. End of story. . Young kids are often shy around adults of the oppose sex.
.
.
Gotta teach them to flirt sometime
Jul 16, 2007, 9:08 pm
#47
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Yesterday ...
Flight delayed by several hours. FA upon landing.
"Please make room for a 14 year old who is at risk of missing his connecting flight and may have to stay unaccompanied at the airport overnight."
Scary ...
Flight delayed by several hours. FA upon landing.
"Please make room for a 14 year old who is at risk of missing his connecting flight and may have to stay unaccompanied at the airport overnight."
Scary ...
Jul 16, 2007, 9:13 pm
#48
Join Date: Apr 2007
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I had my 13 yr old son fly DEN - IAD - ZUR last year and he did fine the entire way and learned a lot.
I traveled the route often so I gave him all the details he needed and he had a cell to call his mom in States or text me in Zurich if anything went wrong. He made his connection fine, but before landing in Zurich, he was asked by a FA if he was alone. He said yes and she told him to stay on the plane after they landed.
I was waiting for him at the terminal and after many text messages; he was brought out by security saying that he is not allowed to fly by himself. I checked into UA’s policies before his flight and found that a 13 yr old can fly by themselves. He has flown many times throughout the US for vacations and sports, but never alone. I made a decision and didn’t think it would be a problem.
Back in Zurich, the security had me sign for him and gave me a lecture on having minors fly by themselves. My son was fine and thought the whole thing was not necessary.
For the return from Zurich, my son didn't want a chaperone, so we declined it during check-in. They insisted that a chaperone was required. After consulting the check-in manager, a chaperone was not required, but highly recommended. He went with out one.
After landing in IAD and going through customs, my son missed his flight and got a little flustered. He sent me a text message but by the time I got it he had already talked with a UA agent and got booked on the next flight back to DEN. The plane was bigger and his seat was better.
We talked about the whole situation when I got back and my son said it was a great learning experience and can't wait to go again. He really liked the feeling of the adventure and was very appreciative that we let him do the entire trip on his own.
I wouldn't say that everyone should send their child on a trip like this. Each parent must evaluate their child's maturity and make their own decision, but I thought I would share our experience.
I traveled the route often so I gave him all the details he needed and he had a cell to call his mom in States or text me in Zurich if anything went wrong. He made his connection fine, but before landing in Zurich, he was asked by a FA if he was alone. He said yes and she told him to stay on the plane after they landed.
I was waiting for him at the terminal and after many text messages; he was brought out by security saying that he is not allowed to fly by himself. I checked into UA’s policies before his flight and found that a 13 yr old can fly by themselves. He has flown many times throughout the US for vacations and sports, but never alone. I made a decision and didn’t think it would be a problem.
Back in Zurich, the security had me sign for him and gave me a lecture on having minors fly by themselves. My son was fine and thought the whole thing was not necessary.
For the return from Zurich, my son didn't want a chaperone, so we declined it during check-in. They insisted that a chaperone was required. After consulting the check-in manager, a chaperone was not required, but highly recommended. He went with out one.
After landing in IAD and going through customs, my son missed his flight and got a little flustered. He sent me a text message but by the time I got it he had already talked with a UA agent and got booked on the next flight back to DEN. The plane was bigger and his seat was better.
We talked about the whole situation when I got back and my son said it was a great learning experience and can't wait to go again. He really liked the feeling of the adventure and was very appreciative that we let him do the entire trip on his own.
I wouldn't say that everyone should send their child on a trip like this. Each parent must evaluate their child's maturity and make their own decision, but I thought I would share our experience.
Jul 16, 2007, 9:34 pm
#50
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And we're all assuming everything will go great - ie, the cell phone will work, the battery won't die, the person calling will be there to get the call etc. But what if it doesn't? And assuming all the other stuff not cell phone-related will work out as well.
That's a big assumption - and given the airlines nowadays, not a great assumption.
I'm not dissing those who were young & it worked out, but gosh darn, as a potential parent I would certainly value my kids at least the $75-$100 rate & pay it to make sure they were ok/backed-up. Not to sound too sanctimonious (sp?), but what's more important than your children? YVMV.
Cheers.
That's a big assumption - and given the airlines nowadays, not a great assumption.
I'm not dissing those who were young & it worked out, but gosh darn, as a potential parent I would certainly value my kids at least the $75-$100 rate & pay it to make sure they were ok/backed-up. Not to sound too sanctimonious (sp?), but what's more important than your children? YVMV.
Cheers.
Jul 16, 2007, 9:41 pm
#51
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Sorry to continue this, but if you're seriously recommending to the person asking the question that they go out of their way to seat their child away from men, I think it should be backed up by some good justification.
Exactly what hard proof, aside from mass hysteria, do you have to support the idea that single men on a plane are so dangerous that children should be purposely seated away from them? Last I read, child abuse/molestation is most commonly committed by people who know the child, and even family members. Doesn't that suggest the opposite course of action, seating a child away from his/her dad? I mean, if you're going by whatever flawed statistic you're using, you do apply it consistently, right?
Exactly what hard proof, aside from mass hysteria, do you have to support the idea that single men on a plane are so dangerous that children should be purposely seated away from them? Last I read, child abuse/molestation is most commonly committed by people who know the child, and even family members. Doesn't that suggest the opposite course of action, seating a child away from his/her dad? I mean, if you're going by whatever flawed statistic you're using, you do apply it consistently, right?
Please. This is 2007 with too many freaks out there. She was only stating common sense. Lighten up
Jul 16, 2007, 9:56 pm
#52
Join Date: Sep 2005
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Seriously, Miss djerikd (now 17) flew as a chaperoned UM each summer from the age of 10 until 14. At that point she didn't want to have to be around all the kiddies and wear the UM badge. So we booked late-morning flights, signed her up for EasyUpdates on her cell phone, printed up a terminal map of the connecting airport, told her to call if *anything* came up, and sent her on her way. She made it without any difficulty and continues to travel alone.
However, only you know what is going to be right for your 13-year-old daughter. The UM fee can buy some peace of mind, especially if problems arise.
Jul 16, 2007, 9:59 pm
#53
Join Date: Mar 2007
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you know this reminds me of my first journey alone.
I was 15.
In fact is was 3 weeks ago.
It was from Hangzhou-Beijing-Washington DC.
It didn't turn out very good.
My first flight was delayed.
Then my flight to DC was canceled.
I stayed overnight by myself.
Made a ton of international calls and finally landed a flight in the morning. (Most people did not get out till 5 days after the flight was canceled. I was lucky)
Went from Beijing to LA.
Late arrival to LA and almost missed my connection. (Ran all the way. Took me 6 min. to get through immigrations, customs and transfer terminals. Almost missed it. But set a new speed record.
Then to top it all off lost my luggage which did not turn up for 2 weeks.
Great first trip.
So my advice is yes get the extra service.
I was 15.
In fact is was 3 weeks ago.
It was from Hangzhou-Beijing-Washington DC.
It didn't turn out very good.
My first flight was delayed.
Then my flight to DC was canceled.
I stayed overnight by myself.
Made a ton of international calls and finally landed a flight in the morning. (Most people did not get out till 5 days after the flight was canceled. I was lucky)
Went from Beijing to LA.
Late arrival to LA and almost missed my connection. (Ran all the way. Took me 6 min. to get through immigrations, customs and transfer terminals. Almost missed it. But set a new speed record.
Then to top it all off lost my luggage which did not turn up for 2 weeks.
Great first trip.
So my advice is yes get the extra service.
Jul 16, 2007, 10:04 pm
#54
Join Date: Jun 2005
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This thread reminds me of years ago meeting my then 11 yo nephew at LAX; he had just flown in from OAK. He had flown as an UM OAK-LAX several times but this was his first time unchaperoned.
His first words to me? "Guess what? Technically I'm an adult."
His first words to me? "Guess what? Technically I'm an adult."
Jul 16, 2007, 10:08 pm
#55
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Phoenix
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I am just wondering how those of you that wont let them sit next to someone of the opposite sex deal with subways and buses?
this may be 2007 but I personally dont think the world is really full of perverts- we just have the internet to make us think so
this may be 2007 but I personally dont think the world is really full of perverts- we just have the internet to make us think so
Jul 16, 2007, 10:54 pm
#56
Join Date: Jan 2001
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May I relate two experiences I had as a CSR and UMNRs.
Several years ago a friend and I were traveling non-rev via ORD to SMF. It was the dead of winter and we had our doubts about going through ORD or DEN but we chose Chicago. Big mistake. This plane could not land in Chicago due to a bad ice storm so diverted to Detroit. We stayed in Detroit about two hours and the pilot then had clearance for Chicago again. He was in the process of landing and things were just so rough weatherwise that he diverted again to MBS (Moline, Bay City, Saginaw) Michigan. Unfortunately, announcement was made that we would be overnighting at MBS. When we landed we found out no hotel rooms were available (h.s. or college basketball tournaments in the area) and that the passengers' only choice was to "bed-down" in the terminal.
My coworker and I were tired, stressed from the weather and diversions and I quickly said "You know, they have to find rooms for the crew no matter what - why don't we volunteer to be overnite escorts for any UMNRs on this flight - we will not only help the UMNRs, we will get a room to sleep in and the crew will "love" us for it!!! "
As airline employees we approached the Captain and the purser who accepted our suggestion. No kidding, as luck would have it, we did secure two rooms where the crew stayed (about 45 minutes away) because there were two UMNRs on the flight. I guess the fact that we are females helped when the parents were called and spoke with us individually. So even other airline employees who "volunteer" can come in handy. $99 is now the current UMNR fee. It is high but worth it if necessary. The other story follows ---
Several years ago a friend and I were traveling non-rev via ORD to SMF. It was the dead of winter and we had our doubts about going through ORD or DEN but we chose Chicago. Big mistake. This plane could not land in Chicago due to a bad ice storm so diverted to Detroit. We stayed in Detroit about two hours and the pilot then had clearance for Chicago again. He was in the process of landing and things were just so rough weatherwise that he diverted again to MBS (Moline, Bay City, Saginaw) Michigan. Unfortunately, announcement was made that we would be overnighting at MBS. When we landed we found out no hotel rooms were available (h.s. or college basketball tournaments in the area) and that the passengers' only choice was to "bed-down" in the terminal.
My coworker and I were tired, stressed from the weather and diversions and I quickly said "You know, they have to find rooms for the crew no matter what - why don't we volunteer to be overnite escorts for any UMNRs on this flight - we will not only help the UMNRs, we will get a room to sleep in and the crew will "love" us for it!!! "
As airline employees we approached the Captain and the purser who accepted our suggestion. No kidding, as luck would have it, we did secure two rooms where the crew stayed (about 45 minutes away) because there were two UMNRs on the flight. I guess the fact that we are females helped when the parents were called and spoke with us individually. So even other airline employees who "volunteer" can come in handy. $99 is now the current UMNR fee. It is high but worth it if necessary. The other story follows ---
Jul 16, 2007, 10:57 pm
#57
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How British
All the comments above about peace of mind during irregular ops are fine, and make sense.
BUT EXCUSE ME, what exactly are you implying here, GalleyGal? We're clearly talking about a 13 year old girl, so let's be specific and not dance around the subject with Flight Attendant-speak, saying "passenger of the same gender". Are you saying that every male passenger is a potential child molester, so seat her away from them? What kind of suburban paranoia is this? Do you also recommend having the child take a different flight if a middle-eastern looking passenger gets on?
I don't know what you exactly intended to say by that, but I have the feeling that this is the same kind of thinking that's behind some airlines' stupid policies (which we've read about here before) to move passengers away from kids just because they're male. Frankly, it's offensive and exactly the kind of flawed reasoning behind so many airline/"security" policies.
Revealed: How BA bans men sitting next to children they don't know:
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/...n_page_id=1770
BUT EXCUSE ME, what exactly are you implying here, GalleyGal? We're clearly talking about a 13 year old girl, so let's be specific and not dance around the subject with Flight Attendant-speak, saying "passenger of the same gender". Are you saying that every male passenger is a potential child molester, so seat her away from them? What kind of suburban paranoia is this? Do you also recommend having the child take a different flight if a middle-eastern looking passenger gets on?
I don't know what you exactly intended to say by that, but I have the feeling that this is the same kind of thinking that's behind some airlines' stupid policies (which we've read about here before) to move passengers away from kids just because they're male. Frankly, it's offensive and exactly the kind of flawed reasoning behind so many airline/"security" policies.
Revealed: How BA bans men sitting next to children they don't know:
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/...n_page_id=1770
Jul 16, 2007, 11:07 pm
#58
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This incident relates to parents using a travel service such as Travelocity, Orbitz, Priceline, CheapTickets.com, etc....Even if you let them know the passenger is an unaccompanied minor, this information does not always pass through to the airline.
Recently had a parent who brought in her 10 year old daughter to fly via IAD to upstate New York. She did not indicate this was a UMNR on her Orbitz booking nor did she call Orbitz or United to indicate this in advance. Unfortunately she booked the last connection of the day and I had to deny check-in. We offered the next morning which she adamantly refused, demanding a supervisor, it "wasn't her fault", United "needs to honor the reservation", loudly protesting, etc. We explained all the ramifications, of course not intending to fly this child that evening. At the same time a man was checking in with the agent next to me (about 40 years old). He says to the woman - "Oh, I'm going thru IAD and I can make sure she connects to the flight there"......
Unbelievably this parent gets all excited and says to me "....See, he will take her to the next flight; let's just let her go...."......I couldn't believe what she was saying !!!! - just wanting to hand over this kid to a perfect stranger !!!
At that point I said FIRMLY --- "We are done here, Madam - For the Love of God what would I tell the Judge ????" Case Closed.
Recently had a parent who brought in her 10 year old daughter to fly via IAD to upstate New York. She did not indicate this was a UMNR on her Orbitz booking nor did she call Orbitz or United to indicate this in advance. Unfortunately she booked the last connection of the day and I had to deny check-in. We offered the next morning which she adamantly refused, demanding a supervisor, it "wasn't her fault", United "needs to honor the reservation", loudly protesting, etc. We explained all the ramifications, of course not intending to fly this child that evening. At the same time a man was checking in with the agent next to me (about 40 years old). He says to the woman - "Oh, I'm going thru IAD and I can make sure she connects to the flight there"......
Unbelievably this parent gets all excited and says to me "....See, he will take her to the next flight; let's just let her go...."......I couldn't believe what she was saying !!!! - just wanting to hand over this kid to a perfect stranger !!!
At that point I said FIRMLY --- "We are done here, Madam - For the Love of God what would I tell the Judge ????" Case Closed.
Jul 17, 2007, 4:09 am
#59
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Sorry, all, if I did overreact a little bit. But it was only in the degree of my reply, and not the fundamental idea, I think. And apologies to GalleyGal for my tone, which came from reading her brief original message. Perhaps I should have given you more benefit of the doubt. But I don't think I was wrong in my interpretation of your original post.
One final reply and I'll drop the subject:
When you tell someone STRONGLY to do something, as GalleyGal did in this case, to go out of your way to make sure your young girl is seated next to an woman instead of a man, it implies that to do otherwise would have very negative consequences. GalleyGal says later that this is because young girls feel more comfortable next to adult women in such a situation. This may be the case, but can that be the reason for such STRONG urging in her message? Will there be irreparable harm if a small child is not seated next to someone reassuring? I think not. We all know what the unspoken "reason" is -- the "danger" if she *is* seated next to a man. Would she give the same advice to a parent of a young boy? To seat him next to a passenger "of the same gender"? Or will you be honest and say what the real issue is?
Or taking the case that GalleyGal's advice is for what she says it is (a woman reassuring a kid more effectively), what outcome, in the best case, could justify doing this? Even in the case that a woman passenger (who you don't know, and could be as cold as an ice cube) is seated next to your child, by your advice, aren't you implying that if something goes wrong, that passenger now has a role to play in reassuring your child? I don't recall her volunteering for that duty, did you? I don't know if a random woman is more likely to effectively comfort a kid than a random man in many situations. I can see the opposite, where a child is heartened by seeing a male (or female, as long as we're being reasonable) seatmate not worrying about a stressful situation, whereas according to your stereotypes, the child would find it easier to let the tears fly in the presence of a motherly figure. Is one of these better for your child's development as a mature, non-fearing adult able to deal with situations? I don't know. That's for you to judge. But can you predict which will happen, or actively try to achieve that by the blunt tool of whether the seatmate is a man or woman?
And, on the other hand, what are you thinking of having happen on a plane if the kid needs reassurance? A hug? I think lawsuits have thrown that possibility out. Kind words? Couldn't a woman or a man could do that equally well? Although I have the feeling if a guy even tried to do that minimal gesture, you would be all over him with suspicion before he had a chance to show whether he was helpful. It kind of reinforces your stereotypes, doesn't it?
I'm not going to change your minds here, it's clear. You're convinced just by knee jerk reaction that seating a child away from a male stranger is correct. If it's for the kid's reassurance, how about asking the child what she prefers, and why? Or is that not the real reason?
All I'm suggesting is that you think about why you believe this advice to be valid, and ask yourself whether you're acting reasonably according to the risks, or just doing something because its been hyped up and that happens to be the one risk you hear about. Are you judging it in relation to the other risks that your child is exposed to, but you choose to ignore? Do young girls really have some reasonable cause to fear male strangers on a plane? Is there any evidence of danger, or any past incident where something even occurred, out of the millions of times that minors have flown unaccompanied? Anything besides, "well why take any risk at all" -- when you don't seem to adopt that attitude towards other things in your life?
Finally, this is exactly the kind of lazy thinking and ignorance that typifies in my mind the suburban paranoia, and "my precious child must be protected from the world":
So, Karen2: by that logic, do you watch your husband like a hawk whenever he's around your child? Because he's a male? Do you watch your kid on the playground and screen her playmates? Because you do know, right, that kids can hurt each other far more, psychologically and developmentally, than any nebulous stranger. Do you monitor your kid's internet usage? You do know that they're more likely to come across someone dangerous there than on any airplane, right? Or are those risks ok, because you didn't happen to read about them in Newsweek?
anyway, enough.
One final reply and I'll drop the subject:
When you tell someone STRONGLY to do something, as GalleyGal did in this case, to go out of your way to make sure your young girl is seated next to an woman instead of a man, it implies that to do otherwise would have very negative consequences. GalleyGal says later that this is because young girls feel more comfortable next to adult women in such a situation. This may be the case, but can that be the reason for such STRONG urging in her message? Will there be irreparable harm if a small child is not seated next to someone reassuring? I think not. We all know what the unspoken "reason" is -- the "danger" if she *is* seated next to a man. Would she give the same advice to a parent of a young boy? To seat him next to a passenger "of the same gender"? Or will you be honest and say what the real issue is?
Or taking the case that GalleyGal's advice is for what she says it is (a woman reassuring a kid more effectively), what outcome, in the best case, could justify doing this? Even in the case that a woman passenger (who you don't know, and could be as cold as an ice cube) is seated next to your child, by your advice, aren't you implying that if something goes wrong, that passenger now has a role to play in reassuring your child? I don't recall her volunteering for that duty, did you? I don't know if a random woman is more likely to effectively comfort a kid than a random man in many situations. I can see the opposite, where a child is heartened by seeing a male (or female, as long as we're being reasonable) seatmate not worrying about a stressful situation, whereas according to your stereotypes, the child would find it easier to let the tears fly in the presence of a motherly figure. Is one of these better for your child's development as a mature, non-fearing adult able to deal with situations? I don't know. That's for you to judge. But can you predict which will happen, or actively try to achieve that by the blunt tool of whether the seatmate is a man or woman?
And, on the other hand, what are you thinking of having happen on a plane if the kid needs reassurance? A hug? I think lawsuits have thrown that possibility out. Kind words? Couldn't a woman or a man could do that equally well? Although I have the feeling if a guy even tried to do that minimal gesture, you would be all over him with suspicion before he had a chance to show whether he was helpful. It kind of reinforces your stereotypes, doesn't it?
I'm not going to change your minds here, it's clear. You're convinced just by knee jerk reaction that seating a child away from a male stranger is correct. If it's for the kid's reassurance, how about asking the child what she prefers, and why? Or is that not the real reason?
All I'm suggesting is that you think about why you believe this advice to be valid, and ask yourself whether you're acting reasonably according to the risks, or just doing something because its been hyped up and that happens to be the one risk you hear about. Are you judging it in relation to the other risks that your child is exposed to, but you choose to ignore? Do young girls really have some reasonable cause to fear male strangers on a plane? Is there any evidence of danger, or any past incident where something even occurred, out of the millions of times that minors have flown unaccompanied? Anything besides, "well why take any risk at all" -- when you don't seem to adopt that attitude towards other things in your life?
Finally, this is exactly the kind of lazy thinking and ignorance that typifies in my mind the suburban paranoia, and "my precious child must be protected from the world":
Karen2 said: Absolutely, you did the right thing, esp. since your child is a daughter. Cell phone or no. And I don't care who is wounded over BA's policy of not putting minor children next to male strangers. Males comprise the vast majority of child molesters. Just one of the facts of life. I think BA has the right idea. Keeps the poor FA from having to be watching the kid constantly. Airlines used to put UMs together in the first rows to make life easier but I see them scattered these days.
anyway, enough.
Last edited by TA; Jul 17, 2007 at 6:28 am
Jul 17, 2007, 5:57 am
#60
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
As a single male who would DIE rather than harm a child in ANY way.. I sympathise with TA's initial response here......
Sure Karen2 - Most molesters ARE male... but then MOST molestors are family or friends.. NOT strangers - as already pointed out..... so what do you do about that? It IS a valid question, especially given your justification for policys of that type....
In any case, as I WORK with children I undergo a Police assessment each and every year..... do all the men you allow your kids to be alone with?
Yes, I understand such policies... and can grudgingly accept them... but I DO find it personally offensive.
Sure Karen2 - Most molesters ARE male... but then MOST molestors are family or friends.. NOT strangers - as already pointed out..... so what do you do about that? It IS a valid question, especially given your justification for policys of that type....
In any case, as I WORK with children I undergo a Police assessment each and every year..... do all the men you allow your kids to be alone with?
Yes, I understand such policies... and can grudgingly accept them... but I DO find it personally offensive.