Okay. I don't think kids should be anywhere near abandoned places. I believe I have mentioned offhand how during high school how an ex and I photographed an abandoned school in G.A for photography class, and looking back I was not very mature at the time. While I didn't break or steal (Or even know what urban exploration was) if we had been caught I probably would have ran or something dumb like that. If you're a parent teaching your child respectful exploration OTOH that's great! Anyway just wanted to know what you guys think.



https://www.youtub...atch?v=cfoUNlbB2-k




Reporter at 1:20 being a tad nosy and that's stupid too.

I remember that.





Don't bring kids exploring.

Posted by Gothic Ghoul I remember that. Don't bring kids exploring.

Theres a lot of dangers in abandoned places that kids just don't need to be around.

No. Just no. That's one of the most irresponsible things I've ever heard of a person doing, and i'll say that with prejudice.

Totally agree.

There is some degree of stupidity in taking kids trespassing or into dangerous places Id have to agree, however, aren't most of y'all the same ones that advocate getting permission to explore all the time?


Also if I think about it I started exploring when I was about 7yrs old, normal kids did back then we didn't go staging shots of lonely chairs or making up ghost stories but as soon as I got my first Stingray bicycle, I was off to explore an abandoned yacht club at the local lake, boarded up strip mall when I was 10. Storm drains too about that time and the defunct Dallas water filtration plant. .


I spose kids today are too busy texting or playing video games to "explore". That's probably for the better.

I'm against the idea of kids going exploring unsupervised, and I especially try not to be seen infiltrating anything when kids can see so as not to give them the idea.

This is the front gate to an abandoned neighbourhood, and the sign has a picture of two boys who died playing around(?) inside.



But if one of my friends was like "Can I bring my 12-year-old along?" I'd be okay with it, depending on the location. They're probably safer in an abandonment with urban explorers who know what they're doing, than they are crossing the street on the way to school.

Posted by 2Xplorations There is some degree of stupidity in taking kids trespassing or into dangerous places Id have to agree, however, aren't most of y'all the same ones that advocate getting permission to explore all the time? Also if I think about it I started exploring when I was about 7yrs old, normal kids did back then we didn't go staging shots of lonely chairs or making up ghost stories but as soon as I got my first Stingray bicycle, I was off to explore an abandoned yacht club at the local lake, boarded up strip mall when I was 10. Storm drains too about that time and the defunct Dallas water filtration plant. . I spose kids today are too busy texting or playing video games to "explore". That's probably for the better.

Lol, that's about the age when I started. Cranked over a dozer at construction site.
The Stingray was a fun bike.
Didn't need any adult to show me how to get into trouble... most boys excel at this.

I have no kids but I would probably take them along if I did. Not someone elses but my own fictional kid can totally go along. Why? Because I was taken to construction sites to climb around with the instructions don’t step on any nails or turn anything on when I was like 5. And anytime we were out and about and came across something cool we explored it, with or without adults around

Buuuut I would also take my own kid to this playground: https://www.npr.or...-hammers-and-nails

I have a slight bias when I say this, but I think that as long as a kid is ethical (not smashing or stealing stuff) and responsible (not taunting cops or playing chicken on weak floors) then they should be fine. Having an adult with them would probably be safer but could get them charged with child endangerment. That's why I always just go with my brother who's 16. I definitely have a bias in this but then again we all do.

I'd say it's ok depending on the place and if there are not left alone.

Just use your judgement, were adult for a reason.

I would not bring my kids... let's say in a place where the floor or ceiling can give at anytime or where i can't control the "dangerousness".


As a kid i was going in an abandonned hotel all summer, i was like 8, my parents didn't know obviously but it's not more dangerous than going 60 kmh in a sled or to climb trees or jump from a cliff in a lake etc.. i mean come on!

You are putting yourself at risk of worse legal trouble if you bring a kid exploring. It can and most likely will be seen as endangerment of a minor.

Posted by Juxobe You are putting yourself at risk of worse legal trouble if you bring a kid exploring. It can and most likely will be seen as endangerment of a minor.

so you get permission to go in a building and take pictures of the peeling paint,

with your kid,

tell us what legal trouble are we putting ourselves in counselor?


what if you take them to a water park and they drown?


or let them play soccer and they break a bone?


Im actually interested to know what the police will charge you with


some of you urbexers think you are such outlaws!

Yo, my parents took me exploring at a very young age.


I turned out alright.... mostly.

Posted by becckeez Yo, my parents took me exploring at a very young age. I turned out alright.... mostly.

It's the part of you that didn't turn out right that interests me
I got in more trouble on my bike... at 6 yo you are immortal but there's still that damn top bar to fall on.

Posted by 2Xplorations tell us what legal trouble are we putting ourselves in counselor?

I don't know the exact laws of every state but as someone who is a minor this thread (http://www.uer.ca/...d=1&threadid=85734) caught my attention last year

Edit: Didn't see the part about getting permission you refereed to. I don't believe in it

When it comes to dangerous things that sneaky kids do, just saying "Don't" to your kid and leaving it at that is probably insufficient. It makes sense for parents to provide some degree of guidance on the dangers of asbestos, rusty catwalks, bad neighborhoods etc, but on the other hand it's bad parenting bc it might encourage your kid to do this stuff. Is it good parenting to avoid the topic completely so that in the event your kid (like you) does get drawn into an abandoned building he does so ignorant of the dangers involved?

I got in trouble with a friend because I informed his 18 year old son about his 4th amendment rights. I informed him that he did not have to let police search his belongings, his vehicle, his college apartment without consent. The kid had never heard this stuff before and my friend became absolutely furious with me for having this conversation - insisting that I was encouraging bad behavior... that somehow without this knowledge his kid would be less inclined to do the stuff that college kids tend to do.

Parenting is tricky and weirdly full of hypocrisy, and many parents confuse total avoidance of topics with good parenting. Your kid probably knows you sneak into places so inform him/her of the dangers involved.... including the fact that it's illegal, dangerous and that they are better off avoiding it.

Best to wait until they're over 18 until you actually accompany them.

You guys are giving pretty specific answers. I think the answer would vary quite a bit depending on the location. I have 3 kids (8,10,&12). One time there was a steel factory in town that we drove by and it was half demo'd and wide open. It was mainly just a open warehouse left. We all got out and just looked around a little. My 12yr old have been bugging me to take her to an abandonment. I took her to a little pump house thing I'd seen in the woods in my town. It was just like two little rooms. We saw two foxes, it was pretty cool. Of course I was packing just in case. Always very safe.

Now would I take any of them to like Weston State Hospital when it was vacant but still had security. Hell no. Anyplace that poses any danger (physical or legal) should be off limits.

How old is a "kid"? I think that as soon as a person is mature enough to not steal or vandalize locations and also mature enough to appreciate the finds then they should be allowed to explore. For some people that may be 15 or 16 years old and for other it may be 20 or 30 or may never at all.

Posted by goon1 How old is a "kid"? I think that as soon as a person is mature enough to not steal or vandalize locations and also mature enough to appreciate the finds then they should be allowed to explore. For some people that may be 15 or 16 years old and for other it may be 20 or 30 or may never at all.

I'm as biased as you can be, being that I'm 16, but I think that's a really good way to put it.. There are definitely kids who aren't mature enough and you can even say the same for some adults, but as long as you're mature and aware of what you're getting yourself into, you know the risks, and you're not going to vandalize shit, it really doesn't matter