Karen Sullivan - You Want to Do What? - Instant answers to your parenting dilemmas

To cross local roads from age nine.

To use local transport during daytime from age eleven.

To go to the cinema with a friend from age twelve.

To be out with a friend in the evening from age fifteen.

What children can do:

Any age

Can babysit (although the NSPCC recommends sixteen as the minimum age).

Can enter a bar that has a child licence if you are with an adult.

Can see a U or PG category film at a cinema unaccompanied by an adult; you can see a 12A film if you are with an adult.

Can ask to see your health and education records.

Can give consent to surgical, medical or dental treatment provided your doctor or dentist decides you understand what is happening.

Can choose your own religion.

Can smoke cigarettes, but you are not allowed to buy them until you are sixteen.

Age five

Can drink alcohol in private.

Must go to school or be educated at home.

Age seven

Can open and draw money from a National Savings Account or Trustee Savings account.

Age ten

Have full criminal responsibility for actions and can be convicted of a criminal offence.

Can open a bank or building society account.

Age twelve

Can see a 12A film at the cinema or rent one without an adult present. Can buy a pet.

Age fourteen

Can get a part-time job, subject to restrictions ( see page ).

Age fifteen

Can apply to the Navy at fifteen years and nine months.

Can see, purchase or rent a category 15 film.

Age sixteen

Can buy aerosol paint.

Can enter a bar on your own, but can only drink soft drinks; however, you can drink beer, cider or wine with a meal when accompanied by someone over eighteen.

Can join the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines with parental consent.

Can change your name by deed poll.

Can hold a licence to drive a moped.

Can leave school on the last Friday of June if you are sixteen by that date or turn sixteen during the summer holidays.

Can work full time if you have left school, but there are restrictions ( see page ).

Are entitled to be paid the minimum wage for 16- and 17-year-olds.

Can buy a lottery ticket or use Category D gaming machines.

Can leave home without the consent of your parents.

Can marry with parental consent.

Can choose your own doctor and consent to medical, dental or surgical treatment.

Can open an Individual Savings Account (ISA).

Can consent to all sexual activity.

Can buy cigarettes.

Can get a National Insurance number.

Can apply for your own passport, with parental consent.

Age seventeen

Can donate blood without parental consent.

Can hold a licence to drive a car.

Age eighteen

Cannot be adopted.