IT SEEMS QUITE NORMAL FOR KIDS AGED BETWEEN 11-12 TO HAVE A KEY......BUT DONT FEEL PRESSURED TO GIVE IN IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY TO ISSUE A KEY QUITE YET. WE GAVE OUR DAUGHTER A KEY AT ABOUT 11-12 BUT HAD TO CHANGE THE LOCKS 3 TIMES THROUGH MISPLACING THE KEY............TRY GOING OUT MORE OFTEN AND LEAVING THEM IN THE HOUSE AND IF YOUR HAPPY WITH HOW THEY BEHAVE AND DONT BURN THE HOUSE DOWN THEN GIVE THEM MORE LEEWAY. HOPE THIS HELPS