Question about Letting kids play outside unsupervised

[couponkrystal]

I'm just wondering at what age you have let your kids play outside unsupervised. Is it different if they are in your yard compared to riding a bike on the sidewalk? Do you let them go to a friends yard? I'm trying to gage people's perspectives.

My youngest ds is 5 and has 2 friends down the street 4 houses down and 7 houses down. Currently we (the parents) will all be outside in our own yards as the kids go between or we all end up in front of the middle house chatting.

[Shwa Girl]

not an easy answer since so many variables today - busy street with people speeding in their cars, scary strangers -- you've heard all the stories in the news...
easiest answer is to have the other children come to your home and all the children play in the backyard

[Anna Michele]

I struggle with this everyday I like to be outside with them especially if they are in the front. When riding bikes I like them to stay corner to corner where I can see them. The older ones want to go around the block but I panic from one min thr turn til they pop out the other end so I d rather they didn't
Im no help lol
I try to take them.out and anout walk when we can and to the park often especially now the weather is nice again

[maggiespice]

To my recollection, I don't think I let my DS out of my sight until he was at least 16!!! LOLOLOL! Kidding! Seriously, I never was comfortable if I could not see him when he was playing outside as a youngster. I think I started to give a little more freedom when he hit maybe 8- 9 ish or so. I have to admit was the very overprotective type.

[walkonby]

To my recollection, I don't think I let my DS out of my sight until he was at least 16!!! LOLOLOL! Kidding! Seriously, I never was comfortable if I could not see him when he was playing outside as a youngster. I think I started to give a little more freedom when he hit maybe 8- 9 ish or so. I have to admit was the very overprotective type.

thanks, I needed to hear that! ( until he was at least 16!! ) I was kind of a hovering parent as well with my 3, but you know what? They are precious and it was my job to protect them so they never strayed too far out of my sight.

OP whatever you feel comfortable with should be the guide. Other parents rules and practices just may be either too strict or too relaxed. Good luck.

[SnowFlakey]

Hard question to answer. You need to consider what kind of street you live on. If it is a quiet street with only the résidents using it, then i would say let your child go to their friends place only if you are there to Watch them leave and arrive. Make sure the other child`s parents do the same.

Ifyou live on a busy street, definitely do not let your child go alone until about 8-9 years old and watch them arrive.

At which age should we start to grant them freedoms? Tough question, but im a believer that minor freedoms should be granted early, one freedom at a time. Yes, you will worry and be a pack of nerve but children need to learn and gain confidence.

[Cake]

We live on the river. I think he was 12 before he was allowed in the backyard alone...LOL

[dededi]

Really tough one. My DDS were always supervised until about 10, and then only allowed to go to friends houses if they called me when they got there. We lived near a park and always worried if they wanted to take that as a short cut to a friends house. I was so bad when my oldest got her license at 19 i couldn't sleep until she got home.

[SnowFlakey]

Above all, it would be at the parent`s discretion. They know their children best. There are no set rules.

[Frugalbigmama]

We live on the river. I think he was 12 before he was allowed in the backyard alone...LOL

When we lived on the river we had a 2-tiered yard. DS was not allowed on the river tier without an adult and his lifejacket. He wasn't allowed outside alone regardless but the lifejacket was a must. I wasn't taking any chances. ( he was 5 when we moved but I'm sure I would have never let him on the river tier alone till he was 16 either lol)