Children playing outwith the garden on own...what age?

[Tasha]

We dont have a garden. They are four, seven and eight and they dont go out alone yet. I would say around twenty-one is the age they will be allowed

 

[Natsku]

If I had a fenced in garden that was safe (i.e. no pond or poison berry bushes etc.) then I'd let her play out there by herself now, though I'd stay near a window to keep an eye on her. But we live in a flat so no garden. I don't know when I'd let her play out on the street as I live on a main road, with an even busier road just next to it and the motorway only a ten minute walk away so I'd have to be sure she knows road safety and can be trusted not to go to the motorway. But I'll be moving in the next year or so, hopefully to somewhere thats not a main road so then I'd probably let her out at about age 5ish.
My little cousin is 3 and is allowed to play out by herself but they live in a very quiet countryside place so there's less worry about dangerous roads.

 

[beth_terri]

I live on a quiet street where loads of kids play out ad young as 3!! However there is still a road and the kids play on it with their scooters/bikes and far too many times I've seen cars fly down the street and slam on their breaks and horn as a kid has shot out in front of them. For me though I don't care how lovely an area is, how trustworthy an area is, my kids won't be playing out any time soon. And when they do ill be watching like a hawk lol. I'd say maybe 6/7ish outside the front of the house but not across the road. If I'm gardening or whatever in the front ill let Logan play out on his scooter and there's a path of about 30m long that he can scoot up and down but that's purely because I'm out with him xx

I let him play in the back garden though, its completely safe

 

[beth_terri]

Oh and I say 6/7ish because I've got some work friends who's children started playing out at that age, they are also friends with Logan (play in our back garden), so I know when he does start playing out he will be with them too xx

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

some of my kids friends go to the park alone....no, no, no, no.

 

[mum22ttc#3]

^^Even though we live in a cul de sac that is very quite the town we live in is a busyish one and we have a main road outside. I see a few 4/5/6 year olds walking to school on their own, the same as the park just down the road.

When I answered in an earlier post I said about 9 for the front garden, I see others are also talking about down the street, for me I think that would be probablly the year before she started secondary, so maybe 10/11.

 

[mumoffive]

some of my kids friends go to the park alone....no, no, no, no.

Isn't it sad though that things are this way now? I asked my mum if she would give us the same freedom now and she said no! Things have really changed and apart from peados the roads are much busier.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

To be honest, child sexual abuse case levels haven't changed. Neither have child abduction stats.

 

[sparkle_1979]

I dont let Ruby play out in my garden because our garden goes all around the cottage and I just wouldnt feel comfortable.

My Mum has a private garden thats small and fenced off and I let her play in her play house when the back door is open so I can shout and hear her ( also check on her less than every 5 mins )

 

[mumoffive]

To be honest, child sexual abuse case levels haven't changed. Neither have child abduction stats.

Yes I have heard this that it's over reporting from the press that make s it seem like it's more cases. Not sure if I believe it tbh. I think people have changed and there are less morals.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

To be honest, child sexual abuse case levels haven't changed. Neither have child abduction stats.

Yes I have heard this that it's over reporting from the press that make s it seem like it's more cases. Not sure if I believe it tbh. I think people have changed and there are less morals. Stats can be manipulated.

Mmmm, it's a bit overdramatic to think that stats can be manipulated. I promise you, based on the recorded cases, they haven't.

 

[mumoffive]

Although statistics will be accurate for abduction I agree and would be hard to manipulate , In the case of abuse though, it only refers to recorded levels or even convictions. Many cases of abuse may go unrecorded.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Yes, but it's highly unlikely your child will be abused by a stranger. Most abuse cases involve someone the child knows.

 

[Nibblenic]

We have quite a large back garden about 100 yards from a quiet road. Shes 3 now and i allow her out half supervised, in that she can play out but i'll be in the kitchen/conservatory where i can see her. She knows not to go to certain parts of the garden without a adult. We have a little wooded bit and she knows she cant go down there or past the garage without someone with her.

 

[mum22ttc#3]

To be honest, child sexual abuse case levels haven't changed. Neither have child abduction stats.

Yes I have heard this that it's over reporting from the press that make s it seem like it's more cases. Not sure if I believe it tbh. I think people have changed and there are less morals.

I don't actually think that whether the media over emphasis's case statistics or not is the important thing, I honestly don't think it is something they are able to make up however.
That they are making us aware and are now more free to publicise these facts and these cases are whats important. Even if it is rare it should be a reminder to parents that these things can and do happen, no matter who you are or where you live. Recent News Reports show just this unfortunately.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

To be honest, child sexual abuse case levels haven't changed. Neither have child abduction stats.

Yes I have heard this that it's over reporting from the press that make s it seem like it's more cases. Not sure if I believe it tbh. I think people have changed and there are less morals.

I don't actually think that whether the media over emphasis's case statistics or not is the important thing, I honestly don't think it is something they are able to make up however.
That they are making us aware and are now more free to publicise these facts and these cases are whats important. Even if it is rare it should be a reminder to parents that these things can and do happen, no matter who you are or where you live. Recent News Reports show just this unfortunately.

But that is my point. The media has put fear into the hearts of parents who think pedos and kidnappers are around every corner when they aren't. Maybe it's just me. I guess you learn not to trust the media working with victims of crime.

 

[Natsku]

Morals haven't changed much, people just don't hide bad morals anymore.

 

[mummy_ellie09]

I'd let Josh in my back garden, as its really secure - high fences, and a padlock on my back gate. Out front to me is a huge no no as although its a cul-de-sac and he'd be watched all the time, you do get idiot drivers flying in without a care in the world.

My sisters kids are 11, (almost)9, 7 and 3. The 11 year old is allowed out to the other side of he village from his house to see a friend who lives 3 doors away from me. The almost 9 year old doesn't leave the street where he lives, and is constantly supervised by my sister and my parents. The 7 and 3 year old don't leave the front garden, and are constantly supervised by my sister

 

[louandivy]

To be honest, child sexual abuse case levels haven't changed. Neither have child abduction stats.

Yes I have heard this that it's over reporting from the press that make s it seem like it's more cases. Not sure if I believe it tbh. I think people have changed and there are less morals.

Are you kidding? Our society is way more moral and progressive than it has ever been!

 

[louandivy]

Also we don't have a garden anymore but when we did I would often let her play in it while I cooked, If she had been older I would have def left her unsurpervised! But then it was also a very secure garden.