My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join the discussion and meet other Mumsnetters on our free online chat forum.

Chat

What age to play outside alone?

14 replies

Snuzzle · 09/09/2020 17:40

What age did you let your children play out from by themselves?

DD is 6 and desperate to be allowed to play out alone but I’m really not keen.
We live in a cul de sac with lots of other children of similar ages who all seem to play without supervision but the street is still very busy. Almost all the households have at least 2 cars and it’s especially busy after school as people come home from work.
DD doesn’t like me sitting out in the street but I feel like there’s too many cars around to leave her particularly when she’s riding her bike as the cars come round a blind corner.

Wondering what other people do or have done in the same situation.

OP posts:
Report
Stompythedinosaur · 09/09/2020 18:44

I think ipt depends hugely what sort of area you are in. My dc played out from around 4, but we are super rural with very little traffic and a close community.

I would feel very differently somewhere more built up.

Report
LittleHootie · 09/09/2020 18:50

Not at 6 in the circumstances you describe.

I'm not sure what age. When they have good road awareness and know how to respond to weirdos.

Report
Waxonwaxoff0 · 09/09/2020 18:51

My 7yo does not play out and he won't be allowed until he's about 10 I think. The area we are in isn't great though.

Report
Pombearbuffet · 09/09/2020 18:53

10 or 11 alone. 8 or 9 if they’re with trusted siblings or friends.

Report
kidsdrivingmemad · 09/09/2020 18:53

I think around 8. My eldest has been walking to the shop on his own which is round the corner since he was 8 and plays out on his bike with friends.

Report
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 09/09/2020 18:54

I can’t imagine letting my child play out of my eye sight (baring school/ Play dates etc) until c.10/11- maybe that’s the London in me.

Report
GreyishDays · 09/09/2020 18:54

10 here.

Report
Jessicabrassica · 09/09/2020 18:59

Think dd was 6, ds a little younger. We're in a v quiet culdesac. 12 houses. Kids know everyone. Y5 was permission to cross the main road to go to the shop and y6 to go to the park with friends for limited periods.

Report
ShouldWeChangeTheBulb · 09/09/2020 19:03

Yr 4 or 5 depending on the kid in our area. Big city but quiet street.

Report
BadgeronaMoped · 09/09/2020 19:04

9 here, large village with one busy road. He cycles with his friends to various places but has to 'check in' with me at set times (I get him to wear a watch). I struggled to let him out at first but had to relax about it as I loved playing out when I was his age.

Report
Snuzzle · 09/09/2020 19:24

Thank you everyone, so glad the general consensus is to agree with me. DD will just have to put up with me sitting out there for the time being.

OP posts:
Report
SBTLove · 09/09/2020 19:27

If other kids all play out and it’s a cul de sac, the majority of cars will be residents who are aware of the kids, teach her road safety; no on road at all and even just watch from window.
MN is the only place I see parents not allowing kids out until 10+, it’s good for them
to gain confidence by playing outside.

Report
Snuzzle · 09/09/2020 20:23

@SBTLove the majority are residents but several of them drive down the road too fast and have visitors who come round the corner too fast. The corner is completely blind and lots of people take it at speed.
Staying off the road would be a problem as the pavement is very narrow and most of the time she wants to ride her bike so needs to be on the road. She’s very road safety aware, we have to cross 2 busy main roads coming home from school and she’s very sensible about it but that doesn’t mean she’d be safe and aware when having races with her friends.
I’ve no intention of saying she can’t play out but personally feel she should be supervised. I wondered if I was being too harsh as most of the others run wild with no adults around but reading most of the replies I think I’m right and should still be out there with her.

OP posts:
Report
DinosApple · 09/09/2020 21:30

My eldest went from 9.
We live on a through road though, so she had to cross the road and go to the woods two minutes away - obviously not completely alone - with a friend.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.