AIBU children playing outside

[Stubbornmare]

AIBU to think my neighbours children aged between 3-8 should be supervised when playing out?

My DC play out the front, and I always watch them. Most of the time I'm the only parent outside. The other day one of the parents was knocking on doors trying to find her 3 year old DD she has a habit of wondering into people's houses without telling her mum .

Our street is not secure, there is a road and people passing through to get to the shops.

[RainbowsAndUnicorn]

YANBU, children that age need supervision.

It seems to be very common though, out of sight out of mind springs to mind.

[DesignedForLife]

3 year old YANBU, older kids fine (but shouldn't be responsible for a toddler)

[ExplodedCloud]

I supervise my 6 year old from the sofa Quiet dead end and rules about staying in sight.

[ThePigletatwork]

Kids used to play outside on their own when I was a kid, but then there wasn't as much traffic then, or gangs of rampaging child-molesters (apparently).

[ShowMeWhatYouGot]

Do you mean this for the back garden too :S

[WorraLiberty]

YANBU regarding the 3yr old

The 8yr old should be fine, unless untrustworthy and unlikely to stick to rules.

[CopperRose]

Mine were playing out unsupervised from about 4 - it was a quiet cul-de-sac with loads of kids.

It all depends on the location & environment tbh.

[SheSaidHeSaid]

YANBU.

Our neighbours kids play in our road and even though they're older I've lost count of the number of times they've run out in front of cars whilst unsupervised.

[CigarsofthePharoahs]

I wouldn't out the front of our house. There's a big grassy area, but our road is constantly being used as a turn around for people who've come off the wrong exit on the roundabout. They zip up the road so fast!
In my secure back garden, no problem.

[megletthesecond]

It depends. If it's on a road then yanbu.

But our old house was opposite a green so the little ones could play out with the big kids with minimal adult supervision.

[Daydream007]

YANBU. They are too young.

[CopperRose]

Do you think 8 is too young to play out Daydream?

[bigbluebus]

DS was allowed to play out in a group unsupervised from the age of 5 but we were at the end of a cul de sac and he wasn't allowed to go around the corner out of sight. I watch from the window periodically to check they were all OK - the other children weren't supervised by their parents,

Now the cul de sac has been extended and the road is a lot busier due to there being 25 more houses - so another 50 or so cars. I regularly see young children playing out who are definitely out of sight of their houses/parents and some of them are out until 9pm even when it is dark. I don't feel that is appropriate given that the street is now much busier and they run off the pavements without looking and run around on the driveways and gardens of people who don't have children.

[NabobsFromNobHill]

I have under 8 and they play outside unsupervised. Older than 3 though.

Not really your business though, is it? You do you, let them be.

[RedSandYellowSand]

This is fascinating. Extending it a bit, what age to cross a couple of small roads (10mph limit) and playing at the park?

[MsJamieFraser]

Depends on the area, and the child, ds1 used to play out with the front door open from 3/4 years of age, as do all the kids here. We allowed ds2 last year when he was 6

[JustMumNowNotMe]

redsand DD has played out/walked to the shop/gone to the park since 8 years, when I was convinced she was sensible enough to cross the one road it required. She's very nearly 10 now and it's never been an issue .

[arethereanyleftatall]

Really depends on the road.
I'm gutted we don't live on a quiet culdesac where children from all the houses could play out. Fond memory of mine from childhood. If I did, I'd probably organise a Rota of one parent each time to sit at the entrance of the road.

[AwaywiththePixies27]

YNBU re the 3yo. YABabitU about the 8yo. Especially if it's only in the back garden.

My DS is 8 and I supervise him in the back garden but he has SNs and has been known to do a Houdini act before when my back has been turned. I dont sp much supervise my 11yo but I do watch her because we live in a rough area so cant just let her go and play on the park with her mates like me and my cousins used to.

[Itaintme]

The 8 year old fine.The 3 year old is a bit young.

[BroomHandledMouser]

I think it depends TBH.

Main road, traffic and lots of potential risks then yanbu.

However, a quiet village road with hardly any traffic and a lecture on staying in site then yabu.

Mine are 5 & 7 and luckily we have the latter. They play out the front most days in sunny weather, often with other children from the lane

[Sweets101]

Yanbu, we have a group of young children down the road (around 5?) riding round and round on bikes. On the road. Residential fairly quiet, but there are cars parked both sides and the children are pulling out to 'race' cars, i saw one when a car had reversed around a corner the lad took off and cycle and tried to cycle up the side of it!
Parents are inside with the door shut.
I let my 8yo out but turns out she can't be trusted.

[AwaywiththePixies27]

Hmm. I don't know. We live on a quite road considering.

Still didn't stop one silly mare from hurtling down the road and the sharp bend like she was in the F1 and nearly knocking a bemused Away flying. A child perhaps wouldn't have been able to react as quick as I did.

[Stubbornmare]

Thank for all your comments. The street is big and off a main road. It's not a nice area, the town has a reputation for anti social behavior.

The kids play football and the majority think nothing of wondering into the road to get their ball. The younger ones often wonder off round the corner, walking along the path of the main road all by themselves.

I can't help but think it's an accident waiting to happen TBH.

[halcyondays]

3 yes, 8 no.