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Parenting

how old were your DC when you let them play outside???

18 replies

RedOnHerHead · 25/05/2010 15:20

My DS1 is 5 and a half. We have a field/green at the front of our houses (terraces) its just the one street here (dead end road).
DS has an 8yr old friend that calls for him daily now, since a few days ago (when the hot weather set in) But I sit outside when he's playing out there. My problem is, I can't do any cooking/housework when he's out there, as I don't feel as though he's ready yet to be left to play without adult supervision.....

So.... is this a case of PFB, am I being too overcautious, or is this normal?
Do you let your LO's play out at this age???

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RedOnHerHead · 25/05/2010 15:22

oh....
the green is at the bottom of a bank, so I can't just check on him through the window, as it's below the level I can see IYKWIM....

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ShinyAndNew · 25/05/2010 15:24

I let dd1 play in the park with her friend. They are 6 and 8. You can see the park from a couple of steps away from the house.

RedOnHerHead · 25/05/2010 15:31

It's really hard having to let go - he's still so young (in my eyes)
He's a good boy though, listens to what he's supposed to be doing, but still it worries me.

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RedOnHerHead · 25/05/2010 15:40

anyone else????

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whatwasthatagain · 25/05/2010 15:42

Whatever you feel comfortable with. You know your area. I worry about my DD and she is 10.

RedOnHerHead · 25/05/2010 15:52

I know I have to let him play out at some point, but just worried that he's still very young. There's only this one boy that's older than DS, everyy other child is younger than him, so they're not allowed out to play yet. They're all 4yrs old and younger.

Maybe if there were more children I wouldn't worry quite so much.....

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LauraNorder · 25/05/2010 15:55

My DD is 7 and my DS is 4 (almost 5). I let them play outside. We live in a quiet cul de sac. Loads of children around.

They have markers they are not allowed to go beyond - I watched DS say goodbye to his mates that went beyond his boundary lamp post the other day. I was very proud. He just pootled around until they came back

darcymum · 25/05/2010 16:19

I think Laura made a good point, if you mark out the area he's allowed to play in so he knows his boundaries. It sounds like the road is safe-ish but give him some lessons on road crossing. Is the older boy good and sensible? You could always check on him every five minuets until you both build up some confidence. I think whenever you chose to first let him go out, even if its in ten years time you'll be sitting inside shitting yourself. Good luck.

RedOnHerHead · 25/05/2010 16:23

comsider me shitting onesself as I type. Just set some boundaries - stay on the green - don't go off the green.

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BallpointPen · 25/05/2010 16:24

DD was 6 (also PFB) and is still now(8) only allowed out with other children and is only allowed at all because we moved to house in a close with a cul de sac/no through rd. She has boundaries and a watch with a timer to tell her when it's hometime and she has to pop back to tell me if wants to go in someone's house.

Oblomov · 25/05/2010 16:49

Different for me. ds has played on his own since toddlerhood. thats becasue at the back of our garden is a locked communal garden, only accessed from the houses that back onto it. and a locked gate the other side, the council use to come in and mow. kids from toddlerhood to 9 play there.
since 5 i let him and his friend play out the front, on the courtyard. main road 25 ft away. but i can see them from my kitchen riding past on their bikes every now and then. my helicopter-parent friend was horrified by this. but there you go. each to their own.

RedOnHerHead · 25/05/2010 16:58

I just wish I could see the green from here - I can see it from the upstairs bedroom, but not from downstairs - would be so much easier if i could see it without having to cross the road.

Anyway,.... thanks all for your help - I'm sure it will get easier as time goes on.

He was just out there playing with 2 older boys, but they've gone out the back now - I won't let him play out there, he's too young for that, but now he's upset as they've gone and left him. I suppose that's just what happens when you play with the "big boys" though.....

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craftynclothy · 25/05/2010 17:03

As people have said it's what you feel comfortable with.

DD1 (3y 1m) has been playing out over the last couple of weeks in our back garden and both neighbours' back gardens. I'm comfortable with that because (a) I know she'll come back in if she needs/wants anything (b) There's two 8 year olds with her who would ask an adult for help if needed (c) both neighbours are also about checking on them occasionally.

She knows she is not allowed to go in the front gardens or the street (other than to go into the non-adjoining neighbour's back garden iyswim)

TulipsInTheSunshine · 25/05/2010 17:08

we live in the middle of the country in a cul the sac with only one neighbour who has kids of similar ages.

my 3 and 5 year old play out constantly, in fact dd is out now with the neighbours kids. They know if they go past certain markers they'll be in serious trouble and they never do it. If i want to check on them i pop my head out the door and i can usually hear where they are if i can't see them, which is rare.

RedOnHerHead · 25/05/2010 17:32

well, as i said, DS was out there til they went out the back. I let DS know he wasn't allowed out there in front of the older boys. 10mins ago they knocked again. They went to play hide and seek - older 2 boys went to hide when DS counted. I watched. Older 2 went through one of their houses and out the back. Left DS crying on his own. So DS now back in. They just knocked again for him and I told them he wasn't coming out because they left him. now I'm that DS can't go out to play as I can't have him out there in his own.

OMG Kids are such hard work. Far easier as babies!

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ruddynorah · 25/05/2010 17:40

my dd just turned 4 and has been playing out on our cul de sac (off another cul de sac) since she was 3. there are 11 children between the 4 houses on the cul de sac so there is pretty much always someone out for her to play with. it's a large square at the end of the cul de sac and i can see her from the kitchen. i don't stand there watching though. i just keep an ear out for her stabilisers rolling or her and her friends chattering.

cranbury · 25/05/2010 21:00

we live in a town centre so never but seriously thinking of moving ideally to a cul de sac my DH loved living in one as a kid

LittleSilver · 27/05/2010 21:01

Really depends on your environment, doesn't it.

DD2 is 2 and plays outside with DD1 (5). We live on a farm thought, 2 miles from tarmac, so only worry really is sheep!

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