To think 8/9 year olds shouldn’t be doing this

No you misunderstood what I meant, I wouldn’t class this as neglect even though personally I wouldn’t do it. A few have said they feel their community is safe enough to enable this as normal practice. I am challenging that to say an 8 year old going out solo being viewed as neglect does not do anything to ‘minimise neglect’ as a whole.

Also there are circs where it could certainly be neglectful. Neglect is a complex issue on a broad spectrum.

In general I think it's okay but does depend on
A. The child
B. If walking with someone else.
C. The area.
D. Whether they know the possible dangers.

It's a shame that those government safety ads died out....I thought it was a good way to start a conversation. Charlie Says.....

@Mumtumtastic because coddling children and preventing them developing a sense of independence does not help them in any way. Accidents happen every hour of every day, to children and adults alike.

The current generation of children are statistically unhappier than those who preceded them, and interestingly, also spend the most time with their parents with far more limited independence.

They don’t cross the road, just walk beside it!

It sounds like he will be walking with friends. IMO you are being over protective

Which can happen at any age at any time. Adults can get hit by cars too.

Like I said, accidents happen. Sometimes an adult and a child can both be hit by cars so an adult doesn't always prevent an accident.

When does accompanying children outdoors end? 12, 14, 16, 18? How will they ever learn independence, street smarts etc if they always have a parent hovering?

@Mumtumtastic

I don’t understand why protective practices (like accompanying children outdoors) or parenting styles are so despised here.

Freak accidents occur any time. I have been hit by a car running a red light when I was crossing safely at the lights. These things happen at any time. I remember when the bin lorry mounted the kerb in Glasgow killing a mother and her baby in its pram.

That's not an argument to not let 8 year olds walk ten minutes from their homes to play football. You don't have to personally do it but there's nothing wrong with it, in fact there are plenty of proven benefits. It is only in very very recent history that many parents have started curtailing their children's freedom to do these sorts of things. I recommend Jonathan Haidt's research into the subject.

Children do not need to be accompanied everywhere outdoors.

I think it's too young yes.. maybe 10+ for boys but personally I'd say 10 is too young for girls, I know that sounds bad but I have a daughter and feel like I wouldn't let her at age 10 either but maybe if I had a son I would...

If my nephew had been practicing his road safety that day he would be dead. It was only an adult with him - an adult - that had sharper awareness and quicker reflexes that saved his life. DN did nothing wrong, crossed when he should have with the green man.

Perhaps I am crazy to think this matters? DN would surely be praised on MN had he been out alone for being such an independent and developmentally well adjusted corpse.

I don’t understand why protective practices (like accompanying children outdoors) or parenting styles are so despised here.

@Mumtumtastic

Nah there’s loads of forms of neglect.

An 8 year old walking ten minutes from home to play football isn't one of them.

A parent allowing something you wouldn't allow yourself doesn't automatically make it neglect.

Nah there’s loads of forms of neglect.

pretty tragic it’s so commonplace we’ve prob become desensitised to it as a society

When I was 8 years old I had a job and two kids

Those stats are definitely higher. I still don't see it as a reason why an 8 year old can't walk 10 minutes up the road though, because it can also happen at 10, 12 or 16 and even happens to adults. Accidents are accidents and can't be avoided 100% of the time.

You teach your child road safety and they learn by practicing.

Totally, there are environmental factors to consider too. Kids just aren’t as equipped to assess risk because they’re kids. They see an icy lake and think fun. The same reason why there was a big gov campaign years ago to deter kids from playing on train tracks.

Perfectly reasonable. You should read, “The Anxious Generation.” Over protective parenting is not good for kids and it’s better for them to be outside playing independently than glued to a screen in their bedroom.

I was 8/9 walking to and from school it was a long road aswell that was early 80's there was always 2 or 3 of us as we all lived close by.
I understand your anxiety over this I have two sons who are now young men, all kids are different ypu know your own child best.
Trust me there are so many different stages after this as they carry on growing into teenagers , I think 10 is a good age to allow this sort of freedom but as said earlier you know him the best.

Yeah you kind of ignoring what I’m saying about the much higher prevalence of road accidents involving pedestrians though. Plenty of stats on this and let’s be honest most kids won’t be paying too much attention to the road and crossings, especially if they’re out with friends. And there are still drivers who ignore traffic rules anyway and run people/ kids over. Dog attacks are becoming more common too, these are relevant factors to consider, it’s not just about dangerous individuals which I agree is not a high prevalence issue (but devastating for the families it does involve)

It minimises actual neglect.

@NovemberMorn

Certainly agree to disagree, I call it parental neglect, you obviously see it differently.

Only on Mumsnet would posters think an 8 year old walking ten minutes from their house with friends to play football is neglect 🙄

Absolutely agree. I have a just turned 9 year old and I wouldn't allow this. Year 6 is when i started allowing my daughter this sort of freedom and she's absolutely fine and very independent now. Year 4 is too young. My DS9 is sensible and mature but way too prone to distraction and thats ok, he will be safer in a year or two

Parents refusing to give their children independence is the reason I was still having to walk my almost 12 year old to school. There was only one junction to cross but at school run time there were cars parked right on the corner and it was difficult to see the traffic. One mum used to drive to the school from the next street over (and she wasn't then driving to work, she didn't work).
I was travelling 20 minutes by train to school when I was 9 and it saddens me that I was unable to give my DDs even part of that independence until they were much older because of traffic.

Its great that you are out constantly with your children but studies have shown that children who are allowed to roam independently are more active than those who aren't. And that's not to mention the mental and social benefits of independent mobility that will also positively affect children's health, decreasing the risks of obesity and other health issues.

Occasional trips to the park and sports events with families does not compare with the increased activity levels of children who are allowed to roam independently.

OK, but I've just seen so many comments about screen time and my point was that children who don't play out aren't necessarily indoors on screens. They might be at football club or ballet/swimming lessons with other kids. I am planning on getting my child a phone in probably year 6 and getting the bus to secondary school by himself in year 7 and we'll go from that sort of age.

I will never forget those poor boys who fell through an icy lake a couple of years ago. The youngest was only 6. No peadophiles or cars involved but something the parents probably never could have imagined.