Would you allow a 6 year old to go out alone?

But that is not the scenario described in the op even a tiny bit?

So not worth me commenting on!

I'm a Mum of a 5 yo, no dog.

DD plays out in the street.

No kid playing out on our street is ever alone for long, there are tons of kids always playing outside and we know them all. They're in and out of the houses, sometimes there'll be 10 of them running around in our garden, sometimes they'll be in someone else's garden or playing on the green

Once, DD fell over and grazed her knee. I could hear her crying and was already putting my shoes on but if I hadn't there were 2 kids already running up to the house to tell me.

Most of the time they resolve their own problems. DD is generally very good at handling arguments assertively without adult intervention and isn't easily led. She'll leave if she sees other children behaving badly.

Jesus. NO!

Absolutely not, and children should never be left in charge of a dog however placid the dog

Around 10yr walking around with friends in the area to a park is fine. Younger than that is too risky.

Not because of the age, or even the child
But because of other people
It only takes one, going through the village that one time and then DONE

No, no and no!

Yes.

I dont think it applies at all to a 6 year old being allowed put alone.

I agree with the principles of the article.

But not in the slightest does this apply to me for an unaccompanied 6 year old.

Have you read it? It's about the need for children to have unsupervised play outside, and how people overestimate the dangers of this nowadays. So it's highly relevant to the debate people are having above.

Lots of people are debating whether a 6 year old should ever be out unsupervised so it's relevant. And in any case, of course this kind of play I'm describing often involves a child starting out alone, or being alone for a bit while others have gone inside etc

Don't allow my kids screen time. Also wouldn't let them out in their own at 6.

The two are not related at all!!!

10/ 11/12, maybe. 6, are you mad to bring this article up?

Really recommend everyone read this https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/08/kids-smartphones-play-freedom/683742/

No. I would let him do the walk on his own if it were quiet and safe but not with the dog. Mine has asked and I’ve said no because all sorts could happen with a dog.

This is.a completely moot point!!!!!

The op says nothing about the 6 year old having a friend with her.

Are people being deliberately dense?

Out and about woth a friend at 10/11, we had multiple things happen.

Attacked by an older group of boys
Older lad tried to steal my bike- after us both hanging onto it for a while he kicked me between the legs
Man offered to pay us money to let him take pics of us with our own camera and keep the pics, we saw little wrong with this

There are many many awful people out there. They dont all have to be serial killers to present harm.

I was semi equipped to deal with it, with a friend, at 10/11.

Who the bloody hell would stand a chance at 6?

Same. I live in a cul de sac filled with grass and trees and the kids play out together and go in and out of each others' houses from age 5/6. In fact my 3 year old has already played out there with her big brother and other older kids, though I do check on her frequently, I don't leave her to it obviously

A 6 year old would have literally zero chance of escaping a vicious dog, group of older children, let alone a predator.

Heck, they'd need comfort if they fell over and their knee was bleeding.

Are some commenting on here childless? Or male?

Because nearly all mums realise that 6 is very young and vulnerable indeed, to any and all potential things that could go wrong outdoors.

Are you joking? I live in London and plenty of kids that age walk in on their own.

No way.

In broad daylight, in the middle of a residential street, in the summer with many other people out and about, you think they will calmly walk past a 6 yo being assaulted?!

Could you please link to the statistics showing an increase in rapes and sexual assaults on children?

Eee by gum, a childhood to aspire to 🙄

Yes.

Taking all emotion out of it, just look at the trends in the last five years re: rapes and sexual assaults, especially on children and young people.

Can your child successfully fend off one or more grown men enough to scream for help at six?

I agree, as was I.
We were a little put out that one of the neighbours sent their two year old to play with us, as we had to make sure to just stay in the cul de sac and make sure she was ok at all times.
But when she wasn’t out with us, we had lots of fun, and went all over, on our bikes or just playing in nearby public fields all day.

As I got older, I covered the whole of our village on my bike, pedalling around all the estates.

So virtually the whole world gets it wrong with their kids doing so?

Is it actually more unsafe that it used to be though? I would've thought any increased dangers were actually online