At what age?

[gazpachosoupday]

Looking for a bit of guidance DS is 10, (Yr 6) he has been playing out with friends who live nearby for a while now, yesterday his friend who lives slightly further away (15 minute walk) text him asking to come over, I said fine, but to get friends mum to text me just confirming its ok. His friend seemed a bit surprised I asked but did it anyway and I got a text.

But it got me thinking and I cant remember what age I was, when I would just go to my parents I am off to x house, see you later and the parents didnt really communicate. Also when I was growing up there wasnt mobile phones.

Can I ask, what age your kids started doing this?

My dd who is just turned 10 (Y5) has been doing this probably since the spring (so end of Y4). But I should preface that by saying that we live quite rurally and the two friends she goes off to visit literally back up to our farm. So she walks through our field, through a gate, another field, over a fence, down a farm track to their houses. It is about a 10 minute walk, but it's not the sort of place I would worry about her being unsafe. We mostly do confirm with each other as parents as a courtesy - just to make sure our kids are annoying them turning up uninvited. If we lived in the village, I probably would allow her to do the same, but it would make me more nervous.

As a child in the 80s, I lived on a (very middle class) estate and I can remember roaming about going to other people's houses, playing in the river, playing in a wooded area by myself/with friends, generally roaming about from about 5 years old. I know I must have been that age because we moved away from there when I was 7/8 and I remember roaming to friends' houses who moved away a year or two before we did. I think this was more the norm in that era, but my parents were quite hands off in a not very healthy way.

Thanks @mindutopia I remember doing the same, but not as young as that, but before 11.

I am not too worried about him getting to his friend's house, as he walks to school by himself and his mate is on the way, and he is fairly sensible, but its also the communication between parents I struggle with, I am guessing I will screw this up a few times

Totally depends on where you live. No way mine are going to the park alone at 11, hideous road to cross and it's often full of unsavoury characters. They go to town with their mates but there is always one parent who stays in the town of that makes sense.

We live on a busy road, when I was a kid we lived in a cul de sac so playing out was normal.

Y6 here and we’re just starting this, popping to a friends house, heading into town etc. Not all, as some routes are too dangerous. It’s good for them to build up their confidence bit by bit.

If I wasn’t too sure whether the other parent would text I’d make sure I was tracking DC on their phone and that they texted or called quickly once they’d arrived.