Just let my daughter out to play unsupervised for first time....

[shudabinme]

Need some moral support, it's carnival day in the village, just let my newly 10 year old out with two of her friends on her own for the first time - loads of police about, kids, teachers, parents.... got to learn to let go! aaaaargh......

My kids are 6 and 7 and they both play out on the streets and pavements of my "Estate". They are known by everyone and have dozens of friends both male and female to play with. They're going to a bowling party with them in about an hour, tomorrow, everyone is doing a huge street barbecue, everyone is invited.

Except, of course, the kids that are "protected" from their environment and sit twitching curtains

It's so hard, isn't it? I remember being 6 and basically living a free range life but I don't feel like I can give my DS that sort of freedom but do want him to have some sort of free range. He has strict rules and it's worked well so far but I do feel all wibbly while he's out.

I was concerned enough about this to post a question in the pre teens dept.
Me and DD are moving to England in 29 days. She spent the day at her new school last week and made three new best friends
She told me that she'd walk home from school with her friends and then go into town for a look round the shops. She is 10.
When I was her age, I was a tiny bit feral I think. Me and my friends would go to Piccadilly circus on either the bus or tube unaccomanied.

A 10 year old should be fine going to play unsupervised with her friends. However I would not let a 4 or 6 yer old do this.

I gave my DN a snazzy 3g phone, she thinks im ace, when she stays with me and goes out I can track her with the gps on it

"you know its funny you said that cos i was just thinking that you looked a bit like hitler, but i was too polite to say..."

^^completelythe wrong thread, stupid back button

I guess it all depends on where you live, proximity to busy roads etc. We are quite isolated, lots of fields/green spaces/other kids so I am letting my 4 year old play out the back with her friends.

We did a rial walk from my DS's new secondary to home. About 30 mins.
He's got to cross a very busy A road.There's a bridge which he'd better use or I'll skin him.
I know there will be other boys walking back the same way so he won't be alone.
But it does worry me that a few years back a boy at another school(about 3 miles away) was being chased /bullied and ran into the road where he was killed
Must get out my sharpest knife to cut the umbilical cord.

Please don't get me wrong, my back garden is surrounded by other back gardens like one huge field and she disappears off that way (shouting distance) just not by the roads; always with someone ('s parent) within yelling distance. Usually her yells, she is soooo clumsy and will fall off/out of/into anything and draw blood. But this wasn't someone's garden, it was strange territory and scary (for me). She's not locked up like some Rapunzel, always out but on my radar - until today!

Proud of her managing to hobble home with blood pouring down her leg without panicking today - spectacular somersault over the handlebars apparently, whole of the skin off her knee! (chops up scooter into tiny pieces)

That sounds fine to me, I'd do the same with a 10 year old.

I have just recently started to let my 5 and 6 year old out in out cul-de-sac to play. There are about 10 kids who all play together aged about 3 to 8 and they absolutely love it. I drum it in to them all the time about road safetly etc, and wouldn't let them walk to the park or shop until they are older but they need some freedom and independence.

My 6 year old is allowed to play out on our road unsupervised, he's allowed to a bit of land at the side of our lane with his friends (boys, 9 and 7). I leave the front door and back door open and I can hear them playing. Well, I can hear the football hitting the fence or the cricket ball hitting the bat - does that count? ;)

I do the same alwayswright