To ask if your kids play out?

[dizzybiatch]

My kids are 4,6 and 8 and we live in a really remote area. Only a few houses, everyone knows everyone (and their business!)

I let my older two play out. They are allowed to play within our little hamlet including the other house with kids, the edge of the forest, the fields and the road which is a really quiet no through road.

We have just come back from holiday apartment that was in the city we are from originally and whilst we thought the kids would love having lots to do (beach, visit friends and family, lots of museums, cinema, play parks etc) they have actually been desperate to get home to 'play out in the street'.

We were actually thinking we should maybe move because the kids are bored, that there isnt much to do but they hated the city place as they couldnt play out (busy rd, too young and def not street wise!)

We are now thinking we have underestimated just how valuable it is to live in a place where kids can play out when they are young.

How many of you live in a place where you allow your kids to play out at a young age and know it is safe etc and do you consider this invaluable?

It varies hugely in our street and we've been here 13 years. Some have been out in nappies. I started letting ds1&2 out at about 7. Ds3 plays out if I am in the garden but not unsupervised. He is 6.

Dcs are 8, 6 and 2 and the elder two play out. We live on the edge of a small town, on the edge of a small pretty housing estate on the edge of countryside they know a lot of children and their parents. We also are blessed with a really long front drive with an expanse of green, so initially their playing out was to the limits of that, but now they are older they can go further afield with the proviso they stick together, I know where they are going and dc1 wears a watch so they come back on time.

"Children playing together without adult supervision behave very differently"

Interesting 2blackcats. I'd agree with you, but take the opposite conclusion - I think its really valuable for children to be able to play together without adults constantly supervising.

OP, I'm glad you're seeing the benefits of where you live :) We moved from an extreme countryside location into a (very small) town, and dd definitely still misses the freedom of being able to just walk out the door into open fields, though obviously there are benefits in terms of access to friends / easy walk to school etc.

DD played out on the farm from a very early age with her 2 years older friend, - can't remember exactly from when, but initially they had to stay in the yard, then be within earshot, then by the time we moved just before her 7th birthday they could roam pretty free but had to stay away from particular places unless they were with grownups (machinery field & field with lake & river in it).

I let mine play out, and so do most other people in our road. They love it, although DD and another girl the same age don't get on because the other little girl is horrible and bullies DD and has slapped her around the face.

I didn't buy this house so the children could play out, I chose it for the garden, but it has been a real bonus.

We live in the city but in an area with broad pavements, trees, pretty pleasant really. The thing that I've noted over the past few years is that school holidays are when it goes quiet! During term, they're out, coming home from school. riding about, all those things. Now - well I can only guess that they're inside with (from early morning) the telly, the computer, or one of the gizmos.

I love that my kids can play out. Obviously from what they have said about their holiday and missing playing out it is high up on their priorities too.

It is something i will bear in mind if we ever move.

Mine don't play out. We live in the city, too many roads and cars. We have a communal back garden where they can run about and are often in the park after school with friends but no there isn't the freedom I had as a child

I let my 6 year old dd play out. She is very sensible, and there is an almost completely enclosed courtyard in our street. She knows not to go out the gate at the end, there are always loads of kids, never on her own and no cars. Whether I'll let my son so the same at the same age will depend on whether he's as sensible as his big sister.

I live a couple of miles out of a village, and borrow part of a field as my garden, unfortunately it is on the other side of a single track road, so I have to supervise my kids crossing, well the 3yo but not the other two (6&16) even though we average about 3 cars a day (the one neighbour further up the road and the post man beng two of those). The littlies are allowed to play out whenever they like, as long as they stay in the garden. The oldest has taken to wandering the hills this summer, I am envious as the littlies cannot walk that far (yet).

I let my 6 and 7 year old play in our cul de sac. They know their boundaries. There is a park right next to us but I don't let them go there alone just yet. It's good for them to have a little bit of freedom, especially when there is a lot of kids to play with.

I live in London and my kids have always played out.

To be honest, whenever I see Crimewatch and a kid goes missing lately...it's always in a remote country area.

You have to be sensible wherever you live

Trust you own judgement

No, I wish they could but it's not really practical where we live. We're not in a big city but we are on a fairly busy road adjacent to a VERY busy road. There's really no space apart from the pavement to play on and no kids out there either.

Plus, I've been giving them a little bit more freedom when we've had days out this last week and they've actually proven that they're not ready for it. They haven't listened when I've explained clearly and firmly how far they are allowed to go, they've just wandered off. They are only 5 and 7 so maybe next year they'll be a bit better.

I wish mine could play out more!! Kids don't seem to be allowed round here, although there's a large park nearby. I've let mine out by herself from the age of about 8, and although she doesn't play out with her friends much, she is far more independent than other kids and is all the better for it, in my opinion. I think the earlier the better - let your instincts decide what is best for yours and ignore those who disapprove.

Each to their own really. My dd has been playing out since she was bout 4/5. Shes loves being able to call on her friends in the street. I feel that after a day of adult time or boring things like food shopping she needs her freedom & play. We live in a cul de sac however if we lived in a city/on a busy road i think it would b different.

We live in a small village in north wales, all the kids play out here. Mine were allowed out to certain parts from age 7 (ie not allowed to river or waterfalls)
We live next door to the primary school so they have access to the school field, astro turf etc

Just realised this is an old thread! 🤯