To only allow my 5 year old to play in the garden and not in the street with other children?

[BlueberryCream]

DH and I live on a street that leads on to a busy road. Yesterday we had a visit from SIL, her DH and our 2 year old nephew. We sat out the back garden as DS (5) and DN were playing with the sand pit and trampoline. On our street there's quite a large number of kids ranging from babies to teens. 2 families allow their 3 and 4 year olds to play along the street with footballs. Often they leave their bikes in the middle of the road. I can't count how many times someone on the street has had to come out and remove the bikes just so people in the street can pass. Anyway, every time DS is out he often notices the kids round his age running up and down the street. So as per usual yesterday he asked if he could go out and play with them. I explained that the street led on to a busy road and how when he's a little older he could but not right now. However, said friends were welcome to come and play in the garden (as they often do). He was fine with this.

SIL thinks I'm an overbearing mum who needs to loosen the "apron strings a little." Apparently I'm depriving DS of the usual childhood of kids playing in their local street. If there's already young kids out I should be letting DS out too as it makes him an outcast and set for bullies.

Aibu by keeping him strictly to garden only? Does/would anyone else allow their 5 year old to play on a street where cars come and go - that leads on to a busy road?

Blueberry _ I know what you mean & I am letting my dd do something that will make me really anxious all the time she is away because as others have said, it's not about me & you, it's about allowing your children to have maximum opportunities in life. Honestly, if you are sat out with him he will be safe b ut if he isn't asking to do it often personally I would wait until he really wants to & then lay down your ground rules.

I live in a village but can't let my dds play out because the main through road is too fast and busy. No other children play out , although they may do in other parts of the village. I feel sad that my dds aren't having the freedom and fun that I had as a small child, in the holidays my mother would just let us out, and we would come home for meals. This was the early 70s though, far less cars, far more children, out with my older brother and a mob of other kids of assorted ages. I agree that 5 is too young without an older sibling, but I think you are lucky to have a playing out culture, and maybe next year you could start letting him play with you watching as others have suggested. The city street closures mentioned above sound bloomin' brilliant btw, so as suggested maybe setting up a closure sheme would be a really good idea for your street?