AIBU - SS age 7 allowed out on his own ....

[boobyooby]

Just collected skids from school for their overnight stay and this is the second time the 7 yr old has told me he is allowed to go to his local park with 2 other friends at weekends with his mum.

It isn't far from where he lives although he does need to cross the road but I am being "old-fashioned" thinking 7 is a bit young to be unsupervised? I know I wouldn't let him go to the park round the corner from ours alone ......

Ds is not yet 6 but I can't imagine him going to park alone in just over a year.

Then nspcc recommends a minimum age of 8 for children to be outside it near busy roads alone.

What, like ever?

If you're in charge of him when he's at your is your call as to whether you let him play out. .. obviously also up to his dad. If i was babysitting for my dss i wouldn't let him play out at that age alone unless his dad was willing to take full responsibility for the decision if something went wrong - regardless of what dss mum does.

My 7 year old was going up to the local shop for milk, crossing one quiet road and in year 4 walking home from school, then at 9 walking to and from school. At 12 he goes to the park and into town at the weekends.

I suppose it depends where you live but lots of 7 year olds play out.

I didn't make it up - read it on the nspcc website

Skids is a completely standard abbreviation - it is not a 'vile term'

Just because it is "standard" doesn't mean it isn't vile. It is.

DD is 7 and there is no way I would let her go to the park with friends. She is allowed to play out the front but I can keep an eye on her from the sofa. I don't even think I was allowed to go to the park alone at 7 back in the dim distant dark ages before we mollycoddled children too much.

I went to school by myself and was always at the local playground or around our street in the village by myself from 6 years on, it doesn't seem strange to me.