Camping outside

[wendle70]

8 and a 6 yr old (stepdaughters) camping by themselves in garden tonight (garden is not fenced off but in a quiet village). I'm a bit concerned but OH their dad thinks it's ok.

Tent in garden = back door unlocked. That's what would come to my mind. Would not do it for that reason. OK if adult is out there with the key.

"There have been LOADS of child abductions, sadly, in the last 20 years"

Have there? How many? Not counting, obviously, abduction by estranged parents.

I guess it depends where you live. I wouldn't even bat an eyelid, but I could safely leave the back door open and the lights on. Although, my garden is secure so...ermmmm..can he sleep out too?!

Oh man i am really worried now. Have left msg on OH phone. Not much more i can do. I cannot phone their mum..she and OH are already looking at court action over stuff with the kids and would just be ammunition for her and end of my relationship with OH. Yes he is leaving door unlocked lights on. Googled Sophie Hook and has scared living daylights out of me. Have made it clear to OH he is never to do this again. He just lives in this waltons esque world where he thinks things are so unlikely which they are but you can 't take the chance i say. Not wrapping them up in cotton wool either. Anyway thanks posters it's good to know i am not over reacting as have slight tendency to think worst case scenario.

When you say the garden isn't fenced off, what does it lead onto? Is there nothing surrounding it?

"He just lives in this waltons esque world where he thinks things are so unlikely which they are but you can 't take the chance i say. Not wrapping them up in cotton wool either"

You are wrapping them up in cotton wool, you know. You can't let your life be controlled by one incident 20 years ago. They will be fine. Good for your oh, I say!

I remember Sophie Hook, her murder shook me when I was a child.
Don't allow it op or at least camp with them.

I can't see what the problem is. There is greater likelihood of a Rta or illness to affect your child than an abduction from a tent.

Btw my dd who is a similar age is camping out tonight in a friends back garden.

Haklyut

I am not going to google figures at this time of night but clearly more than one! There was a well known one in Portugal and there have been plenty of others.
Don't leave young children unattended where strangers can get to them.
That's all.

First choice- why would you need to google? You must have the facts at your fingertips or you wouldn't have said there were LOADS......

Oh goodness, that is a bit young. Where are you op? Too far away to go back? I really don't like the sound of that at all.

Oh, go away Hakluyt. Really, just have a

I know of two in my local area.
Both killed by Robert Black.
Another snatched and barely escaped.
I am aware of the effects on their families and the communities in general. That is enough for me.

OP. Hope the kids are just fine (wherever they sleep) and that you manage some too. The likelihood is that they will be of course. But the risk, although very small, is obviously there. So, it's a judgement call. I wouldn't, that's all I am saying.

I know the risk is small, teeny weeny tiny. But its not just that. 6 year olds are just not that sensible. Well mine isn't anyway. And I would worry about loads of things including them lying there scared in the dark. I don't think its right or fair to put an 8 year old in charge either.

I often camp out with my 2 but i wouldn't let them sleep out alone either, especially not in an unsecure garden. I can remember Mum freaking out after Sophie Hook was murdered, we used to camp out a lot as kids and I don't think mum had even thought about it not being safe before then.

Hope all is ok.

"There have been LOADS of child abductions, sadly, in the last 20 years.
Maybe not from tents but still."

So. One awful case in Portugal, and a hideous serial killer who killed I think 4 children and who went to prison in 1986- that LOADS of child abdutions in the last 20 years.

I hate, hate,hate scaremongering.

I'd sleep out with them. I wouldn't be able to sleep knowing they were outside. I just googled Sophie Hook, how utterly horrendous. That poor little girl

The reason we remember Sophie Hook is that it was an awful thing that happened nearly 20 years ago. And there hasn't been anything similar since, despite millions of sleep outs,

Yup. Most people are so bad at assessing risks!

Saying that, 6 and 8 feels a little bit young to me to be out there on their own. Although I slept out with friends in the garden probably from about 8. Blackfoot unloved and light on, but parents in bed. Suppose you would call it a 'secure' garden.

My two have camped outside before and I didn't worry at all, but not when quite so young. I'd be more concerned that they might get scared and freak out. Although if your OH is in dispute with his ex then it's probably not terribly advisable to do things that he knows she probably wouldn't like.

Ours do this but I never lock my back door so if they want in they can get in.

I camped out last night with my children after reading this thread and was actually so freaked out I made the dog sleep between me and the tent entrance!

OP, I assume all was well last night?

I would say don't panic..the reality is that ar soon as it's dark and the first 'creepy' noise and they will be inside like a shot...but if not this really depends where they live. Mine have all done this from very young age, the tent is out from day 1 of summer holidays..youngest was 5 . Back door open and light on in sitting room. Have also sometimes lent a mobile to call me ! , but ultimately it's dads call and certainly doesn't need to consult dsc mum about his parenting choices when they are with him !

What does blackfoot unloved mean?

I wouldn't do this with no fence around the garden. A child could wander off and get disorientated

I'd think 8 and 6 are too young on their own.

Dd is 12 and she is keen to camp out with a few friends on a sleepover in our garden - we have a wall and locked gate. But I've been very unconvinced so far yet have no desire to camp out with then. Maybe next year...