To think that an 8 year old is far too young to be responsible for two 4 year olds and an 8 year old in an unsecured park.

[Aeroflotgirl]

I went to the park with my ds 4, to the park at about 7 pm, there I spotted a man with a bunch of kids, and thought some were with him. After a while he left the park with his ds, it transpired from the kids telling me voluntarily that the oldest child who was 8 was in charge of a bunch of very young children, which I feel is totally wrong, and irresponsible of the parents of these kids. I left at 7.30 and the kids were still playing. The 4 year old described where he lived, it was not near.

Surely this is not safe and fair on this 8 year old.

I probably will and will be armed with my phone. SW said even an 8 year out on their own at that time of night was not acceptable, let alone with all those kids.

Glad to hear you got sensible advice from the SW and that you'll follow up OP. I hope the family/ families are found and the situation is addressed.

I think that's a bit ridiculous that the SW said even an 8 year old alone at that time of the night was not acceptable - half seven is not that late!

I think that's a bit ridiculous that the SW said even an 8 year old alone at that time of the night was not acceptable - half seven is not that late!

I would just mind my own business to be honest. I'm sure the police have better things to do.

" I'm sure the police have better things to do."

We don't know that. And neither would the police unless they investigate.

Erm I will take the professional SW advice I think.

Let the Police decide that, not some layperson, they are also responsible for safeguarding children too.

I took my 4yo with his 4yo and 2yo cousins to a secured park. It was nearly the death of me. Watched 2yo go down the slide, turned my head to check on the 4yos, turned head back, in a split second 2yo was running in front of the swings, seconds away from being knocked out. Kids move fast, accidents happen in lightning time, even when you think you have eyes like a hawk.

I would never expect an 8yo to have the level of vigilance needed to keep an eye on three children. Secured or unsecured areas.

OP didn't ask what we thought of the parents, but what we thought of the situation. That particular situation required adult supervision. If the parents were not around (which they weren't), then the police are the next step.

In no way is this about judging parenting, it's about what to do in that situation. 'Minding your own business' is not the best thing to do, when there is a lack of supervision.

SeaWitchly I can guarantee that my local SWs would think nothing of an 8 year old being in the park unsupervised at half seven. In charge of a 2 year old, yes they would take notice of that, but not by themselves, and probably not if they were in charge of a 4 year old (DD's SW practically pushed her out of the door to go play with 3 other young children, the oldest being 6)

Thankfully tragic cases like April Jones are extremely rare. The other argument is that an 8 year old can't supervise properly. But the parent probably left them to play and just keep an eye on the little one(s) which is up to them. I think this happens all the time, esp in smaller communities when the days are longer and more pleasant. It was probably the standard 30 years ago.

I'd let it slide. No one will thank you for reporting it!

Not until something happens and the parents are responsible. If I see it again, I will take SW advice. It is not on to leave a 8/year old in charge of 3 young childten.

You would patently be doing the right thing to report if you see this again OP.

Turning a blind eye to any situation where young children are at risk is never, ever right.

This happened to a friend seeing an 8 year old in charge on 2 small kids. Put it like this the mother is now under the eye of social workers! We know this as she came down the road effing and jeffing about nosey neignbours!! Apparently the social workers didn't think it was interfering....They didn't think it was acceptable by the look of it!

No responsible parent should leave their child in the care of another young child, in the cold light of day, that is what she is. Our SW was shocked, and suggested Policecnext time. Be said even if I called the duty desk, they would still call the police.

In the evening when the little ones should be in bed. It can s a community and all that.

In the evening when the little ones should be in bed

The time is nothing to do with the issue.

I meant it takes a community and all that.

I would ring the police, it is better to be safe than sorry. I wouldn't get my 3.5 year old leave the garden let alone play in a park away from my house !

ERM it's getting dusk and less people about, more can happen, than during the day, when there are probably more parents, kids about.

That's awful. I was at the park with my niece and she was running off everywhere obviously excited about the park. But how can one 8 year old be chasing all the little ones in multiple directions if they decided that want to go somewhere?
Would he have known what to do if he could find one of them? That's far too much pressure for an 8 year old.

Hmm times change.........I grew up in the 50s and we were out all the time, and my parents were over protective, but my sisters and I and friends roamed wherever..........my kids grew up in the 70s and 80s. The 70s - kids still walked to school on their own (I mean primary) and played out, riding their bikes in the park till 8 in the summer - things a bit tightened up in the 70s but still kids playing out and calling for friends.

Now, well we have a social worker making a ridiculous statement - I'm a retired sw and we often had people asking us at what age children could be left alone and the answer was (and still is) there is no "legal" age, but if there is an accident the parents could be sued as negligent, though I don't know of any cases.

I have family in Ireland and it's wonderful for kids - they can play out - there are wide pavements and green areas and very little traffic of course. I love seeing my grandchildren playing football and playing on bikes or simply sitting with their friends on the grass (girls making daisy chains) in the way that I recall doing as a child.

I think calling the police is ridiculous - it's not a crime.

this may seem odd but there's another reason it's wrong - it puts the emphasis on another adult to help out if anything happens.

so if one of the kids falls off a climbing frame and breaks their arm...what are the others going to do? They'll run straight to the nearest adult for help. Unless the 8 year old has a mobile and can ring a parent to come straight away?

It puts everyone in an unfair position if something happens. It's sod's law, you'd be strolling through the park after work and suddenly have to deal with the emergency of a 2 year old that has nothing to do with you! Does the park have staff? I never see any in my local park.