to ask what age you would allow your child to 'play out' on their own?

[DogsAndCats1]

Just curious really... My child is 9 and would like to walk to school and play at the park with friends... I've not agreed to it yet.

Just would like to know what age you allowed/will allow it!

It depends on your area really, the distance to the park, child's maturity. Don't go on what people on here say as everyone's situations different. Follow your own gut instinct. We live five houses down from the park and so my daughters been out since eight playing with friends theres not much traffic. I could be there in seconds if need be (did have to be a couple of times over the years) and they were all together. It's also not a rough area.

I walked to school with a friend from 8. 10 minute walk, only one road to cross and that had a lollipop man (there were several schools on the same road so lots of children and parents around so I think my parents felt we were pretty safe).

It's impossible to answer because it depends on the maturity of the child and the area.

DD is 10. She plays in the garden so I wouldn't like to leave her unsupervised, she's an only child and we don't live in a cul de sac full of kids so no one is knocking for her.
When she's 11, I'll probably allow some time u supervised.

DD is three and plays outside with only very light supervision, but where we are is very secure.

If there were a couple of quiet roads, I'd probably say 5?

It all depends on the kid and the area.

We have a neighbour who lets her 4 year old play out, alone and out of sight. The area's quiet and I wouldn't be comfortable with the out of sight, i.e. the next street or further.
My 9 year old is allowed to walk home from school as it isn't far and they're very sensible.

At 5 they were allowed on the grass out the front of our house where all the neighbourhood children played. At 8, they were allowed to go to the park/corner shop by themselves. School is a 10 minute walk away, 2 of mine walked by themselves at 8, one doesn't want to so I still take them, I'll wait until they are ready. So it depends on the child.

Haven't yet and they're 9 and 13. The 13 year old goes to the shop occasionally and to activities by himself but that's it.

They both have ASD so are more vulnerable than their peers but to be honest "Out To Play" just isn't done round here. Kids get taken to the park or to activities etc. I suppose around secondary school age kids start going places by themselves because obviously they have to get to school etc and then that has a knock on effect on increasing independence. You'd never see children under that age unsupervised in the park though or playing outside. It just doesn't happen.

I imagine it's location dependent. We live in a village but about 3/4 mile from school and there is a five way junction to cross without pedestrian lights so my nearly 8 yr old isn't allowed to walk to and from school. Nor is she allowed out of the garden as although it's a village our road is on the outskirts! I would think the walk to school will be yr 6 in preparation for secondary.

We are in London and among the people I know some children may walk to the local shop at 8 or 9, some may walk to school in year 6, but would not hang out in the local park, etc alone until secondary school.

I live not far from where April Jones was kidnapped from and I'm afraid that although I know it's irrational my DCs won't be playing out alone until they're older. They have friends over and they do get out and about so I'm not worried in that respect. I'll have to find another way to give them some independence.

Also I grew up in the countryside and although we played out on the lane there was nowhere to go within walking distance.

Depends on the area, child etc.

DD has just turned 6, but has been playing out with a mixed group of kids in our street, about ten of them aged between 4 and 10. The older kids are very protective of the little ones, and as our street is very sociable (it loops round from a main road, so effectively everyone who walks down there is a neighbour) and also one-way, it seems safer than other places. However, the kids know not to go around a corner where we can't see them, run out in the road, get an adult to help if a ball goes under a car etc, and by and large stick to these rules. And there's always a parent with their front door open so we can keep an eye on them. My daughter also knows not to go into her friends' houses without checking with us, and we always find an excuse to potter about in the front garden to watch her out of the corner of our eye!

It might seem over-protective to other parents, but I think at this age there's no other way I'd allow her to play out. I definitely wouldn't let her go further afield until she's a lot older.