Sleepover question

[worrywart98]

I have a tendency to be anxious/worrisome and I'm not sure if I'm being OTT about this or not...

So my ds has been invited to a sleepover at my dsis house with his cousin. And the idea is that they'll be sleeping in a tent in the garden. Dc very sensible and keen to go, but is only 5 years old. Two other mutual friends invited and I trust my dsis implicitly.

However - from what I can gather (we have only chatted about it briefly) my dsis is not planning to sleep in the tent with the kids and will be inside asleep in the house. Not a huge garden but still...

Am I right in thinking this is not great?? What if dc wake up and wonder where they are/get cold etc? Not to mention the fact that it just doesn't feel safe somehow?! Garden is accessible by a gate onto the street...and big fields behind it...

Feel free to tell me to calm down and that this scenario is fine! Or that I'm justified in feeling uncomfortable with this and say no unless an adult is with them??

Far too young. Adult must be outside too

Bloody hell, not a chance would I let this happen. I wouldn't do it with my 9 year old either. 5 is WAY too young!

No way!!

Thank you all for confirming I'm not a crazy over protective mum that dsis makes me feel like sometimes!! Will definitely be saying something and if they don't want to sleep outside then it's a no-go.

I know chances are it'll be fine but I don't think I would sleep a wink worrying about it let alone the kids! (who are all 5 btw)

Thanks for your advice!!

No too young anything can happen
Google murder of Sophie hack

Sophie Hook. She was 7 and kidnapped from a tent in her cousin's garden. I just wouldn't, no way

Oh my god that case is horrific. That poor little girl and her family

I think it's going to be a definite no!

There was a case, I believe, in the 1990s of a person who was murdered on their patio.

Therefore I'm not ever having a patio.

Etc etc

Way too many prowlers/thieving bastards around here to make this even a remote possibility. Caught someone in my neighbours garden a month ago, so no, you are not at all crazy!

I used to regularly camp out in the garden with friends from the age of about 8 or 9 on our own and I have really great memories of that. Mostly very safe and wholesome but we once (aged about 9) snuck out in the middle of the night to a village beer festival by were rumbled when someone told my mum they saw me there. Five seems a bit young though!

*There was a case, I believe, in the 1990s of a person who was murdered on their patio.

Therefore I'm not ever having a patio.

Etc etc*

I see what you're getting at but a group of 5 year olds are too young to be sleeping outside with no adult.

I've just let my daughter start doing thing with a few friends. She's 12.5 yrs old. 5 is far, far too young.

this not thing!

My DCs have camped in the garden from 3&5 (now 4&6). I put them in a 2 man tent, and I sleep in another 2 man tent, so it gives them a feeling of being independent in their own tent, but the reality is that I'm only a couple of metres away and can hear everything.

A few weeks ago, the 4 yo woke up cold having stripped down to his pull up and out of his sleeping bag. I woke up to the sound of him whimpering quietly and checked on him. It's these kinds of minor self care things that concern me more than an isolated crime from 20 years ago. My garden is secure and not easily accessed.

It'll be a while yet before I'm happy to retreat to the house and leave them to it.

I think I need to have another chat with her and establish exactly what the plan is, but I'm glad to hear that everyone thinks I'm not being unreasonable!

I do completely see your point AtHomeDad about the isolated murder, but aside from that very unlikely scenario, I do feel like there are other risks in allowing them to do this that i dont feel at all comfortable with

Would be a resounding no from me, mum would let me camp out in a two man tent from about the age of 9.

Like you say small risks, the 5yo could wander outside the tent and get lost (unfamiliar territory), trip easily etc, not to mention getting scared.