6yo playing out until 10pm

[eatmytoast]

I don't think IABU but this is not sitting right with me.

I live on a new build estate, my house is right at the start of the development.

There is a boy aged 6 who lives at the furthest back end of the development, however, he is playing outside at our end until 9.30 ish most nights, last night it was 10pm!

There is absolutely no way that his mum can see him from her house, he is completely unsupervised.
I would say it's safe enough apart from cars but surely not for a 6 year old?

It does sound a bit much taking into account his age, the time of night, and the distance he's going if his mum really can't see him.

But there's nothing wrong with playing out. I use to play out till all hours as a child.

Holidayhooray good luck with that. I give my kids a degree of freedom and responsibility - horror of horrors, I let them 'play out'.

Their school says that they're 'very independent'... 'resilient'... 'sensible'. I'm not neglectful if I have kids like that!! Both are bright & exceeding academically.

I wouldn't have issue with the playing out as long as older kids are about but 10 pm is very late for a 6 year old to be up, nevermind out.

Playing out is neglect? Full stop? No middle ground, like playing out till a reasonable time?

Well, judge away if you like but I think your view is a little extreme.

Oh and on this cul-de-sac are quite a few of the local GPS and their kids play out... they're also not reporting us to social services so Id say it definitely isn't neglect 😂

Assuming it's the holidays and still light at 10pm then I wouldn't see it as neglect. An occasional late night during the holidays is fine.

Dina what a crock of shit.

My children play out. We moved to a safe area and all the children here do. We live next to a beautiful and historical piece of land with trees and all kinds of flowers and they run up the lane there in a little gang.

Utterly weird to call it neglect.

"Playing out is neglect now?" Dreadful isn't it?

There are so many different approaches to parenting, but I am so glad I and all my friends were neglected as those are the brilliant memories I have from my childhood.

I know cars are a danger, but that is why you teach children not to step off the pavement onto the road; my dd knew that by the time she was eighteen months old, it's not rocket science.

10pm is not late for a 6 year old to be staying up, it is well within the normal range of sleep requirements assuming they're not also getting up at 5am.

He's not playing out alone unsupervised, he's playing out with older friends.

I wouldn't go as far as calling it neglect but I would think it was a bit odd.

But parents are more laid back during the Summer holidays with it being lighter nights etc.

Plus, if you live in a nice new build estate surrounded by families his parents probably don't think there is much chance of danger.

The word neglect is thrown around far too often on here!

Mine weren't playing out but my 5 and 9 year old were playing Minecraft mini games online in the living room until nearly 11pm last night. We got in at 8 after being at football training and their dad got in at 9 so after their bath/shower they had a razz on their game!

I wouldn't be comfortable where i couldn't see them at 6 but if they were just on the front with friends occasionally would be fine with me.

I agree with Dina1234 it is neglect, why would you leave two nine year old children in the care of your six year old.

Holidayhooray Kids playing out is not neglect. My 6yo is always out playing with the other kids in the street on their bikes and scooters. It's a nice, safe, quiet cul-de-sac with minimal traffic. A quick look out the window and I can check on her. If I couldn't see her then it'd be a different story but maybe those 9yo boys have been told to look after the little boy.

Where you live obviously is key detaining factor to view on this.

South east very affluent town, and I promise you 1. No one sayes "play out" 2. No allows it

your six year old in the care of two nine year olds

Sorry that should say "determining"

playingout.net/why/research/

Holidayhooray

Why does no-one you know allow their kids out? Do they all live on main roads?

why would you leave two nine year old children in the care of your six year old.

You've not, you've got at least 3 pairs of eyes of able to call for help from the myriad of adults in the houses around. For many problems it's safer than playing alone indoors out of sight. Not all of course, but then none of the risks are significant.

Op 3 posters have called playing out neglect. Not your specific situation neglect.

My kids live on a busy road and the cars are right up to the pavement and bins are out as well so they can't even ride bikes. I'd love to live somewhere they could play out.

Well yes it's late for a 6 year old. My 9 years old's in by 8.30pm latest and that's only in the summer months when it's light out. In the winter months he'll have friends round or go to theirs and we walk them home if it's dark. We're lucky all his friends are in walking distance.

My dd doesn't play out in the street except on designated "play street" days but I try and replicate this type of independent play as much as possible - we certainly played out as kids (in the 80s, not 50s) and I was anything but neglected. - if you live somewhere that's set up for it it's ideal for children's development. But one child out alone after dark is different and I would be concerned.

Holidayhooray That's really quite sad

Some of my best memories as a child are from playing outside with the other local children.

Where you live obviously is key detaining factor to view on this.

South east very affluent town, and I promise you 1. No one sayes "play out" 2. No allows it

The situation I described previously in my parents' cul-de-sac is in a very affluent town in the south east, Holiday, so I don't think region or affluence has anything to do with it whatsoever.

The term the kids use is definitely 'play out' (I hear my nephew say it all the time) and their parents clearly do allow it.

Not until 10pm, and the children are within view from everyone's front windows, but they absolutely do 'play out' together. I'd have to ask my mum what time they usually go indoors, but I've certainly seen three or four children playing on scooters on the pavement at around 8pm on a light summer Friday or Saturday evening.