for not wanting my-just turned-9 year old dd1 to go to the park with her friends at night?

[cutekids]

She went for tea last night to her friend's house. Apparently,the house is "close" to the park and she says she'd have been totally safe cos their window overlooked this park.However,i've been to this park before. It's not a small park and we live in a town which is renowned for its' druggies etc. I know there are alot of teenagers who hang out at this park and I just feel a little uncomfortable that they were allowed to go-it didn't happen as it started pouring down-on their own. (by the way, i'm not accusing all teenagers of being bad or taking drugs i'm just wary of her being out at night alone with mates who haven't all turned 9 yet with no supervision).Am I being totally over-protec tive?

In this day and age? Certainly not...

If it was "at night" but still good daylight, like it has been between 7 and 8pm recently, then I wouldn't mind. We used to play out very late in the summer even when I was a kid, albeit on a very "safe" estate.

My DD is about to turn 12 and I am VERY relaxed about letting her go places alone etc, get buses to friend's houses (we live in London), but I doubt I'd let her go to our local park if it was dusk/ getting dark.

No you're not. I think you've got to stick to your guns here. It will be different I'm sure when she is older and a bit more worldy-wise, but at that age I definitely wouldn't let her go there without an adult.

I have a nine yr old daughter and I wouldnt let her out at that time into a park or anywhere else.

Maybe I am over protective but as far as i am concerned better to be safe than sorry.

There are some things in life that you cant take back.

What time of 'night'? Although we allow our 10 and 8 yr olds to go to the park during the day along, they have to be back before 7pm. Earlier when it's autumn/winter.

There are too many scary teenagers who hang around smoking, swearing and damaging the kids play equipment. I don't want my children there because I worry for them but also because I don't want them to think it's OK to act like that.

BTW I would always check with the mother of any child was was coming to play that they were OK with their child playing 'out', either in the cul-de-sac or in the park.

mine will probably be at least 25 before they are allowed out along !!

certaainly not at 9 ...or 10, 11.....12 lol lol

glad it's not just me then!
It's funny actually cos at first I thought she was going to a camp that this little girl's parents runs. apparently,she went there once before and was allowed to go to the shop;talk to the customers etc. I had kittens when she told me although I am well aware that I have to "let them go sometime" as my Hubbie keeps telling me!!!

My dd's friend's mother let them go off to the park, when she went round for tea. They seemed to think it was ok because they use walkie-talkies to keep in touch. Dh & I were horrified especially when another of my friend's saw dd & her friend running in and out of alleyways off the park.

Dd hasn't been to this particular friend's house again.

No I wouldn't let a child go out late at night like that. Sorry, I am over-protective at times like that, and have to check if my DS (7) is going to a friends house, that they will not be running aroung the streets. What's wrong with people's gardens for playing?

That assumes they have a garden MrsBoo.

No you're not

If we lived near such a park and could see it from our house, I might consider letting my children play in it in the evening if still daylight. But I would NOT let them take another child for whom I'd accepted responsibility. If a child goes to play at some one else's house, the parents there are responsible for her/him.

well,bless her, she stuck to her guns when her friends tried to persuade her to go. she told them that her mum doesn't want someone to take her away!?! they laughed at her but at least she did as she was told. don't think i've frightened her.think she's well aware of the media around Madeleine McCann at the moment and understands how it's made all mums and dads very wary.