Playing Outside

[GreeneryScenery]

We have recently moved to a cul-de-sac which I wouldn't necessarily describe as either busy or quiet...but we have a lot of kids who play outside.

My SD9 was looking out of the window at them playing the last time she was with us and was giving it "OMG look at those children out without an adult! That's not allowed!" Turns out her mum has told her she can't go out herself until she's 12, and has told her it's illegal hence her shock at seeing kids out themselves at ours.

We know she has never been out to play at her mums before (different housing situation as she lives on a main road) but it got me thinking and researching...

Apparently most parents feel the same as SD mum, and kids don't go out to play anymore..?!

I just want to state for the record that I don't disagree with people who decide to not let their kids out til older, but I just found it surprising that this is what's normal now compared to when I was a kid and we spent all summer outside fending for ourselves and loving it (I'm late 20's)

I have a 3 and 1 year old that I would expect would be out playing with the other kids from about maybe 6/7?

AIBU that the general consensus seems to be that kids shouldn't be out until their high school age? I think it's a bit nuts...and a bit of a shame 😟

Dd has just turned 9, year 4. She doesn’t play out because nobody else does either sadly. We live in a close but are at the beginning and some of those who live at the other end of it drive in like idiots and it doesn’t seem safe at a all. We have a huge garden but it’s not the same.

Only a few children in the whole close too. She would definitely be allowed out if there were children to play with.

@ParkheadParadise That sounds more similar to what we were used to as kids - the streetlights came on time to go home...but if your name is anything to go by we're fairly close by! So maybe that's why! 🤣

@GreeneryScenery
My mum always warned us if ur out your out don't start running in and out the house, or your staying in.
Some of the things we got up to and my mum didn't have a clue.

In a cul-de-sac on quiet estate then I'd say from reception age. Perhaps nursery if have older siblings