To think 4 is too young to play on the road alone?

[SMarie123]

Cat what age would you feel comfortable leaving your DC play on a cul de sac without full adult supervision ?

I ask the question because 2 of my neighbours leave their 4 year olds / almost 4 year old unattended outside under the care of a 9 year old. It shocks me because my DC will be 4 in June and I couldn't imagine leaving him outside. He literally has no sense and 9 is too young to watch a 4 year old . Am I too protective?

Well, of course. It's completely black and white; either allow your kids on the streets from toddlerhood to give them a good life (Sweet Jesus ) versus never allowing them to see the light of day...
You have such a limited view of life, Gtug, I imagine you can't have failed to pass that onto your children.
Sad, really.

let mine out from 3! BUT I had been sitting on the doorstep for years watching him play before that
How old was he then when you first let him go outside?
How can he be 3 while also saying you’d watched him outside for years prior? when did you first let him out? 6 months?

Thisismytimetoshine

Why you getting to touchy about my life? I’m a stranger in the internet. Perhaps your touchy about your own life really? Turn that TV off! Goodnight.

Like I said; so, so limited... Bless you.

Not ok no. I always think of little April Jones. not to mention the dick heads in cars.

We moved to that house when he was one. We met the kids over the road and I’d stand out talking with them etc. It developed from there.

Way way to young. My oldest was 7 when I started to let him play out on the street in front of the house, he's now 8 nearly 9 and plays out properly with the other kids but he knows how far he can and can't go. My youngest is 4 and she only plays in the garden.

I agree kids should play out more. There is nothing finer than a bunch of kids nerf gunning each other. Teach ground rules and keep checking on them. We live on a green and it really brings the kids on to play out together. I sometimes have to run out to break up fights or catch people who have gone to far up a tree. Character building.

SimonJT, you don't leave your 4 yo in the flat while you take your bins out?

Some people are far too casual with the safety of their very young children.

Can this astonishing three year old who knows all about road safety have a word with my nearly eight year old who is largely sensible but inclined to occasionally forget? Especially if he’s messing about.

And this is the main issue with leaving very young children under the care of primary aged kids - even the most sensible of children have their moments and the younger ones are likely to follow

I remember when I was a PCSO finding a three year old some distance from the area outside where he was ‘allowed’ to play out sling with his sister who was in year 2. And the parents ambling up saying ‘oh Billy you ARE naughty!’ The bigger girl was too young to be that distance away let alone with the toddler but while she was a good kid you can’t rely on a seven year old to always follow the rules

@Hohofortherobbers No, he’s far too young to be left at home alone.

I think at the moment I'd be happier letting a young child out because there are fewer cars but not at 4. My children were about 7 when they were allowed out on their scooters and I'd check occasionally. I was more relaxed when they were out together. I don't think I'd be happy leaving a 9year old I charge though, it seems quite young.

No way. Last summer my (then) 6 yo was asked to play on the green opposite by a 10+11 yo. I flat out refused. And I wouldn’t let her out this summer at 7 either. My gut says that 10 is an ok age, but not to have to look after younger kids as well.

Older siblings shouldn’t have to be responsible for siblings, that’s the parents job.

Four is too young to play out without adult supervision imo.

I’m not keen on children playing in the street though, that’s what gardens and parks are for. Streets are for cars etc.

When I was little a neighbour sent their two year old out to play with us all, once in a while. We were Primary aged kids, in a cul de sac. It was a bit of a nuisance, but we all looked after him.

Saying that we stayed out with our children at that age.
Although a rather horrible neighbour of ours said he was going to report us for letting our six, nearly seven year old play out on their bike on our drive and at the top of our cul de sac, un chaperoned.

I did keep checking on them, and felt they were old enough.

Needless to say, horrible neighbour had no children, but when he did, he let them play with his power tools ! That he used for work, on his drive

The irony !

I meant we stayed with ours, when they were four..😂 and older.

Your all going to hate me as I never allowed my children to play in the street. I am in my 50’s and was never allowed to play in the street but would go to the park about half a mile further up the road on my own from about the age of 8.My own children also went to the park probably a bit older at around 10.
One of my pet hates is children playing unsupervised in the street.

Hell would freeze over first.

Four is too young. Anything from 6 I’d say is fine especially with older children.

life is good
Letting your 3 year old out is neglect.
Hope it's still good when social services come knocking.
Why even have kids?

My 9 year old and her 8 year old friend look after the friends little sister who is 4 when playing out . They're only allowed in each other's gardens and on the grass inbetween the two (2 doors away). They manage fine but we are always checking on them and tbh they're in and out the house and garden every two minutes anyways .

Disclaimer : before lockdown

I would have said 5 is too young but he's seemed to have matured the past few weeks

Oh purlease

9 is not old enough to be "responsible" for a younger child.
In essence, the 4 year old is alone.
That is the rule I would use- would I be comfortable leaving x year old child alone to do this? If no- they don't do it with another child who is not old enough or mature enough to bear the responsibility for them.

I wouldn't let my twins play out in the street/on a green at 4. I certainly wouldn't want an older child having the responsibility of looking out for them. As they get older, sure they'll be able to play out without me, but in the meantime, I take them out and about loads to the beach, parks and woods. I'm not going to do as my Mum did and restrict age appropriate freedom, but I'm thinking 7/8? 🤷