Children camping alone in garden - AIBU

[UserA]

A close friend has asked if my dc, aged 10, 12 & 13 would like to camp in her garden (socially distanced of course!) with her dc, both aged 11 - but alone, with the parents sleeping in the house. Apparently her dc have done it a few times over lockdown. I was fairly surprised and I don’t think I’d feel comfortable with mine sleeping outside alone. We both have fairly large gardens which aren’t particularly enclosed, as in not backing onto other houses as such. Recently there have been some sexual assaults/flashing episodes in the area, which makes me even more uneasy.. dc obviously annoyed that I haven’t agreed! So, AIBU - would you agree to them camping out alone?

Oh I clicked on the Sophie Hook case and read the detail. I am so upset, I don’t think i will ever forget that poor little girl. The trauma and pain she must have endured has really troubled me. I would have said yes to camping before reading this thread but now, no way.

I hope that scum bag dies a slow and painful death.

No. Which is so sad. Of course they should be able to camp out.

I really wish I hadn’t contributed to this thread; dp is at his parents

Definitely not. X

My 13th birthday party was camping in my back yard with my friends 🤷🏼‍♀️

YANBU but I think a lot of people would disagree. My DCs (both aged 6) camped in the garden during lockdown and quite a few people that I have told have been surprised that I slept in the tent with them. They are 6, can't believe it would even occur to people that I would let them camp alone!

I would but would probably stay awake and do regular checks on them. Kids haven’t had much fun recently.

Absolutely categorically definitely not!!!! I can’t relax when my almost 12year old is playing in the garden in the day. I’d never in a million years sleep if I let them stay in tent in tent own. God no way!

Hollumnisalad

Late in the evening I lay petrified listening to a person walk round and round my tent, pause at the zip, but not come in.

Jeez! thats scary did you ever find out who it was?, was it a parent checking up on you?.

Used to let our nippers out in the back yard garden its very awakwad to get into all those bloody thorny hedges around it!

I wish I hadn't clicked on that link. That poor child I can't even forget what I've just read.

I would have probably said no before reading but it's a definite no now.
God I don't think I'll sleep. I feel sick.

Not a chance. Burglars break into gardens, no chance I’d let my children sleep in one unattended

I'm genuinely astounded that anyone would let children of 12 and under sleep in the garden on their own at night, it makes me anxious just thinking about it

Nope.
No way. It's the sort of thing my DH would allow when they're a bit older but I'd say at least 14/15 if they were very sensible and the garden was very secure. Dont think I'd sleep much otherwise!
Also there is the more likely consideration of what kids might get up to with each other.

I think I would, but our garden is secure. Mine really aren't interested though. They did when they were younger but at 4 and 9 that was too young to be unsupervised so DH slept outside with them.

Yeah, I would let them so long as you don't think they will be foolish or disturb people.

Reading about murders and stuff is not that helpful, they sound scary but they are actually extremely rare when you look at the numbers. Your kids are more at risk of being killed in a car accident. And there are real up-sides of kids doing things like this - it helps them feel independent, safe in the world, competent, it contributes to resilience.

Also keep in mind, in three years a 13 year old can drive, in five they may leave home. It's good to start well ahead with getting used to independent decision making and being out of the adult eye.

Yes I would as long as an adult is awake and close by . We need to let our children have fun and not be worried about the whatever !! The whatever is so unlikely!

Ours are 10 and 7 and have camped in the garden together all night long.

Blimey! I did this loads in my garden and in friends gardens when I was younger. Maybe from 11 onwards. There was a group of 4 of us all around the same age who lived near each other and would camp 4 or 5 times over the summer!

I'm reading through more and more of these honestly stunned. Worrying about 12 year olds playing in their garden on their own?! Wouldnt let kids camp out until they were 15?! In two years they could drive! What kind of childhoods are the kids of today having? At 9 I was off on my bike all day round our local closes with groups of friends. You came home when the street lights went on! That was only 20 years ago

MrsMcCarthysFamousScones

Well you just went straight there ! Jesus !

But I’d be nervous too OP

If you are uncomfortable then don't. We used to camp out all of the time when we were younger, but the garden was extremely secure (someone would have had to break the gate, which would have been just as hard as the front door to be honest), and my parents bedroom faced out onto the garden, so with the windows open they could easily see and hear. If the garden though wasn't secure and the bedroom was at the other side of the house, I might be more hesitant.

I am a few years older than Sophie would be. I remember getting a tent around then. My Mum, who was usually incredibly laid back about me being out on my own etc would absolutely not let me camp in the garden in my new tent. Now I get why as this must have been in the news around then.

That poor little girl. Just awful.

Let them camp. Kids need to feel a sense of adventure.

Not a chance.

It has to be a balance india but to be honest my ‘free range childhood’ was not the blissful freedom many make it out to be, a bit of over protectiveness can be a good thing.