To ask what age you would let your kids go to the park alone?

[hellofrommetoyou]

Would you let a 7 year old girl and 10 year old boy to go to the park alone? Park is a two minute walk round the corner but cannot be seen from my house. No roads to cross on the way, just a huge big grassy area.

No, I was talking to @Waxonwaxoff0and that is why they replied to me.

Ummm... OK, I was only asking

Maybe 10 or 11 but my DD has learning difficulties and no sense of danger so will probably end up being older I'm not sure. I can remember going on bike rides and exploring forrests when I was around 8. I just wouldn't feel safe in this day and age letting mine do that.

We let ours by age 12. With phones. Kids need to learn to have some independence and problem solve themselves to build self esteem and resilience.

@beela

Ummm... OK, I was only asking

And I was only telling 🤷‍♀️

I definitely wouldn’t have let mine out with phones. That makes them a target. Mine was going around London alone at 11. They didn’t have phones. This was about ten years ago, though.

Phones can give you a false sense of security.

I've started letting my little girl go to the park this year. She's 11 she's only allowed with a friend. Park is three min walk away. She has got a watch that she can call me from it has an sos button she presses if she need help and I can track her and see exactly where she is. That has helped me massively.

I had a very relaxed upbringing in the 70's and was free play out in and around the road we lived on until it got dark but my parents never allowed me to go to the park alone. I was the same with my kids - they had lots of freedom and they were allowed to play out with friends without supervision from quite an early age but going to the park on their own was an absolute no.

So all you parents worried more about road safety than paedos, perhaps it's time to lessen the dominance of cars on our roads

My 14 year-old goes but not my younger ones (aged 12 to 6). But my 12 year old has learning difficulties and our nearest park is about a mile away and across a major a road so our circumstances are different.

@Macncheeseballs

So all you parents worried more about road safety than paedos, perhaps it's time to lessen the dominance of cars on our roads

Definitely, that would be the absolute dream.

Could you let them go ahead and join them in 10 minutes and then keep increasing the time ?

My DD’s are almost 9 and 10 and DS is 11. They ask to go quite a lot but I’m too paranoid to let them even though the eldest has a phone. I know I should just let them do it but I’m too precious I think.

Should say that the park is a similar distance to yours and we walk there quite often, it seems safe enough. Just that off chance of a weirdo although I do appreciate the chances are so slim.

I'd let them. I wouldn't wait until they were teenagers.

It was late 11 for my first child, with her friend, there are weirdos out there and I felt she needed more time to mature before going out alone

I think 10 is about right but 7 is a bit too young and it’s too much to expect the 10 year old to look after the 7 year old.

It’s better to let them practise earlier rather than later. Waiting until they are teens is too late. Teenagers can make risky and foolish decisions.

Totally depends on the child and the area. We have a park close to our house with one very quiet road to cross. DD has been allowed to go at 8 years old. DS was a little older before he was allowed- he has additional needs that mean he's more likely to do something silly! He's 12 now and goes to other parks further away, the skate park, the woods, in to town... I have an app that tracks where he is.

I would. Sounds like a great idea. Like the idea of getting a 'dumb' phone just in case and maybe setting a time to come back. Its sad children don't have as much freedom these days.

@Macncheeseballs

So all you parents worried more about road safety than paedos, perhaps it's time to lessen the dominance of cars on our roads

My contribution is not owning a car. What's yours?

Ugh, sorry, that sounded really hostile! I'm not very well today. What I meant was something more like "Great idea! I'm all for it! I hate cars! I don't even own a car! I'd love to hear some more suggestions!"

Depends how sensible they are. With my children, yes.