Page 8 | To ask what age you would let your kids go to the park alone?

hellofrommetoyou · 2021-04-09T13:43:45+00:00

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.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 10/04/2021 17:39

@Lassy1945

* Depends on you area. Where I live, absolutely not. I won't be allowing DS out on his own until he is at secondary school.*

@Waxonwaxoff0

You don’t want to play “Russian roulette” with your son’s life becuae how dreadful the area is you live in.

Totally fair enough.

Begs the question though - why live in such an area?

Where I live - minimal crime, real sense of community and local parks are wonderful for children.

Because not everyone can afford to live in a nicer area. I am a single parent, I had to buy a house where I could afford. Hopefully DS will be able to afford to live somewhere else when he starts work. I'd love him to move away from here.

It's not a TERRIBLE area, it's not like we are confined to the house in fear, it's just very neglected and there is a lot of anti social behaviour. I'm not comfortable letting him out alone. He's about to turn 8 so not old enough yet anyway. And predators can live anywhere, that's my main concern.

ImInStealthMode · 10/04/2021 17:41

Haven't RTFT but 13-14?!? Good god I know it was a while back now but I was getting the train into the centre of Leeds with mates at that age, with no particular time to come home except 'before dark'. No mobile phones either!

I'd say it depends on the age & personality of the child in question, plus the nature of the journey there for a trip to the nearby park. I know kids of 6 & 8 in a very safe area who are sometimes allowed to take their bikes / scooters to the village green (3 minutes scoot from home & no roads to cross), and always packed out with other kids and families on a nice day.

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 10/04/2021 17:43

My 10 year old goes now on his way back from school. It's pretty much across the road although I can't see it.

Not a great area bit it's not a park known for trouble and older kids don't tend to use it.

I have an 8 year old who doesn't go, he does have asd though and can't be trusted to be sensible

I'm not sure I'd leave a 10 year old in charge of a 7 year old. It's unlikely anything would happen but I wouldn't want the 10 year old to feel guilty of any thing did

Macncheeseballs · 10/04/2021 17:44

I'm sure you're playing Russian roulette more with your kids life just by driving down the motorway

beela · 10/04/2021 17:52

Op our situation is pretty similar to yours. Ds is 10, has been going to the park independently since he was 9. Dd is 7 (but only just, so nearer 6 than 8) and she doesn't go without an adult yet. They do go to the village shop together though, 5 mins down the road.

I like the idea mentioned upthread, of letting them go and popping round to check on them at intervals.

shinynewapple21 · 10/04/2021 18:05

I would say around 10 for most DC to go with friends if their own age, or a short walk to meet friends . I don't like the idea of the 10 year old having responsibility for a younger child .

shinynewapple21 · 10/04/2021 18:11

@Lassy1945

* Depends on you area. Where I live, absolutely not. I won't be allowing DS out on his own until he is at secondary school.*

@Waxonwaxoff0

You don’t want to play “Russian roulette” with your son’s life becuae how dreadful the area is you live in.

Totally fair enough.

Begs the question though - why live in such an area?

Where I live - minimal crime, real sense of community and local parks are wonderful for children.

Are you serious @Lassy1945 ?

Huge numbers of people can't afford to live in 'naice' areas .

DelurkingAJ · 10/04/2021 18:14

No, DS1 is 8 and some of his classmates play in the park by themselves and their behaviour is simply awful. I take DSs and then end up parenting the others too. Another local parent described them as ‘feral’ to me recently and, given I like the parents, I was ashamed to have to agree. They’ve also nearly caused a couple of car crashes by racing into the road. Luckily DS1 views them as a bit much so isn’t keen to join in.

Lassy1945 · 10/04/2021 18:22

@shinynewapple21

We’re in the UK
Not the bronx in the 1980s.

I was curious re how someone could live in a part of UK that was so dangerous that it meant they felt like they would be playing “Russian routlette” with their child’s life by allowing them ever out alone before secondary school.

PerspicaciousGreen · 10/04/2021 18:26

Yes, I'd be much more worried about road safety than perverts. Especially if they're with their friends and showing off. I saw an approx 10-12yo run right out into the road the other day without looking. Inches from serious injury. He and his friend just laughed.

Lassy1945 · 10/04/2021 18:28

@PerspicaciousGreen

Yes, I'd be much more worried about road safety than perverts. Especially if they're with their friends and showing off. I saw an approx 10-12yo run right out into the road the other day without looking. Inches from serious injury. He and his friend just laughed.

I still shriek at my children to hold my hand when crossing busy roads. That’s my worry... messing around near roads with friends, not concentrating as they run over the road etc.

UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 10/04/2021 18:29

At 10, I would bring my 8-year-old and 5-year-old siblings to the park, and I walked them the 15-minute walk to school as well (including a busy road but with a crossing guard). It was healthy for our relationship, my sense of responsibility... and our literal physical health! My parents weren’t on the crazy free-range spectrum either. They were pretty normal middle-class parents albeit living in a decent area.

Troyhelena · 10/04/2021 18:30

No

Fembot123 · 10/04/2021 18:36

[quote Lassy1945]@shinynewapple21

We’re in the UK
Not the bronx in the 1980s.

I was curious re how someone could live in a part of UK that was so dangerous that it meant they felt like they would be playing “Russian routlette” with their child’s life by allowing them ever out alone before secondary school.[/quote]
It’s a bloody nonsense, Russian Roulette my arse.

Fembot123 · 10/04/2021 18:40

At least let them get some road sense, so many kids aren’t allowed out until secondary then are a danger to themselves when it comes to crossing roads, mums not always going to be there screaming

mamaduckbone · 10/04/2021 19:00

I would think 7 is a bit too young. Mine was allowed to walk home from school via the park (similar, 2 minutes walk) in year 5, so 9-10.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 10/04/2021 19:05

[quote Lassy1945]@shinynewapple21

We’re in the UK
Not the bronx in the 1980s.

I was curious re how someone could live in a part of UK that was so dangerous that it meant they felt like they would be playing “Russian routlette” with their child’s life by allowing them ever out alone before secondary school.[/quote]
I never said it was the Bronx 😂 it's not that dangerous where I live. That wasn't what I was saying. I didn't say I wouldn't ever let DS out alone before secondary school, if you actually read my posts. I said I would not be happy letting him to our local park on his own. But I certainly won't let him out at age 7/8 like some people are suggesting. Because of cases like April Jones and Sarah Payne. They're rare but I don't want to take that chance and I think 7/8 is too young.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 10/04/2021 19:07

@Macncheeseballs

I'm sure you're playing Russian roulette more with your kids life just by driving down the motorway

I can't drive so I don't drive down the motorway.

Proudboomer · 10/04/2021 19:08

I live on the coast in an area with lower than average crime but on Easter Sunday in one of our local parks a man was set upon by 5 teens trying to stop them from bullying his 11 year old. This man now has life threatening head injuries and is in a coma.
After reading posts on Nextdoor this park is notorious for local drug dealers not only selling drugs but groups of teens taking them. I have lived about a mile from this park for 10 years and didn’t have a clue so no matter now safe it looks and how low the crime stats are it doesn’t mean that it is safe.

Fembot123 · 10/04/2021 19:08

Wasn’t April Jones a 5 year old on her own.

Chillychangchoo · 10/04/2021 19:08

No

Fembot123 · 10/04/2021 19:09

@Proudboomer

I live on the coast in an area with lower than average crime but on Easter Sunday in one of our local parks a man was set upon by 5 teens trying to stop them from bullying his 11 year old. This man now has life threatening head injuries and is in a coma. After reading posts on Nextdoor this park is notorious for local drug dealers not only selling drugs but groups of teens taking them. I have lived about a mile from this park for 10 years and didn’t have a clue so no matter now safe it looks and how low the crime stats are it doesn’t mean that it is safe.

NOTHING is safe.

Fembot123 · 10/04/2021 19:10

How is letting them go to the shop alone not Russian Roulette but the park is 🤔

Waxonwaxoff0 · 10/04/2021 19:12

@Fembot123

How is letting them go to the shop alone not Russian Roulette but the park is 🤔

I've explained what my local park is like upthread.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 10/04/2021 19:14

Not everyone lives in nice safe happy areas. If you think I'm extreme, I've seen a thread on here where someone said a friend of theirs walk her sixth former to and from college because it's so unsafe in their area. Even I wouldn't go that far!