Not to let 11yr old go to local park on her own?

[dramaqueen80]

Just wondering at about what age would you let child go to park on own - to meet friends, hang out (we are in SW - small city)? Some of daughter's friends are allowed to go on own/with friends - and then they go to shops so walking around area. This is for a few hrs. I stay in park somewhere in sight - reading/working. Am not a big fan of kids hanging out in park (CV or no) - would prefer child engaged in more directed activities. She is end primary so will be off to secondary next year. Feels too soon to let them out in public on own - am I being ridiculous? When is ok (I'm feeling never )

Really shocked that city based children are walking home alone at eight years old in Scotland. It would not be allowed to happen in England.

It would be a SS issue here if it continued and would be seen as neglect unless the child lived next door/opposite the school.

No it wouldn't, unless it was part of a wider picture of neglect. And seen by whom? An 8 yr old turning up on time, every day, ready for school is NOT a safeguarding issue.

They can report whatever they want as a safeguarding issue!

They can of course, but that doesn't mean it is one.

11 yr 6 few hours with friends in nearby park is fine. Set rules eg home by 5pm, stay with friend, have phone with them. Yr 7 they start wanting to go to shops with friends. You can’t sit in park you’ll make them look silly.

Really shocked that city based children are walking home alone at eight years old in Scotland. It would not be allowed to happen in England.

Don't be ridiculous of course it does. Lots of Children in KS2 are perfectly capable of walking to school.

There are no laws stating when your child is able to walk to and from school alone.

We don't live in a city, a small town, but my children have walked home together since they were 9 and 7. It's less than a five minute walk, but it takes them 20 minutes as they're with pals, etc. It's good for them.

Obviously it depends on individual circumstance and location, but I'm shocked that an 8 year old walking home would be considered a safeguarding issue! That's quite ridiculous.

At our local school (in England), children are allowed to walk home alone (with permission from a parent) in years 5 and 6. So that's from age 9.

For most children 11 is old enough to go to the park on their own.

The only times I wouldn't allow it is if it was an extremely built up/ busy area, if I knew there was a lot of crime around the park, or if the child was immature for their age/ had some kind of learning difficulty etc.

Other than that, most 11 year olds are perfectly capable enough to manage themselves out at the local park for an hour or two.

@Gabriellastella

No child of mine would be 'hanging out' in parks. Absolutely not. What can they possibly hope to gain?

There are plenty of ways for young people can enjoy freedom without resorting to hanging around in parks and such like. It feels like a class divide.
I don't know a single friend who would be comfortable for their pre teens or teenagers to hang around parks. I am glad you are staying with her op, you are a good mother. I would encourage her to make friends with children that are not doing the park thing, and try to avoid it altogether.

Parks are only there to be enjoyed by the local community. This haughty attitude that you're better parents than us who let our children be outdoors without direct supervision is very, very silly.

So much - a 5 and 7 year old walking to school alone is ridiculous! And so sad - they’ll be watching all the other parents loving walk their friends and just feel uncared for. It’s so dangerous. I’m sure your school have noted it as a safeguarding concern - whether they’ve told you about it or not!!

I'm in Scotland, albeit not in a city, and our local school actively encourages the pupils to walk without an adult from P4 onwards. If parents are accompanying, then they're asked to drop off at the gates and not come into the playground.

As for going to the park, my children went to our local park with friends who lived nearby from the age of about 7. It's a small park in the middle of a housing estate, no roads to cross and I can see it from my window.

The schools have their own policy but I’d like to know what the law is that would prevent it. Circumstances are all different - how many roads you cross, length of walk etc. We are in danger of producing young people incapable of making a decision independently if we’re not careful.

9 and 7 sorry but my comment still stands - 7 is far too young and 9 is too young to be responsible for someone else even if old enough to do themselves.

The law is the children’s act - there is no objective rule - negligence is dependant on the facts and circumstances

@Mumbot345635

So much - a 5 and 7 year old walking to school alone is ridiculous! And so sad - they’ll be watching all the other parents loving walk their friends and just feel uncared for. It’s so dangerous. I’m sure your school have noted it as a safeguarding concern - whether they’ve told you about it or not!!

I said they were 7 and 9, so you're wrong in more ways than one.

Don't bother with your ill-informed opinions about my kids, thanks.

Scotland seems very different to England.

I see no child under ten going anywhere alone on the streets or otherwise, and if I saw a young child alone at that age I would most definitely call the police, and pull over to be sure they made it in time to collect the child safely. I would never just drive by and ignore them.

@Mumbot345635

9 and 7 sorry but my comment still stands - 7 is far too young and 9 is too young to be responsible for someone else even if old enough to do themselves.

And you're still wrong.

Give it up, love.

@Gabriellastella

Scotland seems very different to England.

I see no child under ten going anywhere alone on the streets or otherwise, and if I saw a young child alone at that age I would most definitely call the police, and pull over to be sure they made it in time to collect the child safely. I would never just drive by and ignore them.

Jesus christ.

Yes, I agree Scotland is clearly better different for children to grow up in, if ten years old walking to their friends house or the park need police attendance.

I used to wonder how children are still being run over so regularly, and now I know.

9 and 7 sorry but my comment still stands - 7 is far too young and 9 is too young to be responsible for someone else even if old enough to do themselves

As it happens I agree with you on the being responsible for someone else issue.

It still does not make walking to and from school alone a safeguarding issue.

www.gov.uk/law-on-leaving-your-child-home-alone

It’s an offence if you leave them alone and it places them at risk. The nspcc says children under 8 should never be out on their own.

I am talking about a 7/8 year old not a ten year old somuch, there is a vast and important difference in maturity and safety awareness.

Scotland is not better, bad parenting is not celebrated here under the ruse of letting kids be free?! the same parents undoubtably leave their kids to go to the pub, or a night on the town to help with their life skills. Piss poor parenting dressed up as assisting independence.

Yes, right after I pack them off to school I lock the door and head out clubbing. That's what all parents do round here, is that not how it works in England then?

Who knew!

Mumbot: they’ll be watching all the other parents loving walk their friends
..
Please translate that into English.

There's nothing wrong with a five and seven year old walking to school together if school is very close. They'll meet others on the way. The poster wouldn't allow them to do that if the area was dodgy.

I couldn't wait to go to and come home from school on my own at 7, which is when I started to do it. I lived not more than ten minutes away from school, maybe less if we didn't dawdle, a girl over the road also went there and we met loads of others going there too. There was a lollipop lady for crossing the road opposite the school.

@Maggiesfarm it's a 9 and 7 year old, not a 5 and 7 as said by Mumbot.

Guess what though? They're actually now 9 and 11, and they've survived my years of neglect - so far anyway. Fingers crossed eh?

Really shocked that city based children are walking home alone at eight years old in Scotland. It would not be allowed to happen in England

I'm really shocked that anyone would think this was an issue! Good on that Scottish school for encouraging it. This was entirely normal when I grew up and I 'm not that ancient (40's). Its good for children to develop that sense of independence. My seven year old started to go on (very) short runs by himself around our local estate and he absolutely LOVED the independence of it! I was delighted. He had such terrible separation anxiety for so long that to see him proud of going out by himself was just brilliant. He's 8 now and I am hoping he will start to want to walk to school by himself soon. Its a very short distance in a very safe suburb and no roads to cross.

The comment that children walking by themselves will be feeling sad just ridiculous! If children want to walk by themselves let them have that pride in themselves.