Young children out playing alone

[Somethingsnappy]

I just wondered what other mumsnetters think about this. I often see three siblings (5,6 and 7) I know through my DC's school, playing out of sight of their house and sometimes relatively far away (a couple of streets). They are often just on a big green area away from roads, but I do see them on bikes on the roads too. It's a housing estate in a large village.

When I was growing up in the 80s, nobody would have batted an eyelid at this, but these days I don't think many would allow that. I wouldn't let my similarly aged children out alone away from my house. What do others think?

Doesn't really matter what we think the parents are obviously comfortable with it. Maybe there is a Grandparent/Friend/relative who can see the kids from their house.

I think some parents are more comfortable. I wonder if they know what their kids are doing. My gran lives in a retirement flat, the residents put a lock on a gate to their gardens because children kept turning up from a neighbouring block. They would come in and dig up their veg and pick flower heads off. Someone managed to acquire a key and the kids are back. A few residents bought a few toys and a little tent and the kids broke it. They were aged between 3 and 5. No parent in sight. I wouldn't be comfortable with kids that young doing that, particularly when they don't know the residents. A few tried to talk to the parents and we're told it wasn't a problem.

I think that’s way too young. To the point where I think I’d phone the police.
And I am generally on the more relaxed side when it comes to children’s independence.

@eeyore228 that’s terrible. Children and some adults seem to have no respect for their environment.

There’s no way I’d let my four year old out unattended and I can’t see that changing when she gets older.

It depends on the general area doesn't it?

Mines 4 and started playing outside mostly unsupervised. We're semi rural, lots of kids and families. Previous home was a terrace, lots of cars and no room to play so wouldn't have been suitable. I think it's unsupervised play is really important for kids development.

@TwoAndAnOnion

It depends on the general area doesn't it?

The area is quite nice, lots of families. Cars do go too fast on the roads sometimes though.

My youngest is now 10, but was playing out with friends from 7 unsupervised - but within a restricted area.

I certainly did when I was that age; everybody did. But I wouldn't be comfortable not being able to see mine. And I agree with @eeyore228 about the parents not knowing what they're doing.

It’s not appropriate at that age. And “nice” area doesn’t mean totally safe.

@inmyslippers

Mines 4 and started playing outside mostly unsupervised. We're semi rural, lots of kids and families. Previous home was a terrace, lots of cars and no room to play so wouldn't have been suitable. I think it's unsupervised play is really important for kids development.

Are there older children looking after yours? I can’t imagine how this is ok. Are they just wandering the streets?

I have an 8 and a 4 year old, we live in a quiet culdesac on a quiet estate. The 8 year has been playing outside our house in eyesight for a couple of years and has only just been allowed to the top of our street this year as her friend from school lives about 8 doors down and they have started playing out together.

My 4 year old will sometimes tag along with her sister but she’s not allowed out front on her own yet.

I wouldn’t be happy letting kids that young go so far out of eye sight.

My dc were playing out unsupervised at 6/7, but within a very small area and in a relatively safe place. They were always with other children.

It depends so much on the child, the location, who else is around.

Are there older children looking after yours? I can’t imagine how this is ok. Are they just wandering the streets?

^^sometimes he plays with local kids, if he's on his own he's taken to a specific pile of mud to run his trucks in.

My daughter is almost 7 and started playing out this year unsupervised. There is normally between 4 and 7 kids out, the oldest is 12 and the youngest is 4. We live in a quiet cul de sac and they spend most time either playing on someone's driveway or taking turns in each other's gardens.

It’s really hard to know whether it might be appropriate or not without seeing the area in question. I live on a no through road which is very quiet so my 4 year old is allowed to play outside. The vast majority of the time I’m out there too but there is a very sensible 14 year old girl in the street so if she is out the front I’m happy to leave her in charge for a bit. There’s no way I’d let my daughter leave our street though.

@inmyslippers. Can you see him when he's playing?

Yes there's not much around.

There is a big green area, surrounded in other houses. If they stayed there, they would have no need to cross roads. She does know families in these houses, but the kids aren't playing with the kids from those houses all the time, they're often alone. And more recently, I've seen them further away on roads, which I suspect she doesn't know about (might be wrong though). The roads are on a housing estate, so 30mph, but not everyone sticks to that.

I can’t imagine being in my house while my 5 year old had gone off the road, out of sight. I’d be worried about them getting hit by a car along with many other things that could happen.

We’re are currently on a camp site , yesterday in the little shop on the next site ( so though a hedge across a small car park ) there were a gang of young primary DC , they were not all together just twos and threes . 2 DC looked about 5 , little girl hadn’t seen hairbrush or flannel... in some time .. started licking the packets of sweets on the rack 🤣 the staff were gobsmacked ! And just squealed stop ! Then removed all that had been at licking height to sanitise ! These DC then all trooped back threw the hedge and across another internal road and car park plus the 100 meters to their tents ⛺️

My DS is about to turn 8 and doesn't play out alone, will probably be another 3 years ish before he is allowed out alone. It really isn't the done thing to play out on the streets where I live though.

Popethetrewhugger

That's soo funny 🤣🤣🤣

@Popetthetreehugger