DD been away with her dad but was allowed to soft play on her own.....

[MyLifeNow20]

With her 8 yr old half brother.
They have been to Little seas weymouth and stayed in the orange section. DD7 and the half brother walked to the soft play on their own to play.
I picked her up tonight and its been playing on my mind, why would she be allowed to walk 5 mins on her own out of sight? Apaprently they had walkie talkies too

Who said anything about a 5 year old?

I’m on the fence, some 7 and 8 year olds I’d be ok with this, others I wouldn’t. It really depends on the children and the location. But there’s no need to exaggerate by inventing 5 year olds.

I don't live in the UK, but is there really a lot of stranger danger nowadays? no. There is the internet.

Statistically children are no more at risk than they were in the 60’s, but the media and the internet have given us the impression that abductions are far more commonplace than they were when that’s not the case.

Truth is that there’s no right or wrong answer. In my generation I would have been allowed to do the same. I was allowed to play outside on my own as were all the kids on my street and elsewhere. I was allowed to the park from about the age of 6/7 with my sister who is 3 years older so 9/10 and this was the norm.

I would be more cautious where are busy roads because traffic is more prevalent now, but we are bringing up our kids to be anxious and to lack independence.

It might well be normal for the other dc in question and for something to become more normal for the other there needs to be a first time. Round here dc often start walking too and from school aged 7/8 and pop to the park. Going to a soft play on a caravan park would be absolutely fine for the majority especially with company and the radio. Dc have cheap kids ones and they range 3k so that's definitely possible.

I think yabu. At that age my kids were walking to the shop and green. Children ( not babies) need independence.

No more than it ever was, no

Things are a bit different now compared to the 80’s don’t you think! With the help of our newish breeding ground being the internet it’s got considerably worse, yes they was still about when we was little but nothing like today. I’m sure little Sarah paynes parents thought she was safe whilst she was out playing with her older siblings too! You can never be to careful when it comes to children

You can never be to careful when it comes to children

You see, I fundamentally disagree with this. Being overly cautious can be very negative for children - you can make them perceive the world in which they live (and will have to live independently at some point) as immensely more dangerous than it is, which can lead to a lot of anxiety and their not developing an appropriate level if independence.

Plus - kids need to learn to be a bit savvy and streetwise. My friend’s brother had a friend whose parents never let him out alone until he was 17. And this kid was always the one who ended up in sticky situations, because he just didn’t know how to spot danger/how to behave in many everyday situations. You need to teach this to kids on an ongoing basis and you start with baby steps - you let them go on their own for a few minutes here and there. Agree with a pp that this situation sounds like a difference in parenting style; if he’s a decent co parent, you have to accept that this is one of those times where he deemed it okay and you may not have done.

You can never be to careful when it comes to children

This is a dangerous attitude in and of itself. Children have to be allowed some independence so they learn how to handle situations. I probably agree that 7 & 8 may be too young for this - but it might not, depending on the kids and the specific situation. If you carry on with “can never be too careful” for too long you’ll end up with a 15 year old who doesn’t know how to get on a bus, work out when to avoid a situation or do anything for themselves and that’s worse for them in the long run.