9 year old left in park for 10 minutes

[Italianasoitis]

My 9 year old son went to his friend's house after school. The dad collected them both from school and took them to the park. When my son got home, he said that the dad went back home to get something and left both my son and his friend (both 9) alone for 10 minutes. In this time my son fell over and grazed his knee and said an old lady came over to him to see if he was OK. Son wasn't frightened, hurt or upset amd while he is quote mature for his age, I have never left him alone for any amount of time. I'm annoyed and am not sure if I'm being unreasonable. I feel like I can't trust the parents again. Am I mad? I can be a bit over protective but aibu in thinking you don't leave 9 year olds alone in the park? Or maybe it's OK. I don't know. What do you all think?

Depends where you live. Inner city rough area no. Nice area I would say is fine for most 9 year olds BUT I'm thinking the Dad was being unreasonable leaving a child that was not his alone at a park without confirming with the child's parent would be fine with it.
I would also expect one of them to have a phone or way of being contacted if something went wrong. Phone boxes arnt really a thing anymore like when I was a kid.

Im really surprised at the responses to your post as if your talking about a 15 year old! Im waiting for the comment of ‘my 3 year old plays in the park for 5 hours with no adult’.

I’m sure if your Son is confident and sensible, he will be fine in the park with a friend at 9, but thats for you to decide when that’s right and discuss with him. Another parent should not have done that.

It sounds to me like the OP is treating the 9 year old like a younger child, more like a 7 year old and the responses are about typical 9 year olds. Nothing like a 15 year old, a 15 year old is a year off being left home alone for a few nights.

This!

You’re missing the point.