Would you let your child do this?

[Peach897]

Go to play in a garden with 3 other children. My DC is age 5. They are 5, 7, and 8. Their mum is in the house but not really watching them? They know not to leave the garden though.

Yes

Yes as long as there's nothing overtly dangerous about the garden and they don't leave the garden.

I don't know...it depends on many factors. How sensible they are (neighbour's kids and your own DC), how much you trust the mum, can you see the garden from any room in your house?Id my DC went to my closest neighbours' gardens, I will be able to see from a room on the first floor, so I will be looking every now and again

Are they next door or four streets down? Another town? This matters.

DS is in the garden now, I'm cooking dinner and DH is putting some laundry away, the door is open I can hear if he calls and he can't get out of the garden

Yeah, I don't think I'd have a problem with this if it was close by.

Yes definitely.

Yes

Sorry, thought I’d put that. They are 3 doors down from our house

They can actually leave the garden as it’s not secured but the other DC are generally sensible I think and stay on there. My DC wouldn’t leave either

Yeah I would

No, I'd need the mum to be watching them.

I would, the 7&8 year old would (presumably) call for an adult if anything happened, so probably safer then playing alone in own garden, which I also allow while I'm in the house making dinner or whatever. I would probably walk them down to the garden and ask the mum to either bring them back or call me when they're ready to go home.

My eldest at that age I would have. Middle, no way.

Depends on the child!

I wouldn't no, I have a 4 year old son and personally I'd want to be there

Yes, and I'd be fairly happy for the kids to bounce between the two gardens. Assuming you aren't on a main road.

Yes. They have to experience responsibility and freedom and this seems a good compromise.

My friend and I were inseparable when we were 4, always round each others houses or playing in each others gardens, I wasn't walked round to his and he wasn't walked round to mine. We walked round ourselves or on our bikes.

Appreciate the traffic was nonexistent, so far safer roads than today, but I do think kids are kept in bubble wrap a bit today.

Yes

Garden not secure. Oldest DC 8. Mother not really watching them.
No.

If the garden was rock solid secure and/or mother vigilant, then yes.

Children are unpredictable and adventurous and egg each other on to do things that alone they wouldn't do.

Yes I would.

What's made you ask, if they're all sensible kids?

Blimey, how big is the trampoline? 🤣🤣😉

I would be absolutely fine with this as long as there weren't open bodies of water or similar hazards in the garden.

yes.but i would knock and say to mum,this is 1st time get play out with friends and youre a bit anxious. give her your phone no so can contact you if wee one wants home/etc.agree pick up time?

Generally, yes but it would depend on the exact situation. Is the 5 child able to play without adult support, can you trust them not to leave the garden, and can they get help from you or the other parent if needed, what is the area like, if they were to leave the garden, e.g quiet or busy road.

I mean it's just a drop off playdate, right? I don't expect the parents to be supervising every second on a playdate.

If the garden isn't secure I'd expect the parents to be alert to that, but that's the only thing giving me pause.