Child walking dog in wooded area?

[Nina1013]

The post about the dog walker in the woods has just got me thinking about this.

My tweenager takes her dog to the woods near us sometimes. It is a small wooded area between urban housing developments, for context. But you definitely can’t see inside it from the paths around it. You could hear, but wouldn’t see.

We live in a lovely ‘safe’ area and I walk there too and never feel unsafe. They have a really lovely time playing in the woods (her and the dog), not often but maybe once a fortnight. Come home covered in leaves, rosy cheeked and all very wholesome.

The post has just got me thinking, are we crazy to allow her to do this? It has never occurred to me before (beyond the above, ie it’s a good area, only goes in daylight, always has phone and dog and is close to home) but I am now wondering whether children dog walking out of ‘sight’ maybe should be something that’s an automatic no? I am questioning myself here and would really appreciate a sanity check one way or another.

I personally wouldn't let my tween do this on her own, sadly. I think phones give a false sense of security, as if she's attacked, she may not have the opportunity to use her phone. I had a very free-range childhood (as did most people of my age) but I also had several unpleasant encounters with men who approached me when I was alone as a tween/young teenager. Most of these encounters were a bit scary but nothing too serious happened, but one of them I consider myself very lucky to have escaped unharmed, as the guy in question clearly had very dark intentions. I think there are a lot of weirdos around.