At what age do you let kids free in a playground where you can’t always see them ?

[rubyco]

I was in a busy playground today with both my kids. They’re 5 and a half and 3 and a half.

I loathe going to playgrounds like this with them ( on my own ). Very busy, lots of things to climb on where you can’t see them etc.

this summer I took my DD who is 5 to a large softplay ( my DS stayed home ) and for the first time ever I let her roam around a big softplay alone with her friends. I just stayed near the exit and kept an eye.

I just absolutely hate when I can’t see her / them. My little one still needs a constant eye, but am I being OTT with my 5 and a half year old year 1 DD ?

the playground was huge today. Lots of people, many areas etc.

when did you start letting it go a bit ? Letting her free in a massive softplay was a big step for me.

my kids are NT.

In a lot of countries kids will be walking to school, park, or the shops flone at 5. I walked 4 blocks to school alone at 5, and that included at lunch.

So I think 5 to play in the playhouse is just fine.

What you might want to consider is whether you've spoken to him about expectations when he's not right with you. This is something parents used to teach kids but often don't bother now. Things like, don't leave the playground or go off with anyone without first finding me and asking.

Why would he leave?

This thread is more than a year old and I can’t be bothered reading back to remember what it’s about to be honest

Error

Probably 4 or 5 .... I was close but didn't have my eye on them at every moment - by then they are in school and trust me noone has eyes on them at all times! My kids knew not to leave the playground, and well trained that we don't go with strangers or even people they know unless a parent says so. Different in a park we don't know but in the local park we go two for hours on end at least 3 times a week, there would always be few other parents around we knew. They survived they are 13 and 15 now, they would usually be with eachother anyway or a group of other kids.

Reminds me of my neighbour who's kids play outside in the street instead of using the large playing field tens of meters away along the footpath with thousands of square meters of space to run around in. They even stuck a big red notice at the end of my driveway asking people driving into the estate "SLOW DOWN CHILDREN PLAYING". I was tempted to pin up another post that said "If your children used the playing field a literal stones throw away, they wouldn't be at risk from careless drivers", and I say that because small children can be difficult to see when they wander behind your car and you want to reverse out of your driveway.

From 3 ish, I would let her roam the soft play- provided it was easy to keep an eye on exit points.

She's coming up 7 now and I'll let her go outside to play in the play area of a pub or cafe whilst I'm inside and just check on her periodically.

Soft play 3, big playground around 5. This summer I let DS wander a bit by himself in an amusement park (like if we came off one ride and he didn't want to go on the next one he'd go off and find his dad on the other side of the park), he's 8 and has a watch phone so could call if he got lost. Which he did several times but it was a lesson in map reading for him!

When DD started crawling DS was 4, so from then as I can’t run in two directions. I did pick my playgrounds carefully though, sticking to smaller ones or the one that’s a big square so I could always see him. He was also very sensible and knew not to leave the play area alone or with anyone who wasn’t me, DD was a bit older before I trusted her.

We have a few adventure playgrounds in the city and they are "open access" for 8yo up, so from 8yo a child can attend on their own completely without adults going with them. There are some staff/volunteers but they are there to help facilitate play for everyone, assist in resolving disputes between children, help with accidents and so on, not to directly supervise children and again free-attending 8yo can leave the site on their own whenever they choose to do so.