Would you let a 12 year old and 5 year old go to the playground together?

[NotmyrealNC]

NC in case I get called a terrible parent!

Both are very sensible, playground is 5 minutes from our house and 12 year old has a phone. I'll be WFH.

Last day of the summer holidays and wondering if this is okay? My brothers and I were certainly off all over the place at these ages in the 90s!

No. I wouldn’t. 12 year old obviously yes but not with the 5 year old.

I wouldn’t either. I wouldn’t leave that responsibility with a 12 year old.

No, it's not fair on the 12 year old.

Probably. Based on how close my park is, the roads and the area plus the behaviour of the two kids involved.

Should have said - no roads to cross, it's a footpath all the way there.

Absolutely yes providing they are siblings or v close cousins(so the 12yr old is very familiar with the 5yr old and their behaviour/personality)

Absolutely no if they are not siblings, like if a 12yr old neighbour called for the 5yr old to take to the park.

Probably not.
In truth, I think it highly unlikely that it wouldn't be perfectly safe but I wouldn't want the older child to carry the burden if something did go wrong.

I wouldn’t, purely because if anything happens it shouldn’t be the 12 year olds responsibility as s/he is still only a child..

Nope, won’t even let my 12 and 9 year old go out to the park/shop together

Nope...I would be worried stiff.

Probably not at 5.
My girls 8 and 10 go on their own but my 10 year old doesn’t feel responsible for the 8 year old.

If as you describe, no roads, just a footpath and only 5 mins away I would say this is totally fine depending on the behaviour of the two children. I have a 12 year old and a 5 year old. Our local park involves walking along and crossing several busy roads, so I would not allow that. But I let the 12 year old supervise in our garden which is big and I can’t necessarily see or hear them.

No, the 12 year old is too young to be responsible for the 5 year old. Around here it is generally around age 8 that children get to play out without being supervised by an adult.

Yep, I would.

But that was pretty normal in my family growing up. Often cousins and/or siblings.

And we didn’t have phones!

I think 12 is a bit young to be responsible for a younger child outside of the house

Nope. I’d worry too much.

No. I have a 12 year old and a 5 year old and there would be no hope I’d so this.

(Not that I let the 12 year old out alone, you’d understand if you saw where I live).

If they were siblings yes. Unless they both had form for not being sensible and the little one wouldn't obey the older one in an emergency.

Interesting mix of responses. I feel like the chances of something going wrong is tiny but I don't feel entirely comfortable about it hence asking. I take the point about the 12 year old feeling responsible if anything does happen though.

She has picked him up from school and walked him home a couple of times if that makes any difference - same distance away and same footpath - the headmistress gave it the go ahead knowing both of them.

I live in a very nice, safe area! Probably also worth mentioning.

No

Just goes to show how different each area is, that would not be allowed at our school

Yes I would, assuming they are both fairly sensible kids.

I would - good for personal development for both the 12 and 5 year old

This. A 5 year old requires adult supervision. It’s not fair on the 12 year old.