to think it is irresponsible to let children of primary school age play out after dark?

[tori32]

I have just nipped out to my shed to get something only to hear children still playing outside. Am I neurotic in thinking that it is irresponsible, not just because of obvious dangers but because I would want to know what they were up to.

I do have to add that I live on an Army Camp and there are guards on the gate, however, there are also several trainees on short courses and lots of contract workmen about due to the houses being refurbished, so it is not as 'safe' as people might think. iyswim

You have to be very careful of vampires.

No, but men who come and go on Camp and having known a Group Captain who turned out to be a peadophile I trust nobody. Its 9-30pm FGS, do they not have homes to go to?

Where my brother was quartered in Catterick (not the barracks but the village) DN played out til bed time, if it was dry summer or winter, primary age upwards. Someone one the street was always watching, usually a few of the families out front having a drink and a chat, it was great!

With language they were using I really hope they weren't being supervised!

But it's fun. Assuming that they are in a reasonably secure place and there are several of them of course.

Yes, primary age and upwards, not under primary school age as I said.

Paedophiles work in all manner of weather copnditions, it's vampires who avoid sunlight. The children are in no more danger than if it was 2pm. Of course, they are at more risk of accidents.

Peadophiles are much more common than people think and the ones that we know about are the tip of the iceburg My point is that even people we have known and thought were respectible human beings can turn out to be the worst kind of predator. I personally would rather be safe than sorry.

Children under 7 are especially bad at judging distance and this is exaggerated in the dark. This means they are more at risk from traffic. Especially on camp where the roads are quiet generally and children are not so streetwise.

Not sure about army camps but i wouldn't let ds play out when it was dark.

Better the slight risk of interferance from a paedophile than a distructive lifetime spent tucked away in from of the playstation with a pile of snacks to keep you quiet and make you forget about ever going outside into The Danger.

I had a friend at school who was never allowed out to play, never allowed back to someone's house. Her mother was a single mother and her daughter was her only child, and she was quite clear in the explainantion that Men Are Sometimes Bad.

Would it surprise you to know that said friend is now 30 and still lives at home with her mum, and won't even get a real job for fear of having to interact with men?

Which bit, peadophiles or traffic? Where the children play is only yards from vast playing fields, sometimes they hang out around the pavillion where nobody would hear if there was trouble, the walk home is not well lit, think about it. Traffic- they are far more at risk because they cannot judge speeds accurately under 7yrs and this is worse in the dark.

yes i agree with the op

if i sound judgemental then so be it

was on leeds ring road today where young like 6 and7 year old boys were crossing 4 lanes and i DID judge the parents then

I am only referring to primary school aged children and after dark, I am not suggesting for a minute that children should be kept in the house all evening

Another interesting point is that under OFSTED rules no minded child can be allowed out of an unsecured garden without direct supervision day or night

Tori i agree !

sorry, no child under 8yo it should read

no YNBU they should be in bed

Phew I am not neurotic then because at least som e people agree !