to think my DD (11) and my DS ( 4.5) can play unsupervised in the communal playground downstairs?

[chanelcandy]

We live in an enclosed horseshoe shaped block of about 40 flats. There is a tiny playground in the middle and a paved area where all the children like to play as well. During the spring/summer months I often let both my children go downstairs to the playground (we are on the top floor) to play. I can hear them from my kitchen and I am happy that they are safe and socialising with their friends.
Tonight I just had a run in with a ground floor neighbour who says she is going to call social services about all the children that are allowed to play out unsupervised, including mine. I think she is BVU to suggest that I should sit out and watch both my children, when I can hear them from my kitchen, nobody else sits out with theirs either. To keep the peace I have said I'll only let my children play on the top floor balcony from now on but this isn't really fair on them. What do you think, was I in the wrong to let them play out without me there?

It doesn't make you sound paranoid but there is no way my ds would want to go anywhere other than where the playground and he is not able to open the heavy front gate.

You do have a point about him being snatched although this is no different to children playing in a front garden except we have a huge security gate and high metal fences all around the whole block. Like I said I'm taking everything people have said on board and will reconsider the safety of my children when playing out because that's what matters most in the end. If it means I sit and watch them then so be it.

My eleven year old would agree regarding looking after her brother but then, they are not always out together she often just goes out to play with the other girls alone.