How old?

[BipolarSunset]

Hi all,

Just wondering how old your children were when they started to play out on their own?

My DS is 9 in July but it still feels too soon to let him out on his own but I don't know if this is more me not wanting to let go. He's our only child but I'm aware I don't want to 'baby' him forever.

Any advise?

Thanks in advance

So much depends on where you live and the culture locally. for example, in the last place we lived, I would not have let my children out to play alone if you'd paid me to.

It was a problematic area and the park was a hangout for local teens up to no good....drinking, the occasional fight etc.

But where we are now I would have no problem with letting an 8 or 9 year old out with friends...and I did...my youngest is 13 now but she was about 8 or 9 when I let her out down the street to the shop...or to play on the swings there with mates.

@FortunesFave

So much depends on where you live and the culture locally. for example, in the last place we lived, I would not have let my children out to play alone if you'd paid me to.

It was a problematic area and the park was a hangout for local teens up to no good....drinking, the occasional fight etc.

But where we are now I would have no problem with letting an 8 or 9 year old out with friends...and I did...my youngest is 13 now but she was about 8 or 9 when I let her out down the street to the shop...or to play on the swings there with mates.

Thanks for the reply.

We are SE London. There's a small few kids around that are DS age that go out on bikes and to the football cage etc but then also more kids from his class aren't allowed out.

I used to live in Camberwell before I had DC and looking back I can't imagine letting my kids play out there. But it's hard I know...however if more aren't allowed out than are, I wouldn't let him. I'd get him into as many activities as possible...not easy at the moment I'm sure!