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Parenting

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Original poster

So, what are your rules for 7yos playing out on bikes?

19 replies

MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 09/08/2010 16:24

My DD1 likes to go and play out the front in our cul-de-sac with her friends. The PFB mum in me says I ought to be standing out there with her. The common sense bit of me makes me want to stand inside with the other children in the warm, but looking out for her every two minutes. The practical I've-got-lots-of-other-things-to-do part of me makes me want to get on with my jobs, and ask her to come back to the house and knock to let me know she's ok every now and then.

So, what do others do? How long are you happy for your 7yo to be out of your sight for? What are your rules?

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thirdname · 09/08/2010 16:26

i left ds out on his own when he was 7, but usually there are a gang of children out there

AnnoyingOrange · 09/08/2010 16:28

mine is "stay with your older brother"

I wouldn't let him out on his own

Original poster

MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 09/08/2010 16:28

There sometimes is here, but obv. not in schooltime (DD is HEd) and sometimes not in the holidays either. Even then, they tend to congregate further up the road (our house is at the very end of hte cul-de-sac) where I can't see her unless I go outside.

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Original poster

MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 09/08/2010 16:29

Really, Annoying? Why not?

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LynetteScavo · 09/08/2010 16:30

I have to be able to see DS2 if I go outside.(Ie no disapearing into anyone elses garden without telling me, and he has to be with other children. For some reason he wants to ride his bike alone sometimes, but I insist he is always playing with another, older child (there are a few 10/11 year olds, inc DS1)

compo · 09/08/2010 16:32

Annoying - when did you let older son out then?

FranSanDisco · 09/08/2010 16:33

Ds is told to stay on our road. If he goes around the block it is only with other children or his sister (9 yo). Since crashing into 3 bikes yesterday there is a no racing rule (thought it was obvious due to thinness of the road ). I get them to pop back at regular intervals.

AnnoyingOrange · 09/08/2010 16:33

None of his friends are allowed out Mrs Wobble and I don't believe he has enough road sense/common sense to be out alone.

Hisolder brother is a lot more sensible and carries a mobile phone when they are out

AnnoyingOrange · 09/08/2010 16:35

older brother was about nine when he was allowed out alone, to go round the corner to friends' houses, then gradually further afield

FranSanDisco · 09/08/2010 16:35

Oh yes, like Lynette I tell him not to disappear into others gardens unless he tells me first. I hate walking up and down searching for him though I hear his voice before I see him .

Original poster

MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 09/08/2010 16:37

Ah, ok. DD1 is v. v. sensible wrt to road safety. I let them all out (7, 5, 3.5 and 22m) as long as they stay in front of the house and I'm able to be in and out. 22m old has to be in if I'm in the house; and the other three have to stay in front of the house. 7 and 5yo can go up to the corner but they must come straight back - so only to give them a chance at cycling longer than 5 yards!

I'm just wondering if, considering all the neighbours' kids congregate between our house and the corner, I ought to let DD1, when she's out, spend more time up there than just going there and back immediately.

Hard this parenting-first-borns malarky, isn't it!?

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Original poster

MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 09/08/2010 16:38

And they def. don't go into eachothers' houses or gardens - but that doesn't seem to be the done thing around here anyway, thank goodness!

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FranSanDisco · 09/08/2010 16:42

If your dd wants to go a little further and join in with the others I'd let her BUT how will your 5 yo react. Last summer when ds was 6 yo I relented and let him out with 8 yo dd but I wasn't relaxed. I feel he's more sensible roadwise this year. It's a headache this parenting lark .

AnnoyingOrange · 09/08/2010 16:42

Oh, I think it was the bike thing which confused me - mine have played football in the street outside our house from a younger age - we live in a very small cul de sac (5 houses)

However, to me, "out on bikes" is roaming to various playgrounds and friends' houses, well out of sight.

Original poster

MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 09/08/2010 16:46

All of them are pretty grown up about rules being different for different ages. When 3yo is out, then none of them can go out of my sight from the house. The older two are fine with that. When the 5yo is out, the rules will revert to her rules - up to the corner and back.

Sorry for the confusion, Annoying! I'm just gearing up to realising I'm going to have to make a decision about when DD1 can cycle or scoot to our local shop.

OP posts:

AnnoyingOrange · 09/08/2010 16:49

LOL- I remember ds1's first expedition to the shop (10 minute walk)

ginnny · 09/08/2010 16:49

Mine are allowed out in front of our house,the rule is if I can't see you from the front window, you shouldn't be there!
Our road is a dead end though and not many cars about and there is a gated area where all the local kids play.

Original poster

MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 09/08/2010 16:50

How old, Annoying?

OP posts:

AnnoyingOrange · 09/08/2010 16:54

he was 9 - he went on his bike

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