I have my DD who is 6 years old and she came met a group of girls her age, playing outside during the Easter holidays. They asked to play with them outside and I did let he go. However that same day she came back home saying that there was a man who had been taking photos of them and an adult had screamed over to the man that they were little kids and asked him to stop. I then told her that I wasn't going to let her play outside ever again. The friends then came and knocked the folowing day asking to play with my dd outside and I told them that I wasn't going to let my DD play outside because of safety reasons regarding a man taking photos. The kids then replied that there was no point in worrying since he had to been taken to "prison". I am pretty sure this is something that they were told by their parents to reduce fear in them and to make them feel secure playing outside.
These children play from morning till dawn with bicycle, go to the park unaccompanied and play hide and seek anywhere including neighbours hedges.
However they are constantly coming asking to play with DD and my DD thinks I am being unfair to let her play outside. She watches the children play, holding her hands on the chin outside on her bedroom window sill looking miserable. She wants to become part of them and play with them. I have constantly told her and the friends whner they knock that she is never going to play outside.
I am caught in between a child who wants to play because she can see other enjoying and her safety.
I now feel like I am a cottonwool mum .