Do you leave your 4/5 year olds unsupervised when out?

[jenrose29]

I went to a theme park with my friend and her 4 and 5 year old on Monday. My daughter is 4 and a half. My friend was quite happy to allow her 4 and 5 year old to go off on their own within a large building containing rides/soft play areas etc and to the toilet on their own. At one point she didn't see either of her kids for 45 minutes. I don't know if I'm over-protective but I want to know where my daughter is/be sat by gate of soft play at very least and certainly would not let her use public toilets alone. As it was a bank holiday it was incredibly busy and I couldn't believe that she could just sit and relax while having no idea where her kids were or what they were doing. Aside from that, I don't see the point of taking kids out and not doing anything with them - surely the point of taking them out is to enjoy the day with them? Am I being over-protective?

No. At that age I would be watching them, albeit from a little distance rather than right next to them. If they moved to where I couldn't see them then I would move too. I certainly wouldn't let them use the toilet alone at that age.

No!

But then I am someone who can do a 360º turn and be panicking by 320º if I don't see them!

No. Way too young, dd is 5 and very sensible buty, like other dcs, sha can panick or worrry... it's just too young..

Far too young, IMO. I'd be panicking every second about their whereabouts and would be a nervous wreck.

Hmmm we let ds run around a big soft play on his own and go to the loo on his own. We went to a brewers fayre and he played in the soft play bit / went to loo with his friends the whole time. He did keep coming back for a drink though. He's 5.

No, I let her into soft play with her sister or by herself but I know where she is (I can hear her)

I don't let her out of my site when out and about and she has to hold my hand when shopping etc

It takes seconds to loose them at that age!

I went round to my dh's friends house with Dd1 who is 5 and a very young 5, their DD is 6 and they were playing in the garden, I thought it has gone quiet so went to have a look only to be told by dh's friend that they had gone to the park up the road, I literally had a heart attack there and then, it's apparently normal for their DD to go on her own !! Wtf !! (que me running up the road with no shoes on to find them)