at what age can they go to the park alone?

[Dixiefish]

DH thinks the DCs are now old enough to go to the park alone (9 and 7) but I'm not convinced. We have a big park almost opposite our house but they would have to cross a road to get there. It's not fantastically busy except at rush hour and they're pretty reliable road crossers. But then I worry that if something happened at the park - if they fell out of a tree, or into the stream or off the swing or something - and they hurt themselves, what would they do? What if they got lost or someone kidnapped them? The last two are unlikely I know but I don;t think I'd have a moment's peace while they were out!

It's funny, I'm sure when we were kids we roamed all over the place by ourselves but I feel much more nervous about my DCs doing so!

So many variables. I think my DD will be old enough about 7. I can see the playground from my bedroom window & the road between us is quiet ish.

Thing is, something has to happen for them to be able to learn to cope with unexpected events & accidents. If that makes sense.

We live opposite a park with a quiet road between us, my DS is 9 and I wouldn't let him go there to play alone. I think it's more to do with the fact that would be on his own, maybe if he had a sibling to go with him I might feel differently - oh and he doesn't have an ounce of common sense either so that might also be affecting n
My decision.

Together, I'd say yes or with friends
Alone, no

Personally, I don't think it is a matter of age, but I think it is a matter of maturity. Are they reliable? Do they know what to do in an emergency? Do they know how to cope with strangers? Older children? Problems? will they stay together or will they split up? There are also considerations about the general area and how safe it is to think about.

Personally, I allow my children (almost 10 and almost 7) to go to the park together. However, I have two very sensible girls and no main roads. The park is in my estate and only a couple of minutes from my house. My two are very good at staying together, they take a phone and can call me if anything goes wrong (I live in a very safe village - no worries about it being taken or mugged etc). They have very clear boundaries, have safe houses (the houses of people we know) that surround the park that they can go to for back up if in need.

I think if I were in your situation, I would ensure that I saw them across the road, let them go to the park and then got them to phone me when they were leaving, so I could ensure they crossed the road safely again. Area dependent of course (and assuming you have sensible, trustworthy sons )

So many variables, and, like so many other things, generally best to do in stages.... so first time I'd probably leave them to play for a bit after I went home (but had been there in the first instance) for example.
I think that's a bit young, but I might be judging by my ds's immaturity rather than yours

Thanks for your input everyone.
LadyLech - I have girls too and they're generally pretty reliable about crossing the road and staying together, but we're in deepest suburbia here, not a village, and apart from our immediate neighbours they don't know anyone else close by. To get to the park is a couple of minutes' walk, but it's a big park and if they wander over to the other side they could be a good 15 minutes' walk away, and I'm not sure I'd trust them with my phone. It'd probably get left under a bush somewhere! Still, I know I'm going to have to let them do it some day!

FWIW my DC who are 14, 12 and 10 go to the park without me tho in a pair or with a mate.

They are older than yrs, OP, but the park is a 10 min walk away across a few residential but sometimes busy (bus route) roads.

I don't think I let ds2 (10yo) go on his own but he goes with a sibling.

I think if you have sensible 7 yo and 9yo park you can see from yr house is OK. But they need a watch (or a phone) so they know when to come home!