"Playing out" is it what it sounds like and do people really let 5yos do it?

[CountessDracula]

I have heard mention of this on several threads recently

Does it just mean letting kids play in the street or local area on their own?

There seem to be a lot of very young kids doing this! Is it normal?

But you're always with them. Lovely that you do so much with them but I'm all in favour of kids getting together with no adult supervision every so often. Maybe I wouldn't let a 5 year old walk around on his/her own but I'd certainly let a 5 year old out with a 7 year old sibling (and in fact, I do).

We cramp their style, it's unavoidable. Kids need to take risks, dare themselves to do stuff, dangle dangerously from trees etc without an adult telling them to stop every 2 seconds.

Zog- succintly put. I think your kids would like to play with my kids!
My best memories of childhood are playing with a big pack of kids, making bonfires and guys, organising ourselves and looking out for each other. I want my kids to have the same sort of experiences if at all possible.

ive never let my children "play out" on the road with or without friends. We have a reasonable garden and they are always welcome to invite friends to ours to play or go to friends houses to play. I have been berated by a couple of friends who said dd would be pregnant by the time she was 14 as I stifled her. Admittedly there's about 5 months in which she could become pregnant but in reality she's a well adjusted teenager who simply knows her boundaries and comfort zone. She goes shopping and out with friends now and is aware of any possible dangers etc but I cannot see how not letting her roam the streets has harmed her in any way.

lol jampots....tbh I don't think it's stiffeling that produces Teenagemums but to much freedome and no rule and selfrespect! Oh and making Kids grow up to quick, senind the wrong messages by the way they dress...I mean...wtf....why does a 3 year old girl (not yours now, lol) wear a T-shirt saying " go on, touch my bum, you know you want too...." I mean honestly.......what sort of message is that sending to Kids and indeed Paedos!

Mine weren't allowed out the front until they were about 13 12 10 and 8, and then I worried until they came back. I have seen the standard of driving of the other residents of our cul de sac and I'm not convinced any of them could stop in time (average age about 19). They always played in the garden before that.

It does annoy me when I'm driving through the neighbouring estate and there are all these little tiny children wandering about on their own (and a lot of under 5s at that). They don't have any road sense at all at that age so to my mind they are putting other people in danger by being out alone.

My 3 year old dd plays out with 3 girls aged 3, 3 and 5 BUT I always go out with her as do their mums. We congregate outside one of our houses and chat, have a cup of tea etc whilst they go up and down past us on their bikes, scooters etc. We only have a yard so this suits us it's also allowed me to meet the neighbours and feel part of the community. I would not let her go out on her own at this age though.

they play out from 3 in my busy one way street

you hear cars beeping them and braking

Parents are sitting in their houses not even watching them

Mine aren't allowed out and won't be till they are about 22 (at least)!!!!!!!!!!!!

mine do
adn did when they were3 and 5 too
ditto cul de sac

you urban types y ous ee

Mine are out now UNSUPERVISED while I am on MN, how louche. Call the Police, they are waving at me through the window, or are they drowning? Oh dear.

its when you are sitting here hearing brakes screeching and horns beeping as a 4 year old has just ran straight out onto the road again.

They have no road sense at that age

I just like to have my girls were I can see them. Nearly lost one a couple of times

id be too worried that a nasty man or nasty older child would do nasty horrible things, but i dont live in a culdesac so dont have the pressure of letting my ds go out to play with all the other kids phew!

Mine don't play out the front because the road is not a cul de sac and it's quite a steep hill too, so I wouldn't want them out with a ball or even a bike just yet.

The other day my 3 (7, 5, 3) and two visitors raced round to next-door to ask for their ball back - without me! I was a bit at myself allowing them but that's just daft.

TBH I wish we did live somewhere more suitable - modern estates are great for this, lots of big drives and roads no-one drives down, perfect for learning to ride yr bike for example.

zog I do agree with you that children need some independence as they grow up - but when? and how? that's the big question.

I'm envious of all those who do - we're on a busy main road and my almost 10 year old has never 'played out'

my 4 yr old plays out in the cul de sac but its very quiet no thru traffic and there are parents at either end to keep an eye out , usually there is one of us out in the street with them ,or i stand in the kitchen and watch. There are older children too who look out for them too. It is difficult but i think children need to be given a bit of independence even at a young age ,otherwise how else do they learn? also we have to remember that the number of children abducted and murdered hasnt increased since the 60s ,but the number of cars has ,so the real increased danger is from traffic . so id you live in a busy urban area then i can imagine not wanting to let little ones out loose