How to stop being a helicopter

[therockinggazelle]

I think im a helicopter parent. I cant help myself. I know I'm over protective. I worry constantly about something happening to them and not being able to keep them safe. With Summer holidays looking they really want to go out and play but I'm terrified something will happen. My eldest is 7, his friend lives around the corner ( same estate) he really wants to be able to call around to him to play but the thoughts of not being able to see him/ know what he's doing makes me panic. We have friend here sometimes but I know I need to start giving him a little freedom , I don't want him stuck inside all summer in front of tv. But how do I stop myself panicking? I've been looking at kids tracker watches , does anyone have one for kids? God that went on a bit! How do I calm down and let them be Kids??!!

I was you a couple of years ago

It was really difficult! But we started small. We have a small park about 5min walk away so agreed he could go and play there for an hour with a friend. Stressed the "rules" like double check crossing the road (yikes), no talking to strangers, come away if there was any trouble and be back by x o clock. Explained that if everything was ok (back on time) then he could stay out longer and eventually go to big park.

He's almost 11 now and cycles to school and back (I still can't stand watching him ride ) has an iPhone so I can do the "find my phone" thing on the sly...

Get them to play in the back garden rather than out front. Build up slowly with more responsibility and setting boundaries on how far they can go.

It depends on the maturity of the child but none of mine were ready to be out on their own at 7. They were about 9/10. It's the traffic that scares me. Mine all had their head in the clouds at 7 and I was worried they'd step out in front of a car. Supervised in a park is perfectly safe. There's no need to keep them indoors at all.

The alternative to letting them go out by themselves isn’t sitting in front of the TV all day.
Can you walk him round to his friends and pick him up (pre agreed with friends parents)? Have his friends to play round in the garden? Take them all to the park together?