4 year old wants to play out all the time

[inmyslippers]

I can't relax. Feel like I have to stick my head out every 5mins. He started playing out at 3 and I would sit outside. Over summer I began letting him have short
Intervals alone. He plays with some of the older kids and that eases my mind abit. Keeping him in feels cruel when there's so many kids out. Soon as we get back from school he's on my case to go out. I used to roam around unsupervised in the 90s and I doubt my mum even noticed I was gone.

I have a 4 year old and there is no way I would let him play out without proper supervision (not just other people's children). It would only take a second for him to run to get a ball out of the road without looking properly or to wander too far away.

There are 2 siblings in my village who are 4 and 7 who are in the park unattended (their mum lives close and pops her head into the park every half hour or so). I hate it as they have no concept of stranger danger and they are so vulnerable by themselves.

It will be dark and cold after school soon, so should sort itself out soon.

In the meantime agree a period of time/set days he can play out and sit in the garden with a cup of tea/magazine. Once he knows the routine the nagging will let up.

I can't relax
This tells you all you need to know. There’s a reason why.
I wouldn’t let mine at that age. Didn’t trust them. Didn’t trust others.

I think I remember your post Nerr! I just want to read my book in peace. Getting up every 5minutes is ruining it. Yes hopefully
Darker earlier nights should shorten his play out time.

Jesus christ. I dont even allow my 6 and 7 year olds out unsupervised.
I've told DD when she's 8 she can play out alone. She currently sticks with her 12 year old brother.
I wouldn't dream of letting a 4 year old wander around unsupervised. There's a reason you can't relax.

. They do not have the capacity to be responsible for a 4 year old. You need to be supervising all the time not just ‘sticking your head out’ every 5 mins.

^^ fair enough. I like that he has the chance to play out independently. I won't be stopping it anytime soon. As long as he's on the front when I check that's ok with me. The home we lived in before was a terrace house with nowhere to play. Here were semi rural. Big field opposite a farm. I picked it so he could enjoy being outdoors, not cooped up in front of a screen. It's like
Oliver Twist, kids are always roaming around playing. I like to think it adds the charm of the place.

Jesus christ. I dont even allow my 6 and 7 year olds out unsupervised.
I've told DD when she's 8 she can play out alone. She currently sticks with her 12 year old brother.

^^ were of opposite opinions. I'm
Appalled at the idea of a 6 or 7 year old not allowed out to play 😁

'It's like Oliver Twist,'

The kids are hanging round with violent thieves and prostitutes?

I picked it so he could enjoy being outdoors, not cooped up in front of a screen.

And that's fair enough... with supervision from you. Youre currently putting your trust in children ffs.
Also, if you think those of us commenting just have our kids in front of a screen all the time you're wrong. We're actually out there supervising our children so they don't get hurt or worse.

The kids are hanging round with violent thieves and prostitutes?

^^ I wouldn't put it past some them! Had a few knock on my door to clean my car or tell me about their table top sale

Appalled at the idea of a 6 or 7 year old not allowed out to play I never said they're not allowed out I said they're not allowed out unsupervised there is a difference. Some of us actually watch our kids.

My 9 year old doesn't play out on his own; we live in a village. I just wouldn't feel comfortable.four is too young.

never said they're not allowed out

^^ I never said I didn't watch him 😉

No way would I let a child that young out unsupervised. Have friends round? Fine. Parents take a group of friends out? Fine.
Infant school age wandering round without an adult? No way.

Yeah, you did... you said you pop your head out. That's not watching him.

It depends imo. You’re semi-rural - what does that mean in practice? Are cars passing by, or are all the kids in an enclosed field in shouting distance? Are other parents about? What kind of things are the kids getting up to? What distance from home are they going?

You want to read so you let your child play outside, supervised by children? I want to do lots of things but they usually have to wait until my 4 year old is in bed.

We're actually out there supervising our children so they don't get hurt or worse.

^^ such as? I spent majority of my childhood playing outside. I think it's sad there's been such a change in attitudes where children are constantly micromanaged. They're all currently having a massive game of football without much intervention.

Wow there is no way in hell I’d let my 4 year old out anywhere without me. Being rural doesn’t mean it’s safer…! We live rurally and I’d be terrified they’d wander off over the fields etc. Very easy for them to be led by older children and get lost.

I only started letting my dc out to play alone at about 10/11.

Can't you take a chair outside?

'I wouldn't put it past some them! Had a few knock on my door to clean my car or tell me about their table top sale'

Was it in the form of a jaunty song?

such as? ever heard of Jamie bulger? Older kids took him in a split second.
How about madeleine mccann? Her parents "popped in" on her too.

He's 4!

Be a parent and play with him yourself!!

Take him to the park, play area, play cars/dolls with him...

Surely this thread isn't real 🤔

So read your book later.

Go and have a kick about with your child. Or help him learn to ride his bike. Or go and garden where you can see him.

In a month it will be dark, let him enjoy the sunshine while he can.