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Parenting

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Original poster

Am I babying my 6 year old? Honest opinions needed!

36 replies

CheeseBoard2022 · 28/04/2022 22:08

Just needed to know others opinions!

My son is 6 (7 in December) and isn’t allowed to play out. We have no kids on our street it’s quiet. However we live in a small village and there’s always kids from his year group playing out all times of the day.

The kids around here aren’t very nice and get into fights and what not like most of the 6 year olds around here swear etc so that’s also put me off letting him play out. Basically - I don't live in the best area put it that way.

Tonight I was told I’m babying him by not letting him go out to play with his friends (they don’t knock for him) and he’s quite a young six (not a fan of football, likes to read books and play games and stuff instead)
Am I babying him? I can’t compare to my eldest son as he’s not allowed out as he has special needs.
Just wondering how I should be going about this as he seems the odd one out! 🙈

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CheshireCats · 28/04/2022 22:10

Nope, I wouldn't let a six year old out in those circumstances either.

Hellocatshome · 28/04/2022 22:10

Does he actually want to play out?

Ohmygoshyoudontsay · 28/04/2022 22:11

I wouldn't have my 6 year old out playing with kids who fight and swear. I think that is common sense.

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Matilda1981 · 28/04/2022 22:12

To be honest I’m pretty relaxed but I wouldn’t let a 6 year old out in those circumstances - if they were his best mates from school then maybe but I do think 6 is quite young to be playing out without supervision.

MiniatureHotdog · 28/04/2022 22:12

Jeez, 6 year old being out to play alone is bonkers! You're definitely not babying him!

AfterSchoolWorry · 28/04/2022 22:12

No I wouldn't either.

Figgygal · 28/04/2022 22:12

Absolutely not babying him

My 10 year old has only recently started playing with a friend between our houses which are 6 apart
Those boys dont sound nice either and could easily be quite unkind to him

Original poster

CheeseBoard2022 · 28/04/2022 22:13

Hellocatshome · 28/04/2022 22:10

Does he actually want to play out?

He's asked a few times but that's it.

Yes it's common sense. However I was told I was babying him by one of the parents who allows their DC out so wanted opinions.

I just worry I'll never be able to let him out to play at this rate.

OP posts:

Barrawarra · 28/04/2022 22:15

I let my 6yr old go between our house and our neighbours on her own, but we are at the end of a culdesac and know the other parents. If playing in the street I’d go with her.

Original poster

CheeseBoard2022 · 28/04/2022 22:15

Thank you all you've made me feel so much better about it.
I was really taken back when this was said to me. I was allowed to play out when I was 5 but I lived on a RAF base so it was completely different.

OP posts:

Parentcarerandcrazy · 28/04/2022 22:21

No way, you're not babying him at all!
I've only just started letting my 9yo play out this year. We also live in a rural village location but adjacent to a busy A-road. My 6 and 7 year olds will also have to wait till year 4 before I allow them to play out unsupervised - we do have a green in our cul de sac that I would let them play on in perhaps a year or two but I would want my youngests road safety / awareness to be 100% first as although it's a quiet street, he would still run over the road without looking 🙄

GeorgiaGirl52 · 28/04/2022 22:46

You are not babying him. You are being a careful parent.

stimpyyouidiot · 28/04/2022 22:58

There's no way I'd let him play out either.

Aria2015 · 28/04/2022 23:06

I have a 6 year old and I wouldn't let him play out on his own either. In the back garden, yes, but just out and around our home? No, imo it's too young, regardless of the kids he'd be hanging out with.

LittleOwl153 · 28/04/2022 23:12

Nope. My 8yr old (yr3) is not allowed out on his own. Doesn't seem to be a thing here though. Year 6 so aged 10-11yrs seems to be the year of freedom here (walk to school alone, go to local park, have a mobile phone...)

withacherryonthetop · 28/04/2022 23:15

My dd is 7 in oct and is not allowed to play out alone. My son started playing out on the estate aged 8. I think 6is definitely too young and it also depends on the child. My ds is more mature than my dd- I’m not sure she’ll be ready to play out alone at 8, she might have to wait a bit longer but I will see nearer the time

HerRoyalHappiness · 28/04/2022 23:17

I don't even let my 8 year old play in the street. We live in a rough area and the kids are all older than her, swear, fight, bully younger ones.
She's allowed in the garden with her 6 year old brother and she's allowed to retrieve a ball for example if it goes over the fence (semi detached, fence is next to a public green) but she's not allowed in the street to play with the other kids so no you're not babying him at all

Susurrar · 28/04/2022 23:24

Definitely not babying! 6 is very young in my opinion to be playing outside on their own.
DS is 9 and it being outside with his friends became a thing only last year, in spring. Even now I like to know roughly where he is and if he’s changing location, for example from playing in the street to going to the park (which is a few minutes away), I expect to be notified.
My 3 SILs are adamant though that I’m babying him. We all have boys very similar age and mine seems to have the least independence..

Sunnytwobridges · 28/04/2022 23:28

I think it depends on the neighborhood. When my DD was 3 we moved to a neighborhood full of kids and they all played outside most of the day. So once she was about 5 I let her play outside. She had to stay in the front of the house or at friends house, I just needed to know where she was. It was a very safe neighborhood with nosey neighbors so we were always on the watch for anything suspicious going on.

But in your case I would be worried about letting my DC outside by themselves. So no you're not babying him. Plus if he's happy to be inside then you don't have anything to worry about.

Marvellousmadness · 28/04/2022 23:29

You are not babying. You are parenting

blacktiger · 28/04/2022 23:33

I don't let my 6 year old out either. This thread has made me feel better! I was starting to think I was over protective. We're on a new build estate and almost everyone lets their kids go to the little swing park alone, including two 4 year old twins who are allowed to go alone. It is in their street but can't be seen from their house. I know I sound very judgemental but I think that age is too young for a number of reasons.

WeBurnedSoBrightWeBurnedOut · 28/04/2022 23:39

Absolutely not at 6. Our home is open to the DC friends who want to play, we have a big back garden, they can go to friends houses, but they certainly wont be playing out on the street/park/green for a few years yet!

Original poster

CheeseBoard2022 · 28/04/2022 23:41

Praise be. 😂
I feel so much better. Thank you everyone.

OP posts:

Aquamarine1029 · 28/04/2022 23:41

You are absolutely not babying him. He's just six, FGS. I would be doing exactly as you are.

Hertsgirl10 · 28/04/2022 23:47

He’s in infant school, i’d be questioning why any parent would let their infant school child out on their own.

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