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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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BikiniB0tt0m · 28/04/2022 23:52

No definitely not especially under those circumstances. Ignore that silly woman and listen to you gut, it's right.

SkankingWombat · 29/04/2022 00:35

Is the person making the comment one of the parents whose DCs are out playing? It sounds like they're trying to justify their own choices.

We live in the rougher part of our village, and some DCs are playing out supervised only by older siblings at 3yo. There is a lot of inappropriate and antisocial behaviour, and a cut-through to the next road means there are a fair few cars flying through thinking they're approaching the chequered flag at Silverstone. Our DCs are nearly-8 and nearly-6, and they will not ever be let out to play with those DCs if I can help it! We keep our DCs busy instead with after school activities, a good sized garden, plenty of toys, and regular playdates with DCs who dont swear, bully, Tiktok on their own phones at 6yo, or damage other people's property for fun.
If we lived in a cul-de-sac with nicer neighbourhood kids, then I'd be OK with DD1 playing out for short stints.
You can give them independence in other ways OP, and it sounds like you've made a good judgement.

INeedNewShoes · 29/04/2022 00:58

No you're not babying him.

We're going to have the same issue where we live. There's very much a culture of kids playing out together from a very young age and I'm just not willing to let DD do that here.

I grew up with a lot of freedom and was playing out in the village from 5, but everyone in the village knew us, the kids were generally nice to each other and all looked out for each other and there was a lot less traffic in those days. Still think my DM was lucky nothing happened to us though!

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PinkSyCo · 29/04/2022 01:18

When my DC’s were 6 I used to allow them to play with the neighbour’s kids in our cul-de-sac. I wouldn’t have if the kids were fighting and swearing though!

Norush4 · 29/04/2022 01:30

It's hard to say tbh. My DS is 7 we live on a row of houses and they play out and have done for a few years. There's not tons of kids. Next door to me are 3 sisters and the middle one he's close to. They go out of the garden onto the path to rife their bikes. Then a few more kids that come and play sometimes.

My kitchen looks onto the front I can keep a close eye on what is going on.

Original poster
CheeseBoard2022 · 29/04/2022 07:58

SkankingWombat · 29/04/2022 00:35

Is the person making the comment one of the parents whose DCs are out playing? It sounds like they're trying to justify their own choices.

We live in the rougher part of our village, and some DCs are playing out supervised only by older siblings at 3yo. There is a lot of inappropriate and antisocial behaviour, and a cut-through to the next road means there are a fair few cars flying through thinking they're approaching the chequered flag at Silverstone. Our DCs are nearly-8 and nearly-6, and they will not ever be let out to play with those DCs if I can help it! We keep our DCs busy instead with after school activities, a good sized garden, plenty of toys, and regular playdates with DCs who dont swear, bully, Tiktok on their own phones at 6yo, or damage other people's property for fun.
If we lived in a cul-de-sac with nicer neighbourhood kids, then I'd be OK with DD1 playing out for short stints.
You can give them independence in other ways OP, and it sounds like you've made a good judgement.

Yes it was one of the parents who allow her 6 year old to play out and you're right she probably was justifying it as I had a look of horror on my face when she said he was allowed to cross the main road where cars speed down to go the shop alone etc 🙈

OP posts:
Foxglovesandlilacs86 · 29/04/2022 08:31

Mine arent allowed out alone til 10 and we live in a nice village. 6 is way too young imo.

Longcovid21 · 29/04/2022 08:34

It sounds a bit of a rough area. We live in a naice area and kids that young don't play out. They socialise in clubs like football and rugby and also in the play park after school which is opposite the school. It doesn't sound like he actually wants to play out in that environment of swearing and fights and I wouldn't blame him.

KangarooKenny · 29/04/2022 08:37

No. When mine played out at that age I sat in a garden chair with something to read and watched them

Longcovid21 · 29/04/2022 08:37

I should also add that we live in a cul de sac and I do let my 6yo play football with my 10 year old right outside the front. With me watching through the window, but it's just the 2 of them.

Itwasntmeright · 29/04/2022 08:38

If he was 10 or 11 and he wanted to go out, I’d say yes, but he’s only little and he’s not even bothered. It sounds as if you’re asking for answers to a question that hasn’t even been asked yet, and by that I don’t mean because some nosy person has decided to tell you what they think, I mean that it’s not come up as an issue yet. Your child is happy, so everything is fine.

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