What age would you let your kids play out un attended?

[Northy101234]

We live in a very safe area, on a new build estate. Our house is on a square of houses with a large communal lawn in the middle. There is a road on one side but it’s fairly quiet and the square is fenced. My children don’t have to go near the road to access the grass, it’s almost like a communal front garden. The kids are always out in the summer on their bikes etc and I normally sit out with them to keep an eye. The last few weeks I’ve been letting my two boys play out without me, they are 4.5 and 6.5 and very sensible! I have the front door open so I can hear them and check every 10 minutes. I’ve had very mixed responses from friends, some being completely appalled I’ve let them go out on their own and some not having an issue. I’m completely undecided whether I’m doing the right thing so wanted to hear different opinions? Thanks

I also live on a safe, quiet, new build estate, opposite a fenced park, my 4.5 year could get there safely on his own without having to cross a road. It's about 20-30 feet from our house.

He's also very sensible.

There's not a chance he's ever anywhere in public, without a parent, with eyes on him, all the time. Including the fenced in park.

I think 4.5 is too young, 6 is also far too young to be looking out for a 4.5 year old.

25

We have access to a very similar type of space and if I let my 7 year old out there, they are always within eyeshot. I watch constantly despite being right in front of my house.

They are very sensible. However the other children can vary from ones we know well to not so well and nice to not so nice. At 7 I doubt their ability to deal with something unexpected or an accident.

That said, there are very young children that are unsupervised in this area. One broke an arm mind.....

My son could go from our house to a friends across the street around 6 and we have a communal green and he’s out there all the time now at 8 (9 tomorrow!) - for maybe a year now? He isn’t allowed to leave the estate yet but started walking himself the mile to school recently.

Not at 4 though. But I don’t know your neighbourhood or your children.

This far too young, it only takes minutes far something to happen. I certainly would not do it.

i think 10. My eldest is 9 and I wouldn’t have him playing out in public without adult supervision. 4.5 is very little.

Wow that’s young, especially the 4 year old!
I couldn’t rest easy with that set up no way. We lived in a cul de sac where a lot of kids played out but my eldest was 8 before I’d let her play out. I used to have half the street in my back garden instead which was always fun and I knew my 3 were safe.

Based on the description of the neighborhood I'd let the 6 year old out but I'd be watching the 4 year old

My son has just started playing out he’s nearly 10. We moved to a nicer area and now I feel comfortable. I gave him my old phone which he must have on him at all times in his little man bag when he’s out playing. But I think regardless of the area we live I probably wouldn’t have let him play out alone before now. All children are different and mature differently

Surely at 12/13 they’ve already been making their own way to secondary school for a while?
We have a similar set up OP and I started letting mine play out on the grass in front of the house at 8ish. There are younger children out there (I think 5 is the youngest) but their parents tend to hover close by.

12/13?? At 13 my DD was travelling across the country with just her friend! I can't imagine waiting until that late to let them play out (which most wouldn't do if you wait that long, because they will feel too old for it. Different when they've been playing out for years and are just carrying on)

4&6 would be a bit young for me, in the set up you describe I'd do it at 6&8. Possibly a bit younger if there was a group of children playing out, containing some older ones I knew/trusted.

I would from 5 if I knew the other kids and my child was not bonkers (DS1 would have to wait until he was 8!)