Would you let a 4 year old play unsupervised in the garden with water table?

[wishIwasonholiday10]

My husband and I had a disagreement about this. Would you let an almost 4 year old play unsupervised in the garden with a water table and mud kitchen? The garden is fully fenced with no access to the street.

We both agree no unsupervised play with a paddling pool but disagree on the water table.

Yes of course

No.

Yes. Would check at regular intervals though. I was lucky and see them from the kitchen window.

Why wouldn’t they be safe?! Of course they’ll be fine, unless there are other dangers than 2” of water, or the child is ND?

I think with regular checking on it's ok. I wouldn't go off and have a shower or anything like that.

Is this from a danger to them point of view or making a huge mess pov or both?

Yes, my four year old Dd was playing tea party with her tuff tray earlier on the patio whilst I pottered around.
Paddling pool absolutely not, I suppose child dependant though. She's very sensible, my son...not so much!

Why would you need to supervise?

Yes, I would probably go out with them but I don't see any issue with letting them play out alone if they want to. I would check on them regularly though

Yes.

I mean I wouldn’t leave them alone for hours or anything or be doing anything that meant I couldn’t go out there immediately if they shouted for me, but I’d certainly go off and potter in the house etc and leave them be for a bit

Mostly thinking about a safety point of view. In the past I would always go out with her but with a baby as well it’s not always convenient.

Yeah absolutely at 4! What on earth is likely to happen?

Anything that safely builds up a child’s ability to play unsupervised and independently is a good thing, it’s a skill lost to many.

Depends on the water tray but probably not.

i wouldn’t allow unsupervised water play at that age if the table had enough space for their face to end up in the water.

I’ve been accused on here of being too relaxed about various things, but water is something I’m very very cautious with.

I’m usually very cautious about water too but maybe too cautious based on the other replies. It is something like this

https://amzn.eu/d/0iLZX1g9

The mud kitchen also has a plastic tray she can put water in.

Yes I do this. I wouldn't have a shower, but I'm pottering around upstairs and downstairs, keeping a general eye. If you're very worried, drain the water table and put play pit sand in it instead.

It's fine for a 4 Yr old.

Yes (though checking on them regularly, as for any other outdoor play). Assuming you know they're not going to try and climb on it, and assuming the water isn’t very deep, what harm could they come to, other than getting their clothes wet?

More than an inch of water, and a three year old? They'd be in my sight at all times.

I’d never thought anything about our water table. My kids would be out there for ages with it and I’d be inside popping out now and again around laundry or whatever. Certainly not a paddling pool or a pond etc but this seems okay to me.

I'd probably be "around" and in earshot but could pop inside.

Yes, when mine was 4, he was roaming unsupervised around our 5 acres of land. There was no heavy machinery. No public access. No roads. Just fields and woodland and gardens and a few (small) animals. At most, he would have tripped and fallen in a hole, but he was fine. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes, sometimes when they are both in the garden it’s the only peace I get!

Yes but only because I'm envisaging it like my own garden where the back doors would be wide open and I can basically see and hear from anywhere in the house. Minus a water table I'd just leave her to it but with a water table I'd be a bit more cautious.

I would say yes on the basis that:

• You can see them / call to them from inside.... I let my 3yo outside with the back door open and I can see him from the kitchen or utility as I potter around. I wouldn't go upstairs or to the front of the house etc.

• There is only a small bit of water in the water table so it doesn't pose as much of a risk.

i might be lax but do people worry about puddles? It’s about the same amount of water, surely!?

Yes