A lot of you are saying you would only leave your child with someone you "know". Know. I think the crux of this logic is "know".
But how much do you really know someone by chatting to them on the school playground? How do you know who will be present at that person's home when you send your precious innocent child there?
The truth is you never really "know" anyone. A person who intends to harm children will be go to great lengths to conceal their intentions, they will never share that with you in the playground. Child abusers are masters at manipulation and devious behaviour which you cannot outwit.
All news stories end with "well I thought he was a nice man /woman ". This comes too late after damage had been done.
My daughter loves playing. Her friends can come to our house, she can't go to theirs. If that means she loses friends, that's fine. As long as I have done my duty to protect and keep her safe.
In other houses, the conditions are out of my control. In our home, her childhood is maintained. I try to shield her from drugs, gambling, foul language, inappropriate sexual imagery, violence or any other dangers
In today's world and with today's headlines, I am confident that I can trust no one and it would be foolish to let my rules slip, even for one second. All it takes is one wrong event for my daughter to be harmed for life.
I appreciate everyone makes their own risk assessment and each of you have their own opinion which I respect.
My daughter has plenty of opportunity to play at school in a regulated institution which has all the checks and health and safety assessments created.
I understand my comment will be unpopular. I don't care. My job is to keep my daughter safe in a realistic sign of the times. I have read enough newspaper headlines in my time.
She is 7. She has never gone to someone's house. She has developed socially just fine . In fact she is confident and bold girl. She will make get own social decisions when I feel she's is old enough.