At What Age Did You Allow Your Children to Go Out to Play Unsupervised?

My kids all play in the backyard alone, but never in the front. Even if my daughter (9) has to run to a neighbor's house, I pop out on the porch to watch her.

I am a scardy cat and do not want my kids snatched off of the street. We live in a safe neighborhood, but that wouldn't stop some psycho from grabbing them.

My daughter is getting more and more freedom, but I don't let any of them play outside in the front unsupervised.

About 6 years old, but I even let my 2 1/2 year old out in the fenced back yard for shot periods by himself. There is not too much he can get in trouble with in the backyard. I think that being overprotective with children doesn't do them any favors, they NEED to be outside playing as much as possible, it is good for them.

My son is 9. When he was little, we thought there weren't any kids his age in the neighborhood! Now it's like the hills have eyes! haha
THIS has been the 'summer of a billion kids,' as everyone is finally at the age (8, 9, 10) where they can call each other, make plans, walk to each other's houses, remember to alert the parents as to where they are.

My son played outside alone or with a buddy before this but this is the first real year of "the pack"!

How mature is the child? My 4 year old plays outside on her own. She knows exactly where she can and can't go, knows that I peek out the window, and that if she goes where she shouldn't then she loses the privledge.

However, with certain friends, I won't allow it becuase these freinds don't always follow the rules.

Not sure on the walking to friends house, not for a few more years at least. It really depends on how far away the house is... Next door or across the street would not be a problem in a few years. Down the block where I can't see her might be and issue only becuase I would want to watch her walk...

I think it depends on your kids AND the area you live in. My kids are 16 (spec needs), 12 and 9. Just the last 2 years or so have I let them play outside on their own. At first, I would check on them every 10 min or so. I never let just one go by themselves, they always had to be with someone else. We also live on a cul-de-sac with only 5 other houses, in a low crime, family oriented area. And we are across the street from the police department. I know all the parents of the kids that my kids play with, so we are all aware of who plays with who. My son is friends with a boy who lives on the next cul-de-sac over from us and he can run over there when he's invited. But I still don't let them go to the park by themselves. I think you have to have common sense about your kids, if they are able to make good decisions and if the area is generally safe for them. Good luck!

It really depends on the child and their level of responsibility. My older two were three and five when I would let them go to friend's houses without me. They knew they had to call when they got there and if they weren't going to be home on time call again. Never had a problem with them. The younger two were eight and ten. They just couldn't follow the rules so they didn't get the privilege until they could.

So far as playing outside in our fenced back yard? Two.

My children have been playing outside by themselves (with me at the kitchen table close to the windows) since they were 3 and 4. When the first started, I'd check in with them every few minutes, "Check Ins! I need to see your face!"...and then they'd come bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Now they are very trustworthy outside at 4 and 5. I still don't shower or stay in my bedroom while they are playing, but I can be more distracted than before.

They aren't walking to their friend's homes yet. Probably in the next year or so. We live in a rural community, 20 mile per hour roads, lot's of neighbors who know the kids, that sort of thing.

I haven't read the responses, yet, but I do agree with your SWH.

Our situation is different because we live on a small farm, and our entire property is fenced and gated. There is a large creek at the back of the property, and fields all around. Our dangers come from snakes, coyotes, and a stock pond. We don't have neighbors close enough to walk to, well, not until the kids are teenagers.

When our first son was about 4, if I remember correctly, I let him play out back by himself. He couldn't go to the front yard because that's where the pond is. He is my rule follower, so I knew I could trust him to stay out back, and I checked on him from the window, too.

Our boys are 6.5 years apart, and our oldest is extremely responsible, so he has always helped with watching over his brother. They also get along well, so they like hanging out together. Because of that, our youngest was allowed to go outside at an earlier age, but he had his brother with him.

Now, at ages 8 and 14, they roam freely and explore all over the property, and I ring a large cowbell whenever I need them to return home.

If we lived in a more traditional neighborhood, we would have different rules.

My 8 year old plays outside up and down the block riding his bike and playing with his friends all day. He checks in but most of the day he is in someones yard or in the street (low traffic).

My 5 year old DD can play around the house if she wants but she usually does not want to play alone outside.

My 3 year old is not as trustworthy. He can play in the backyard alone but needs supervision in the driveway.

Twenty. Haha oh just kidding,but somewhere between ten and twelve and they had to let me know where they were, when they would be home, what they ate, who they talked to and well, needless to say, they didn't do all that all the time and they survived me.l I had boys, too, so mostly they didn't go far. usually to the nearest house that had a different electronic game or a trampoline.

We have a good neighborhood, but there aren't any kids who are our children's ages on our block. Our street intersects a major neighborhood street, so I think it will be a while before my daughter (6) is allowed to walk or ride her bike to her friends' houses that live in that direction. I need to be confident that she knows to look out for other cars, dogs, and bicycles, and that she understands that they won't necessarily look out for her!

Yesterday was the first time I let my six year old play outside in the front "unsupervised." She was chalking the driveway, and little sister was done. I kept the door open so I could hear her, and it went well enough that I might let her do that again. However, the girls have both played outside while we have been doing yard work - not necessarily right under our noses, but not completely alone either.

Both girls have been allowed to play unsupervised in the fenced backyard since they have been big enough to play with most of the toys out there alone. They are 6 and 3 now. The shed and gate are both locked, and depending on what they are doing, and I usually have a window open in case they need help.

My daughter has no friends in our neighborhood, but she is allowed to play in our fenced backyard unsupervised. I do check every now and then still, but I don't sit out there with her anymore. She's about to be 6 in a few days.

We're not there yet-- I think I'm still waiting for him to be able to master the impulse to cross the street to see his friends. He only tries it when I'm with him, but it's a real concern. We try to give him freedom right now with mostly-unsupervised play in the fenced in back yard. Perfect for five years old. (He's actually in the little plum tree right now, playing a 'horn' he's made with tubes and eating blueberries he brought up in the pulley-basket. It took me a long time before I was able to look away when he was in the tree!)

He's also allowed in the front yard quasi-supervised for short amount of time... I keep the door open so I can hear him-- esp. so I can hear him saying 'hi' to the neighbor kids across the street. Fortunately, we moms are all good about telling each others children to wait to cross the street and to go ask their parent first-- We tend to look out for each others kids.

definatley depends on where you live and/or where her friends lived.. i grew up with neighbors that lived next door and the house next to that one.. i was allowed to walk over there before i was in school.. i should also mention we live on a dead end street.. we were allowed to play in the backyard unsupervised and allowed to play in the front as long as we stayed on the lawn.. we were allowed to play in the street- ride bikes ect. as long as the older neighbors were out with us (oldest was 5 yrs older than me).. now had i lived on a main road and didnt have neighbors that close to play with i probably would not have been alowed to do those things

My son is three and a half, and he is now allowed to play in our (fenced) backyard with me checking on him occasionally. My children are younger than yours, but they are not allowed to play in the front yard unsupervised, and we live in a private neighborhood near no main roads.

It totally depends on the living situation. If I lived in a high crime area they would never be allowed outside to begin with.

If I lived in a nice neighborhood that little traffic, that appeared safe for everyone to be outside and it was open so everyone could look out and see all the kids in the neighborhood playing then they might be able to go outside to play without at least one adult from the block outside.

I live in a small neighborhood that is a dead end area. Very very very little traffic. We all know each others vehicles and if there is a different one around everyone knows it.

I actually went inside one night and left my purse on my porch. It was still there the next morning with everything still inside it. We have high traffic in our yard too, we have the best play equipment. So there are always a bunch of kids in our yard.

I let the kids go out occasionally if other kids are out too. That way they look out for each other. BUT I did not do that until this year. My grandson is the youngest on the block that plays with the rest of the kids. There are a couple of kids younger but they play with their moms and dads still.

Since the most kids are older than my grandson they keep him in line and watch out for him. Otherwise hubby would still be going out and sitting in the yard reading a book or playing games on his phone.

My kids played unsupervised in the back yard since they were 2 or 3. They have been walking to school together and playing at the park without me since they were 5 and 8. We live in a quiet neighbourhood with sidewalks. We have a Block Parent program. We have lived here 17 years and we know the people in our community. The kids have been taught about safety. They are never alone, always with each other or one other friend. Their are lots of other children to play with.

I've been allowing my girls to play outside in our side yard since last summer when both were almost 6 and 4. But I was constantly checking on them from the window and it was always days where I opened the windows to even hear their voices. Now they do it regularly without me worrying so much, although I still check on them from the window.

They also play with the neighbor boys about 4 houses down from us. I know their parents well. And the kids will go back and forth from our house to theirs. The oldest boy is 10...so I feel comfortable with it. He will also walk my girls back home at the end of the day.

Oh and my girls are about to turn 7 and 5.

I let my 4 and 7 wander alone at our cabin, but they know not to go to the water without an adult. At home, they play out back alone and go across the street to a friend's but have to tell me. I don't send them to the park yet (too far) but let the 7 yo bike around the block (tho it makes me nervous b/c one end doesn't have a sidewalk - I worry more about traffic).

To answer both your questions first, 8. Here's our situation though / rules... We live in a " kid friendly" neighborhood but like you it is by a major interstate & I do worry about that. Our son has parameters , about a block & if there aren't any other kids out, he can't be out by himself. I think like everything else, it depends on the kid , if you trust them to follow rules & be smart about strangers. Even with all those things, parents have to weigh the risk. I take on some risk but I want my kid to be able to play outside.

Hi, T.:

All children need to be supervised by some adult until
age of 18, when they leave the home. It is the duty of parents and elders to protect, teach, feed, clothe, and provide shelter for children.
D.

After reading your elaboration on your situation, I feel a liitle better telling you our experience. We currently live on a very busy street with no sidewalks so our 8yo is only allowed to walk or bike along it with us. Since he has no friends nearby it has not been an issue. Our house is set back 100 feet from the road and we have thick bushes in front and the sides and a fence along the back edge and one side boundary as well. He was allowed to play outside (front and back) by himself when he was about 3yo although I kept a very close eye out the windows until he was 5. Now I just check every 15 minutes or so.

We are building a house so at that property there are 2 boys next door. The 3 of them run around the 3 acres (combo of our property and 2 neighboring properties) of woods and ponds without supervision. He started doing that at age 6. They are not allowed to go on the dock with out an adult but otherwise can go wherever. If it came up I would let him ride his bike to the nearby park with friends at this age (there is a path and it is a mellow neighborhood), but it hasn't come up.

I let my 4 and 2.5 year olds play outside in our fenced in yard without me.

My kids are 7 and 5 and they are allowed to play out front with rules. If it is the two of them they are to stay in the yard and I have the front door open but that usually doesnt last long because they get bored with eachother in the grass. Second if the neighborhood clan is out (usually 7-12 kids) they can go play but have their boundaries that if they cross they get in trouble and have to come in. If they do want to go beyond the boundaries they know to ask if its okay. They are not allowed in anyones house or garages. If my son is outside then my daugther (5) can be outside. If my son is not outside she can only go outside if there are other girls to help watch her (they are 10 and 11 years old and just adore my daughter so i usually just ask if they will help keep an eye on her. But my daughter is no way to be outside with just the neighborhood boys. I was really paranoid at first because there are some cars that take the corner and go pretty fast but its really hard not to see the 12 kids playing football in the street yelling "CAR!" I do go out and check quite frequently that they are indeed where they should be, and they always run inside to get something or another so i ask who, what where while I get the chance. and their boundaries are about 5 houses over and down to the dog run area (which i can see from my bedroom window) so its not a very far range.

My son is 6 and he's allowed on the playground by himself. I can the playground from my front door

My oldest is 7 and they can play in the fenced backyard with the dog out there only. We still watch her walk to the neighbors house and back.

My daughters are 8 and 5, and this past year I have let them play in the back yard by themselves, but I still don't let them play in the front yard without me.

My dd is 9 and I allow her to go down the street to the park alone (usually with a neighbor kid).

I got her a cheap trac phone for emergencies and she has to bring it with her so I can get ahold of her or she can get ahold of me.

I can't see the park from my house since another house blocks it, but if I run a few steps down I can.

i really think it depends on your neighborhood the people in it and the cars that go by. i live in a court with a bunch of older people living in my neighborhood and older kids. i let mine out but they have to be able to hear me when i call them. so they have to stay in the court or in someones yard in the court and cant go in anyones house. they can also ride thir bikes in the court. the ones that are 10 and up are allowed to ride around the block but must ask first so that i know they left and can know when to be worried if they are not back by so many minutes. once they are 14 i probably wont worry as much and say to stay in the neighborhood and dont go in anyones house. i also trust that they wont be doing things they shouldnt but if i didnt they wouldnt be allowed to leave the court. mine are usually with older kids when they are young but i dont think id let them outside unless i could see them from my window if they were younger than 5. then id just make sure to call for them every 10 minutes or so. you have to do what you feel is comfortable for you and your childs maturity level. you know if she will see a butterfly and follow it wherever it may go or weither she will stay in her yard no matter what because mom said to. go with your gut. because know that if i lived in another neighborhood that wasnt as safe my kids wouldnt be allowed out at all.

My son has been playing outside by himself since he was a little over 4. Our yard is not fenced. We have no sidewalks and sadly, no kids his age in our neighborhood. If there were both, I would be ok with him walking several blocks to a friend's house (he is currently 6-1/2).

The risk of stranger abduction is lower today than it was in the 1970s when I grew up. Back then, we all played in the street (it was a cul de sac), walked to friends' houses, explored the dump (that would be the vacant lot at the end of the street, complete with abandoned construction debris and swamp) and the open fields behind the local nursery. Our pack of kids ranged in age from 4 (my younger brother) to probably 9.