Do your children 'play out'?

[Velleity]

I am constantly having neighbour's children knocking on my door asking if my six year old son can come out and play with them. I say no because I do not think six years old is old enough to do this without my supervision but they don't understand and keep coming back. When we were in the garden and they could hear us out there, they tried to get in the garden gate - it was locked. So they stood at the gate shouting if they could come in. Obviously when Childminding I don't let additional children round to play and, on my days off -like today!- I don't want additional children in my garden anyway .

Might have to go and have a word with their Mum about asking them not to come knocking perhaps.

What age would you let your children go out to play without direct supervision?

We live on a fairly quiet street but obviously it only takes one weirdo watching ...

[Tippy Toes]

Im the same as you my little ones are 6 and 4 and not allowed out with out me.

Im not sure what age I will start letting them out to be honest!

[Bear23]

Just started letting my nine year old old.

clear rules tho, she has to be with her @very sensible friend, and only on our road, as in just outside the house. If she goes off (which she hasn't yet) she will not be allowed out again x

[tulip0803]

Mine don't play out as where we live is not suitable - main road no foot path! When we lived on an estate my son was 9 before he was allowed to play out and then only as a group. before that age he and his friends played at each others houses.

Local estate I have seen 2 year olds playing out alone!

Depends on the child though, like you I do think 6 is too young.

I wouldn't let neighbours children in either - unless I offer the invitiation first, DD2s friend came today.

[migimoo]

Only let my DD play out when he turned 8 and only where I could see him....was told by one neighbour that another neighbour said we were "stuck up" cos my kids didn't play out! this from a woman who lets her 3,5 and 8 yr olds roam the streets all round our area till all hours.

Do whatever you're comfortable with-I always think if something happened and I wasn't about i'd never forgive myself so *** everyone else!

I don't allow neighbours kids in my house as they'd be in and out all day and it'd become a safety issue with mindees here.....plus i've had enough of children by 5pm tbh!

[bunyip]

We used to play out on the street all the time "when I were a lad". It just doesn't seem to happen these days. It's sad, really.

I saw a news item where Play England had done a survey, and nearly 50% of parents said they didn't let their children play outside because they thought they'd be abducted. But, excluding custody squabbles, the number of child abduction cases has apparently remained constant (ie. very, very few) over the past 70-odd years.

I'm not having a go at anyone who does differently, I just think it's a shame that some children don't get the fun and fresh air that I used to.

[funemnx]

We were very lucky I think - my children grew up on RAF camps, the children played out the front from about 5 years. I did keep an eye on them but mostly from the window, I felt it was safer because the camps are fenced in. They all played together and never went off by themselves. It reminded me of when I was young (in the 60's) - we used to play out from very young (often with older siblings) and only came in for dinner

[amanda1309]

I let my dd out from about 5 but she wasn't allowed out of our close, she's now allowed out the street but only if she takes her mobile she's 10
She had been allowed since she was 9

[bunyip]

I can get quite cross and upset about this.

My allotment adjoins a quiet lane with a public open space at the end, used by dog walkers, families, etc. Children and young people play/socialise there without causing any trouble or nuisance.

But plenty of times I have the police turn up and ask me what I've seen, cos the local nosey neighbours 'phone the police and say "children/youths are causing trouble." They're only playing or chatting like we used to do (in fact, I'm sure we were much noisier "in my day".)

On one occasion last year, the police turned up with the "blues and twos" on. They'd had a report that children were smashing up my allotment and a neighbour thought I was about to be beaten up. I had to disappoint them. The only people who'd been on the site were me, plus a family whoI'd let in cos they wanted to pick some of my damsons (of which I have far too many, and I'd rather they were used than left for the wasps.)

It's so sad that people can be so prejudiced about children and young adults.

[Gizmo]

We live on the main road so really can't let my kids out but they love it when we go to my friends, who lives on an estate with 2 swing parks, and they can go and play, but my dh grew up next door to our house now and was always out to play, different times it's so sad

[mumof4]

My ds is 9 and ive let him play out this summer with a friend although he sometimes takes his bike on the front by himself. im classed as stuck up round here, some of the kids are 3 and 4 yrs old playing round the corner from where they live with no supervision! Last week i actually went and told the mum where her kids were heading as they were off up the road to the main road, both in reception class

[Velleity]

Made my decision when I overheard one of the boys (5) say to my son 'I can go wherever the f*** I want'. Shocked was an understatement to hear this. His Mother is far too intimidating to approach though!

[Mollymop]

WHen I was very young (1979 born) I was allowed to go out down the street on my own as it was a friendly estate where everyone looked out for you, but times have changed and I dont think a 6 year old is sensible enough to be out alone.
I would say 9 or 10 but that is just me.

I have a good friend who is letting her kids out and htey are 7 and 8, they are sooooo not sensible and often walk out onto the roads when cars coming - wlked onto train track in front of mum and cars!!! But mum thinks it ok to let them go right out of range ( a good 3 or 4 streets away) - I don't agree with it.
I would rather wait for my dd to be ready before I let her go off. I just couldnt trust her just yet even though she seems sensible.

[clareelizabeth1]

Such a hard one this so dependant on where you liven. I live on a small country lane on which cars travel 60mph down so no way would they be aloud. But two miles down the road in the village its safe cars are all aware of children playing so I wouldn't mind. I do let my three year old niece play in the field behind my house by her self but it in enclosed and she's not brave enough to wonder far so I can see her from the house. She normaly just sits and plays dollys takes the dolls for walks but it makes her feel so grown up.

As for neighbours kids I wouldn't allow them in when I was working and would be reluctant to have extra children when I'm not. I would speak to their parents and say OFSTED rules say its not aloud or you insurance won't cover it.

[caz3007]

My son is 9, he has no interest in going out on his own, but we have a green in front of our house, so would allow him to be there if he wanted, but not wandering the estate.

My older two are 23 and 20 and we lived at the end of a culde sac when they were younger. They played out from about 5 but there were lots of children similar in age and all the mums watched out for all the children and they were allowed to go to a certain house each side and not allowed to cross the road. From about the age of 9 they were allowed to visit other peoples houses that were a road or two away but always had to come and tell me if they were moving onto another house

[nannymcflea]

My dd is 9 and this is the first summer she has been allowed to go to the local park with friends. Her and her 2 friends play on the street, scooters, skateboard etc and also go to each others homes. We live in a small village and everyone knows everyone. I still worry, but round here, 9 is considered old to be allowed on the street! Got to do what you're happy with. X

[Chattie]

My dd is 6 and we have just this hols let her play out with her friends but we live in a cul de sac and there is normally a group of them they just go from garden to garden think depends who has best treats on offer! My dd knows the rules and has to come and tell me if she goes into her friends house or into her friends garden at the bottom of the cul de sac. She comes in if nobody playing out and is always first one in on a night as all her friends are allowed to stay out till at least 9

[loocyloo]

DS is 10 and has been playing out since he was 9ish! he either plays in the park or on the green behind our house and he has to tell me if he swaps between the two! he does go to knock for friends/friends houses, but again, he tells me and he takes his phone with him. come termtime he walks to & from school by himself/with friends

DD is 7 and has just started going out on the green with friends. but ONLY when she is with one particular friend who is a year older! ( friends mum lives next to the green and keeps an eye/ear out! )

i do sometimes have to take a deep breath as i say 'off you go'! but got to have freedom at some point!

[AliceK]

Gosh some of you are so brave
My DS is 8 and has been asking for a while to go out the front and play up and down the road on his scooter etc. I'm afraid I won't let him. We do live on a quiet road and I know most of the people but I'm still too nervous. Our front garden is very big and I do let him play out there (there's more room for him to play football there than in the back garden). He knows he can't go through the gate and if his ball goes over the wall into the street / road he has to come and tell me.
Maybe when he's 9????

xxx