Do you let your kids play outside alone? (apartment complexes, home)

[Hedgehog_Mom]

My daughters are five and eight years old. I let them play in our fenced backyard as long as the patio door is open so I can hear them. I don't let them play in the front yard unless I'm outside, and I don't let them walk home from the bus stop alone after school.

My older daughter's friends think it's weird that she can't come out to play unless I'm outside also. Is it really that unusual? We've always lived in apartments until now, and in the apartment complexes I would never have even considered letting them play outdoors without supervision.

[perticusrex]

Nope. My kids can play in the backyard while I'm within earshot or I can see them but they absolutely cannot play outside in the front unless I am there watching them. My kids are both under 10. My son stopped asking me if he can play in the front w the neighbor kids a loooong time ago. In my neighborhood its not unusual to see little elementary age kids running the streets well past 10 o'clock at nite.

[sapphire]

Yes, but he is 14, 6'2", 180 pounds. When he was younger, the answer was no.

[perticusrex]

Originally Posted by sapphire

Yes, but he is 14, 6'2", 180 pounds. When he was younger, the answer was no.

Jeeeezzzzz louise Saph!!! what are you feedin' that boy??

[sapphire]

I know, right?

[Tx Z Girl]

Yay! I'm not the only one with a tall boy! My son is 17 now and pushing 6'4"!!! :O But back to the original question. Back yard, yes, front yard, no. You're a perfectly normal mom!

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by Hedgehog_Mom

My daughters are five and eight years old. I let them play in our fenced backyard as long as the patio door is open so I can hear them. I don't let them play in the front yard unless I'm outside, and I don't let them walk home from the bus stop alone after school.

My kids are about the same age and my wife and I do the exact same thing.

But I see a lot of little kids around my neighborhood playing without anybody watching them.

[Dreadlockd]

I don't think you are odd, but I do think things have changed a lot since I was a kid. More children in general were out playing and someone's or numerous parents were outside chatting with one another watching all the kids on the block. There was so much activity outside in those days. We grew up in regular residential neighborhoods as well as on the Army base.

I think parents are super cautious these days because I think collectively we've lost a lot of that neighborhood camaraderie, it really did take a village to raise a kid. My parents didn't have a problem with my neighbors correcting me within reason. These days, good luck correcting someone's brat. These days we barely trust our neighbors, in some cases sadly you can't.

At the end of the day, parent your children the way you see fit especially if your approach keeps them safe and healthy.

[stoneoak]

as usual I'm in the minority and think 8 is old enough to play in the front. My oldest is younger than that and she is allowed to play in the front yard. Her younger sibling can as well, but only when the older one is with her. There's definitely rules -- no going in the road -- and we talk about stranger danger alot.

[carlitasway]

No, I don't let my kids play alone outside. There are a couple of rough kids in the neighborhood and I have to really watch them.