Do you let your kids play outside alone? (Howe: cul-de-sac, apartment)

[Hedgehog_Mom]

Originally Posted by mamatotex97

I have a sex offender living on my street, probably 8 houses down. According to the offender site it was for having sex with a young girl. Now I have no way of knowing if this young girl was 8 or 16 and he could have been 19 at the time. I don't know the specifics.

Pretty much guarantee in my decision making a small child would not be playing out front alone. And yes, I live in a nice neighborhood, good schools blah blah blah....

Usually on the state website, it lists the victim's age and the date that the offender was convicted. The sex offender's age is always listed, so you can usually do the math and figure out if it was a statutory rape type of situation.

[Azure110]

As someone who is not a parent...I am amused by all these parents trying to tell each other how to be parents.

[nicholasa101]

Originally Posted by MattTx

As someone who is not a parent...I am amused by all these parents trying to tell each other how to be parents.

I think the entire thread started cause someone asked!

[Hedgehog_Mom]

Sometimes it's helpful to know what other parents are doing. I'm probably not going to change what I do based on anything that's said, but it's very interesting to know how other people feel about it.

[blkgiraffe]

How can you call parents paranoid for being protective over their children??? Danger is everywhere and regardless of how nice or safe you think your area is; creeps and perverts are out in full force lurking.

I don't have children nor do I live in SA, but I have two nephews I'm very protective of and whenever I watch them; I never let them out of the yard unless I'm out watching.[really just one of them because the youngest is only 8 months] Too many kids coming up missing and I refused to allow anything to happen my nephews under my watch.

[holmesmic]

My 5 (almost 6) year old is not allowed to play in the front alone. He is allowed to in the backyard, which is privacy fenced.

This does not mean he's not in the front yard playing A LOT. It just means I'm outside with him, where I am either working in the garage, the yard or even just sitting on the tailgate of our truck talking to him while he's doing...whatever. Fact is, he wants me out there.

[cinnamon_toast]

The primary benefit is exercise... Frankly, they would not be outside nearly as much as they are now if I had to be supervising them constantly. Also, I see that their creativity is stifled when they have a parent over their shoulder. The things they come up without my guidance and/or intervention is really wonderful. Now we're off for a family bike ride, it's a beautiful day.

[Azure110]

Originally Posted by nicholasa101

I think the entire thread started cause someone asked!

This thread started because a parent is wondering if he/she made the right choice based on what her older daughter's friends think.

Who cares what her daughter friends think? It seems to me that she is making the right choice for her daughter's safety but that is just my opinion.

It is worse to be under-protective or nonchalant than be over-protective. Your kids will thank you for it later when they get older if you make sure they are always safe.

[Septgirl75]

I don't ever let my child out of my sight. I have read and seen to many kidnapping stories to ever feel comfortable with my children playing by themselves. It just takes a few seconds for some weirdo to drive by and snatch up my child. I bet those parents that have missing children regret letting their children out of their sight too. Also, I am not a lazy parent and I actually look forward to playing with my child and not leave them to play alone. That's who I feel sorry for, the children left to play by themselves, because their parents are to lazy and need to get things done. What is more important than spending time with your children and making sure they always feel safe and secure?

[stoneoak]

well I've weighed the opinions of the non-lazy parents and have now decided to convert to the other side. (Can I hear an "Amen.") Take yesterday for instance, I was going to bring the kids to the store but then I thought, What if another driver on the road took two sips of communion wine instead of one at church that morning? And what if a meteor crashes in front of him at the same time a pack of wild hedgehogs runs into the road? His reflexes may be too impaired to handle the obstacles, causing him to spin wildly out of control and hit my car, injuring my precious babies. So we stayed home.

Kids wanted to watch TV, but absolutely not. We all know Satan is airing subliminal messages on the devil tube, brainwashing kids to not only like The Jersey Shore, but also grow up to be IRS agents. So they asked to go outside, but that was another denial. On top of all the sexual predators, mass murders and serial door-to-door salesmen, there's also the threat of acid rain and killer bees.

So we spent most of the day in a back closet, but had some wonderful playtime. Well, as much as we could in the dark. Wasn't going to let them turn the light on and risk radiation or skin cancer from the lightbulb. We did enjoy a delicious bowl of rasberries. Which, of course, were freeze-dried and thoroughly inspected for parasites, e-coli, salmonella and rabid catepillars.

So three cheers for me, I got those kids through another hazardous day safe and sound. And I'll have you know I did not take my eyes of them for a minute, no independent play, thoughts or movement allowed in this house from now on. And no bathroom breaks, no pauses to throw a load of laundry in the wash and no wandering off to make dinner. We're crossing our legs, are a bit stinky and hungry. But, we're safe and I am no longer a lazy parent. Hallelujah!.