to young to be outside unsupervised????

neesernicole

there's a little girl down the street from us that is 3 1/4 yr old.  she was outside playing by herself yesterday while M and I went for a walk...she was just roaming the neighborhood, poking around a neighbors yard, walking in the middle of a vacant and never busy street.  i thought maybe she was playing with her older brother but he was no where in sight.

no big deal?  wdyt?

xbrooklyngrl

yes big deal IMO. It only takes a second for someone to drive by and grab them. Thats way too  young.

jessicaclare

Yes, its a big deal, especially if she's wandering around. I let DD play outside without me when she's with the neighbor girls (5, 6, 8 and 9) and just in the backyard. I'd never let her play by herself or in the front yard, not at 3.

kevschickee2

IMO its a huge deal and if she was roaming the neighborhood I would have called the police.  She is way too young to be out alone

penguingrrl

3 is too young to be wandering the neighborhood unsupervised.  I could see leaving a 3 y/o for a few minutes in a fenced-in backyard (to run inside and do something quickly), but not giving them free reign like that.

WBs_Bride

My DD is exactly that age and there's no way she'd be able to be outside by herself for any length of time unsupervised. For now she can go on the side porch by herself and play ON THE PORCH, where she is in full view from the kitchen door and window (while I am chained to the sink, usually).

mauceddie

Do you think her parents knew she was outside?

My friend thought her 3 yo was playing in his room, but he'd been wandering outside for at least 20 minutes. Luckily a neighbour recognized him and brought him home.

 Next time, bring her home!

Jodi&Joe

That breaks my heart.

And this is coming from someone who lets their children outside unsupervised quite often.  But they are in a fenced in backyard with a 110lb rottie.

neesernicole

mauceddie:

Do you think her parents knew she was outside?

My friend thought her 3 yo was playing in his room, but he'd been wandering outside for at least 20 minutes. Luckily a neighbour recognized him and brought him home.

 Next time, bring her home!

I wondered if the parents knew as well.  I think they did because she went inside the house and came back out with different clothes on (still unattended).

mauceddie

neesernicole:

mauceddie:

Do you think her parents knew she was outside?

My friend thought her 3 yo was playing in his room, but he'd been wandering outside for at least 20 minutes. Luckily a neighbour recognized him and brought him home.

 Next time, bring her home!

I wondered if the parents knew as well.  I think they did because she went inside the house and came back out with different clothes on (still unattended).

Wow. I'd still bring her home. Maybe shame the parents a bit?

Both my dd's play in our fenced backyard alone, but certainly not roaming around the neighbourhood.

 

CleoKitty

Yes, too young to be roaming the neighborhood. I let ds play outside alone, but I check on him frequently, can usually see him through a window and he would NEVER leave our yard.

knmommy

My DC play in our BACKYARD by themselves.  DS isn't even allowed to play in the front by himself.

Makinroom4baby

Yesterday DH and I went on a walk with Jayden and the 1.5 yr old baby across the street from us was outside ALONE! She was walking to the side of the house saying "Helloooo??" Their garage was open and the door leading into the house was open, but I could see the mom inside and it made me really nervous. It only takes a second for some crazy person to just grab her.

asianbymarriage

Are you kidding? That's the kind of thing I have nightmares about. I would definitely bring her home. I would feel very uncomfortable "shaming" the parents, if that's how you want to see it, but I would feel worse just letting her wander. If you brought her home and politely expressed your concern, and later something happened to her b/c she was out by herself again, at least you know you said/did something to prevent it.

mauceddie

asianbymarriage:

Are you kidding? That's the kind of thing I have nightmares about. I would definitely bring her home. I would feel very uncomfortable "shaming" the parents, if that's how you want to see it, but I would feel worse just letting her wander. If you brought her home and politely expressed your concern, and later something happened to her b/c she was out by herself again, at least you know you said/did something to prevent it.

mauceddie

deleted- stupid nest

mauceddie

removed- duplicate post

CleoKitty

Makinroom4baby:

Yesterday DH and I went on a walk with Jayden and the 1.5 yr old baby across the street from us was outside ALONE! She was walking to the side of the house saying "Helloooo??" Their garage was open and the door leading into the house was open, but I could see the mom inside and it made me really nervous. It only takes a second for some crazy person to just grab her.

1.5 *is* really young, but just to play devil's advocate- if you could see the mom inside the house, chances are likely (I hope) that she was keeping an eye on the child. I would imagine that's why the door was open...? 

stacynikki

Ummmm, WHAT?!?!?!  No way!  I would bring that child back.  Three is way to young to be roaming the neighborhood.  I can't believe that some people are allowed to be parents.  What if she was taken or hit by a car? Wow.

Dimplz

I didn't read all of the replies but I think she probably got out of the house without her parents knowing.

DS has done that twice (we forgot to latch the door at the top) but luckily he only stayed in the driveway.