How old to play alone in the back yard?

Mrs Manners

We have a huge fenced backyard with gates that latch from the outside. Because we have a walk out basement, the backyard is a floor below our main living area and kitchen. Ds has a playset, plastic playhouse and power wheels vehicle he plays with in the backyard along with a sandbox and a bunch of cars/dump trucks. He just turned 4 this week. I'm thinking by this spring, he's probably old enough and mature enough to play alone with me inside puttering in the kitchen. I wouldn't necessarily be able to see him because he's down one floor, but would keep the deck door open so I could hear him and easily step out to check on him occasionally. 

 

At what age was your dc allowed to play alone in the backyard? 

cbidt*sgirl

I can't see my backyard because it's a floor down. Because I can't see or hear them mine are only out there alone for 5 minutes (I'll run in and put groceries away while they play, or I'll go in and grab a snack etc). It's fenced in but we are city dwellers so I don't feel comfortable. Mine are 5 and 2.5.

AgrippaRidesAgain

Ds has been playing alone in the backyard for a little under a year, as long as someone is downstairs and can see/hear him. We have a tiny yard and he tends to stick to the sandbox right next to the door though.

Kapalua

I let my 5 yo and 2.75 yo play in the yard without me...though I'm probably a bad mom by Nest standards!

AnnapolisLari

DS was 4.5 last summer and I let him play outside without me. He set up cones on the driveway to mark where he wasn't allowed to pass and he stuck to it. LOL

I left the window open so I could hear him, but he's a responsible little critter.

acppa

I started letting DS play outside alone last summer when he was 3.5.  We have a fence that locks with a key and a separate locked gate to get to our pool.  I was always around on the first floor and could hear him through the windows/screen door. 

He was never outside alone for very long, at that age he would come inside after 5 minutes to find me.  

shopgirl78

My kids don't generally play out there alone, per se.  They are out there with their siblings and there is some comfort in that (if someone is hurt or crying....).  With that said, I can almost always see out there if not I am checking on them regularly esp DS2.   DD was probably 3-4 and DS1 was probably between 1.5-2 when we'd allow them to be out in our locked, fenced backyard for a few mins.  However now at 6, 4, and 2...they can play out there (generally also with neighborhood friends) as long as the like.  In fact, I will kick them out there to play sometimes : ) 

cbidt*sgirl

Kapalua:

I let my 5 yo and 2.75 yo play in the yard without me...though I'm probably a bad mom by Nest standards!

if my yard was on same level as my kitchen I would totally let them play and do my own thing inside.

jettagurl

Last year all four would go out without me, but they were together. we have a fenced yard that's locked, and i'm usually just inside the door/windows. They were 5, 3, 1.5, & 1.5. I'm sure I'll do the same this year.

CleoKitty

For my kids the magic age has been somewhere in between 3-4 years old to play outside alone. I noticed that my neighbor started letting her ds out to play alone a little after he turned 4. We do not have a fence (nor do our neighbors) but that doesn't really seem to be an issue for us. However, I'm sure the age will vary greatly depending upon the specific kid and your neighborhood norms.

GinandTonic

We have a fence, but it's not a privacy one and we live on a corner, so people can see them back there.  I still let them out there last summer (at almost 6 and 3.5), as long as DS was there.  I don't think I'd let her out there alone yet.

I'd try to stay on that side of the house and unless it was super hot, I'd open a window so I could hear them.  More often than not, they'd start fighting after not too long and she'd come storming in all mad.

rubber_chicken

Kapalua:

I let my 5 yo and 2.75 yo play in the yard without me...though I'm probably a bad mom by Nest standards!

 

I think that makes you a GOOD mom - children need independence in order to properly develop and grow.  Free range parenting for the win!

wildfloweragain

Power wheels like the jeep or the remote control cars?  My kids have been since age 4 and 6 going in our fenced area.  No locks, no close neighbors and I leave the door open.  I am usually on the same floor as them.  They can't go in the barn and they can go in the sandbox. 

I definitely wouldn't let them ride something with power without an adult but would let them if it's the remote control cars.

I let them ride their tricycle.  They pretty much have to ask on anything else.  They know what's dangerous enough to ask - pretty much anything that gets them off the ground.

r9stedt

3.  I would have before that if the house I owned previously would have had a view into the back yard.   

 

We don't even have a fenced in area now.  He is 4, and has been playing outside for months alone.    

 

Shame, shame, shame on me. 

annetteh72

We have a walk out backyard and it's fenced.  I send the kids out in the backyard with the dog and have since they were four. I just stay in the kitchen where I can see them playing out the window.

I think you are fine!

septemberdreams

My DS is 4.5 and we just started letting him go by himself.  We don't have a fence.  He's pretty responsible.

lildevil968

My DD has been playing outside by herself since was about 3 or so. Our back yard is right off the dining room so I could see and hear her at all times, and our gate locks from the outside, so she couldn't get out.