at what age to allow kids to play outside alone (without a fence)

newbeebride05 · March 2010

Of course I have a story behind this...but want general feedback on this question-

I know there are many factors...

But for example...at what age do you allow kids to play outside by themselves (checking in very frequently)...living in town at the end of a quiet cul de sac without a fence..for example.

DandelionMom · March 2010

If I can see/hear them the whole time (like from an open door or window) probably 8. I let my 3 y/o play alone in my fenced backyard that I can see from my sliding door.

mattswife91805 · March 2010

w/o a fence I would say closer to 8/9. DD plays in the back yard (fenced in) now by herself, but I can see/hear her from the sliding glass door and our kitchen has windows that faces the back yard.

meghans30 · March 2010

10 or 11 or maybe never. It's sad that I am so fearful.

JOEBunny · March 2010

I let DD play outside in a fence at 3. Maybe 5 for front yard, but we are not there. She plays out there now alone, but only for 5 minutes or so while I run in to use the bathroom or grab a snack. We live on a dead end street and know all our neighbors.

Brideofranken · March 2010

I just read the Lovely Bones.....so never.

PinkPiano · March 2010

I don't let my almost 6 year old play alone in our fenced back yard...so I'm thinking probably 9 or more without a fence.

oparcm · March 2010

Maybe never? I'm kind of joking but not really. I live on the water and I really am concerned about that one. I do have a fenced in yard but it would take only a few seconds to reach the water and that scares me. I don't leave dd for even a second.

CleoKitty · March 2010

Depends on the area.

In our old neighborhood kids were playing outside without fences around 6-7 years old. It was a very safe subdivision with lots of houses all close together, but sometimes there were a little too many people around, kwim?

At our new house I've been letting ds outside alone since he was about 4. I wouldn't have felt comfortable with that in our old neighborhood, but here he's fine. It's a little more rural, our property is much bigger, we have fewer neighbors and less traffic. And, of course, it depends on the kid. Ds is absolutely fine- he's the type that isn't going to go near the road (not that there's any traffic on it anyhow), isn't going to leave our property and has a cautious nature.

In general though I find that I always seem to be a little more lenient than average compared to other people on this board when it comes to matters like these.

winomom22 · March 2010

In our neighborhood the age seems to be 5/6. I am leaning towards that if DD is out playing with other kids....we will see how she is at that age. She would have to stay within view of the house at all times though-that would be my rule. We live in a nice subdivision.

janetmichelle · March 2010

Brideofranken:
I just read the Lovely Bones.....so never.

SO TRUE!!!!

hikerbeth · March 2010

DD just turned 4 and I'll let her play out there with older kids (neighbors) for short stints. I also trust her enough to play for a few minutes alone while I go to the bathroom or grab something in the house.

jettagurl · March 2010

Uh, never. We don't have a fence (yet - on the agenda for this summer) and live on a corner lot. Under no circumstances would I let them outside alone. It would be quite easy to snatch one if they got too close to the road....once leaving our house, there is only one stop sign to leave the 'hood, and most ppl run it.

Realistically, maybe when the twins are 7-8 (even with a fence) because the last thing a 6-10 yr old will do is watch out for younger siblings when they are engrossed in playing.

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at what age to allow kids to play outside alone (without a fence)

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