Just need to rant - kids playing out on their own

louisehj

Gist of it is that I have 2 boys, 5 (just turned 5) and 2. On our street we have 2 neighbours who let their kids play out on their own, 1 family kids are 9 7 and 5 (youngest been playing out since 3) and other kids are 6, 5 and 3 (all been out on their own since 3). Now our street is not a through road but lots of parked cars, cars coming and going. We have never let our 5 yr old out on his own. The kids dont just play on the front, they go round the back, over the road. We go out on the front as much as we can so he can play with them but its hard, we both work 5 days a week. He gets so upset sometimes seeing them play out. Am I being too over protective, am I the odd one out on the street?

Becciboobah

You don't live on my road do you? Sounds like round here, I don't object to them playing but twice now as I've been driving into the cul-de-sac from work one of the kids has run out from behind a parked car and I've had to brake to avoid hitting them. Admittedly I'm doing less than 10mph but I still don't want to hit a child regardless of fault. I get so nervous at the moment driving out of my road :-(

I wouldn't object to my son playing with them if it was out the back where I can see them and keep an eye on them, but noooooooo way is my son going to be playing in the road!

4743hudsonj

I dont think so, whenever you feel guilty for keeping him in, imagine the gut wrenching guilt you would feel if he was hit..... I think your the only paent being sensible, kids should be able to play out but inder supervision when there any roads involved.

What if you tlk to the other kids parents, express your concerns and maybe see if you can arrange at least one of you.them to be supervising at any time. (so one day x watches over, next y looks over, then you) That way you have peace of minds, they be responsible parents and you kid gets to play out and make friends.

Fiddlestick

Becciboobah wrote: »

You don't live on my road do you? Sounds like round here, I don't object to them playing but twice now as I've been driving into the cul-de-sac from work one of the kids has run out from behind a parked car and I've had to brake to avoid hitting them. Admittedly I'm doing less than 10mph but I still don't want to hit a child regardless of fault.

Drive at 30 rather than 10.

That will teach them not to run out from between cars without looking :A

gaz_jones

Fiddlestick wrote: »

Drive at 30 rather than 10.

That will teach them not to run out from between cars without looking :A

I know I shouldn't, but :rotfl:

Lirin

The kids play out the cul-de-sac behind my house. I don't mind it at all, the noise is quite nice to hear at times!

Teaching them to be careful is another thing.... When my step-daughter was younger, and wasn't paying any attention to road rules, despite what we told her, she ran out in front of my car one day. I knew she was going to do it, and it wound me up a little- she's been told before. I blared the horn, which is aftermarket, so quite loud, and stopped in front of her, and told her off, telling her I 'almost' hit her. I hated shocking her and making her cry- but rather a quick study with me than a phonecall someday to say she's been hurt....

The group of kids playing out the back now- have had to tell them off- they hide under the cars, which is a bad risk, as myself and my neighbours are always in and out- I don't want to hurt them if they're hiding under when I reverse (not to mention the damage they'll cause to my car hiding under it.)

Housing association house has just let to a family who chase their kids out to play all the time. One was sitting in the road when I came home last week, and I stopped and explained to him he'd have to move, it wasn't safe to sit in a road on a corner.
The response? From a 5-yr-old- "F*** off, it's a bigger claim if I get hit!"

Honestly surprised, thing he's repeating what someone's said to him just- he's normally a nice enough kid.

Dee*reamer

There's an adventure playground about 50 yards from my house, this seems to give parents the idea that their children can go to the park unattended, some very young indeed. Unfortunately the park gate is on a main road so the children just run across the road often times without looking. Equally, little tiny kids on bikes that are far too big for them racing up and down this busy road, it's terrifying.

Another thing which is very annoying, why do some parents allow their children out so late. It's bad enough that there are young teens out until midnight hollering & screaming, but sometimes there's very young ones, aged below 10 still out when it's dark.

Shocking really!

Fiddlestick

Lirin wrote: »

One was sitting in the road when I came home last week, and I stopped and explained to him he'd have to move, it wasn't safe to sit in a road on a corner.
The response? From a 5-yr-old- "F*** off, it's a bigger claim if I get hit!"

Best make it 40 rather than 30 in that case, just to be sure

iamana1ias

louisehj wrote: »

Gist of it is that I have 2 boys, 5 (just turned 5) and 2. On our street we have 2 neighbours who let their kids play out on their own, 1 family kids are 9 7 and 5 (youngest been playing out since 3) and other kids are 6, 5 and 3 (all been out on their own since 3). Now our street is not a through road but lots of parked cars, cars coming and going. We have never let our 5 yr old out on his own. The kids dont just play on the front, they go round the back, over the road. We go out on the front as much as we can so he can play with them but its hard, we both work 5 days a week. He gets so upset sometimes seeing them play out. Am I being too over protective, am I the odd one out on the street?

Yes, it sounds like you are over protective.

Rosemary7391

I always used to be out playing at that age, in sight of the house though, and in a very quiet cul de sac. As I got older I could go further but had to be back by a certain time, always before dark! How often do cars come down? Surely if its no through road its just people who will know there are kids there and will go slowly?

Becles

My daughter is 3 and plays out with her older brothers and other children in the street. It's a quiet cul-de-sac, but I've already taught her how to cross the road and she knows she must look left and right before crossing.

We took the dogs out the other day and my eldest (13) just walked straight across the road and he got a right telling off from my daughter for not stopping and looking both ways :rotfl:

I'd rather have them out playing and getting exercise and fresh air, than vegging in front of the TV or computer games. It's helped my daughter gain social skills too as she mixes well with other children and I'm not worried at all about her settling when I have to leave her at nursery next month. My niece isn't allowed to play out and I noticed when we all went to a soft play recently, my daughter got involved with some other girls and was playing chase round the frame, while my niece clung on to my sister-in-law.

The older ones have learned lots through playing out. It use their imagination and resource skills by doing things like playing armies in the woods and using sticks as swords or guns. They learn to sort out their own fights and disagreements without coming running to get an adult involved. They learn to make judgements and consider risks by doing things like swinging across the stream on a bit of rope tied to a tree. They all learn from each other about moral boundaries and respecting other peoples rules. The skills they have gained mean my older ones can make reasoned decisions and I'm not worried that they will be affected by peer pressure.