'Unsupervised' kids

tankgirl1

I took LO to the park the other day - it was full of kids - I counted 12 of them, aged maybes 3-8yo, more or less unsupervised - their parents (3 mothers) were having a picnic on the sports field, where they couldn't see the park, and made no effort in the 30-45 mins we were there to check up on the kids.

As if that wasn't bad enough, 2 of the youngest kids, 3 or 4 yo at most had stripped off and were running round starkers - and one of them was covered in a rash.

The parents of these kids are very active in the community, and are on the PTA at the local school...

Now is it just me who thinks that their behaviour was shocking? I'm doubting myself because of their standing in the community....

DUTR

How could you see the parents and the children, yet you know the parents could not see the children?
I think you maybe over reacting to what you saw (or thought you saw)

Money_maker

Probably relying on the older ones to watch out for the smaller ones although 3 year olds do need to be watched. Nothing more upsetting than a LO crying their eyes out cos they've hurt themselves with no parent in sight.

tankgirl1

I could see the kids as I was in the park with them. The parents were down a steep hill on the sports field - easily visible from the park, but I know from experience, having lived there all my life, that all you can see of the park from their picnic spot is the top of the slide

Agutka

My 3yo loves running about starkers. He would never wear clothes if I let him. And I sometimes I do.
The rash might have been post chicken pox, looks terrible doesn't it.

browneyedbazzi

I'd find it shocking too, kids at 3 and 4 should be properly supervised.

tankgirl1

It was the two small ones running around butt naked out of sight of their parents that bothered me the most tbh - if some monster had happened upon them they could have easily been well away before the parents got up the hill ......

peachyprice

tankgirl1 wrote: »

Now is it just me who thinks that their behaviour was shocking? I'm doubting myself because of their standing in the community....

Yes.

What is it that has outraged you so much? The fact they had the freedom to play, the fact the mothers trust their children to look out for each other.

All the children were together, they were doing what children do, playing.

Or is this another 'the world is such a dangerous place nowdays' thread? Well it isn't, the only difference is that we hear about things that our own parents never would have thanks to having the world at our finger tips.

Parent your children the way you want, and let others alone to do the same.

DUTR

tankgirl1 wrote: »

It was the two small ones running around butt naked out of sight of their parents that bothered me the most tbh - if some monster had happened upon them they could have easily been well away before the parents got up the hill ......

As long as the parents were not on holiday in a restaurant with friends, then all should be good

mirrorimage0

im sorry but the world is a more dangerous place these days, yes we do hear about it more but there are so many more oppurtunites now as well which makes it easier, many more people which means more bad people. (as well as good i might add)

just for the safety factor alone why would you let 7 or 8 yr olds look after younger children. they are notresponsible enough in any way shape or from and if something terrible did happen how ould they feel. im sorry but its not right or excusable in any way

now way would i let my 3/4 yr old run around in the park on there own especially naked.

tankgirl1

peachyprice wrote: »

Yes.

What is it that has outraged you so much? The fact they had the freedom to play, the fact the mothers trust their children to look out for each other.

All the children were together, they were doing what children do, playing.

Or is this another 'the world is such a dangerous place nowdays' thread? Well it isn't, the only difference is that we hear about things that our own parents never would have thanks to having the world at our finger tips.

Parent your children the way you want, and let others alone to do the same.

Hi

I posted this thread to try and get some perspective, and to see if others thought i was over reacting to be shocked at the situation, and I do appreciate your opinion.

I have nothing against kids playing out, especially in a group - safety in numbers and all that, but at 3/4 yo and butt naked to boot? Yes, it shocked me, and I won't apologise for that.

Personally, at 5 and three quarters , I think my LO is just about getting to the age where he can play out, within boundries, without me watching him all the time.

Other people have different approaches and opinions which is fine, but like I said, I find a 3/4yo naked kid out of sight of their parents is going a bit too far.