Kids on street

petereverton

I have 2 kids ages 2 and 4, I was wondering at what age do you let your kids play out on the street?
I haven't let my 4 year old, as I think he is far to young, but everywhere I go, locally, there is children far younger than him playing on the road.

I was wondering maybe am being tight??
any suggestions, or pointers on if am being mean and not letting go, or should I carry on the way I am.
I personally don't want to let him out on his own till he is alot older.
What is a reasonable age?

tiff

Hi Peter, what kind of street is it? We have a back lane (no traffic apart from access to garages) and I think my eldest started playing out there, when one of us was in the garden when he was about 5 or 6. Usually there was a group of children playing together with bikes and scooters.

snails's_pace

it honestly depends on the conditions of where you live...ie...a busy road/no through road/ estate etc etc...and of course, the mental maturity of the child

okra

Our eldest (8) doesn't play out alone yet. I feel a bit overprotective at times, because there are children far younger who are allowed out (I can see a local girl who is 8 outside my house playing with her 1 year old brother at the moment - they live on the next street), but better overprotective than under, right?

petereverton

The street can get busy, when the railway is getting fixed we have lorry's and tracters etc.. around.
I feel he is far to young,
my neighbour for example lets her 4 year old out, but I don't think it is right.

tiff

Yes, actually playing out alone was the end of last summer when my son was nearly 9. He now goes down to his friends house and comes back at the time I say, but I get him to check in every half an hour. It seems right for him but I dont let my daughter aged 6 do the same.

tiff

petereverton wrote: »

The street can get busy, when the railway is getting fixed we have lorry's and tracters etc.. around.
I feel he is far to young,
my neighbour for example lets her 4 year old out, but I don't think it is right.

No, I dont think 4 years old out on her own is right either, and doesnt sound appropriate if there may be lorries and tractors around.

Becles

We live in a quiet cul-de-sac and they were allowed out on bikes or skateboards etc., from about 3-4. They were not allowed to leave the street though, or go into someone elses house/garden without telling me first.

It worked well for us, but I don't think I would have let them out so young had we lived in a busier street or somewhere where I couldn't keep an eye on them easily.

Karrie

I live in a cul de sac and he was allowed to play out with friends at the age of 7. Prior to where I live now, I would never have let him out to play even at the age of 20!!! Seriously, it all depends on where you live and traffic.

lisa_cee

our dd's been playing out since about 3 we live in an estate and where our house is theres no houses directly across the road cars do pass but mainly people who live in the area she doesnt go any further than our street which is at the end of our neigbourghs house beside us and her friends a few houses away i can always see her from living room or her bedroom.

dawnybabes

My DS is 4.5 and I live in a quite cul de sac in a village but no way would I let him play out in the street - hes got about zero road sense if he sees a vehicle.