What age do you let your children out alone?

Rain_Shadow

thriftylass wrote: »

You will get two kinds of answers here. Let them out, that's what we did when we were kids. And: don't because they'll get snatched, run over etc till they are 14.

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Yep. That pretty much sums it up.

Makalu

Firstly I would say, How do you feel about it? If you are comfortable with it then try it and see. It really depends. My son was calling for his friend from the age of 7 but he lived 8 doors up and my friend would text me when he arrived. We did this without him knowing as I didn't want him to think I didn't trust him and so empowered his confidence. When he was 11 he had a phone and I called him and he said he was in Sainsbury's with his friend. I said "You aren't allowed that far" and he replied saying he and his friend wanted to do something "teenagerish" (His words) before starting secondary school, so although I was shocked I was glad he had the confidence. My stepson hasn't been allowed anywhere. This has caused an issue and now at 14 he has to be taken to the park by his dad. Its more a worry for parents I think. Good luck whatever you decide.

pigpen

dsab wrote: »

I can't really believe that. How are they supposed to survive in this world in a few years when they are not allowed to go out independently aged 13?

Most kids I know at that age take Buses or Trains to neighboring towns on their own, go to the Cinema on their own etc. Can't be healthy (in my personal opinion) to keep them this sheltered from life.

Well the 6 I have over 13 appear to have managed perfectly well so far, they have also said they are glad I was quite so vigilant having seen their friends get into all manner of trouble because their parents didn't pay enough attention, they weren't so pleased at the time but can see it now they are adults..

Why would they have any need to go anywhere unaccompanied as small children?? The OPs children arent 13.. they are 8, 6 and 5.. they are small innocent children.. why do they need to grow up so fast? Mine aren't 'sheltered from life' they are protected from preventable accidents and incidents by a responsible adult who doesn't mind dropping them off with friends or collecting them... keeping them safe is my job and I will do it until they prove they can be responsible enough to do so themselves.

An 8 year old cannot be legally responsible for another minor, or themselves!.. if something happened the parent would be liable to prosecution for allowing a preventable accident. It is just lazy parenting imo.. cant be bothered to walk the short distance yourself so put your children at risk by letting them go alone.. I've had 8x 8 year olds so far and not one had any sense when it came to roads and if someone they didn't know suggested they go get an ice cream they would have gone.. regardless of any previous conversations I'd had about being safe.

My opinion is no more correct nor incorrect than anyone elses.. it is simply mine.. and until I stop seeing stories of 5 year olds being abducted and never found and 8 year olds run over and killed I'm not changing my opinion!

My partners response was definitely more extreme than mine.. and he added if as their parent you're not bothered about walking them then why not just do it? why is it even a question.. the rest would be a series of !!!!'s lol

mikeeboy

My son recently had his first venture outside with his friends for a couple of hours. A known location and he checked in before going to a different location.

He's 10.

theEnd

pigpen wrote: »

I think mine were about 13/14 before I let them go anywhere alone..

Is that serious?

I grew up in London in the 80s and everyone was allowed to go everywhere on their own. At juniors 8-11 (1 mile walk) it would be rare to have a parent picking up a child. At secondary 11+ (2 tubes and 2 long walks) there was only a couple being picked up and that didn't last long.

silvercar

I wouldn't leave a 5 year old alone in the house, never mind let them lose on the street.

silvercar

theEnd wrote: »

Is that serious?

I grew up in London in the 80s and everyone was allowed to go everywhere on their own. At juniors 8-11 (1 mile walk) it would be rare to have a parent picking up a child. At secondary 11+ (2 tubes and 2 long walks) there was only a couple being picked up and that didn't last long.

I doubt juniors these days walk home alone. Most secondary school kids do. I big jump at the age of 11-12.

thriftyemma

pigpen wrote: »

Well the 6 I have over 13 appear to have managed perfectly well so far, they have also said they are glad I was quite so vigilant having seen their friends get into all manner of trouble because their parents didn't pay enough attention, they weren't so pleased at the time but can see it now they are adults..

Why would they have any need to go anywhere unaccompanied as small children?? The OPs children arent 13.. they are 8, 6 and 5.. they are small innocent children.. why do they need to grow up so fast? Mine aren't 'sheltered from life' they are protected from preventable accidents and incidents by a responsible adult who doesn't mind dropping them off with friends or collecting them... keeping them safe is my job and I will do it until they prove they can be responsible enough to do so themselves.

An 8 year old cannot be legally responsible for another minor, or themselves!.. if something happened the parent would be liable to prosecution for allowing a preventable accident. It is just lazy parenting imo.. cant be bothered to walk the short distance yourself so put your children at risk by letting them go alone.. I've had 8x 8 year olds so far and not one had any sense when it came to roads and if someone they didn't know suggested they go get an ice cream they would have gone.. regardless of any previous conversations I'd had about being safe.

My opinion is no more correct nor incorrect than anyone elses.. it is simply mine.. and until I stop seeing stories of 5 year olds being abducted and never found and 8 year olds run over and killed I'm not changing my opinion!

My partners response was definitely more extreme than mine.. and he added if as their parent you're not bothered about walking them then why not just do it? why is it even a question.. the rest would be a series of !!!!'s lol

You're right, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and no-one is wrong for having that opinion. Thank you for sharing yours.

Following in that spirit, I am a little offended that you called it 'lazy parenting' if I chose to let my children walk along a street alone.

I agree, putting them in an avoidably risky situation is not good. God forbid anything happened, I would have to live with the consequences for the rest of my life. Every second of every day is a risk to my children's lives. If I was worried about everything, they'd never leave their rooms, let alone step outside the front door!

But considering allowing my children to walk one minute down the road, alone, is not lazy parenting. Surely my desire to do right by them, giving them life skills and independence, whilst still weighing up the possible risks, would suggest I am anything but a lazy parent.

theEnd

silvercar wrote: »

I doubt juniors these days walk home alone. Most secondary school kids do. I big jump at the age of 11-12.

It doesn't really make any sense. The road is the main danger and that's a lot safer now than it was back then.

pickledonionspaceraider

I think these ages are too young to be allowing this