Do You Let Your Children Play Outside Alone?

At our old place, I did let my son play in the fenced back yard alone, but the dog was always out there with him so I would be immediately alerted to anyone coming near the yard. Also, the gates were incredibly difficult for adults to open, so I knew my son couldn't open them. Now we're in a new place, and since I don't know the area very well I'm out there with him. We share our yard with our landlord, and the latches on the gates are such that you gotta make sure that it latches properly, just closing the gate doesn't always do it. I learned the hard way last week after going inside to pee really quick that the landlords family and visitors don't always make sure the gate latches. I came outside after less than a minute to find his gate open and child and dog both gone. They were only two houses away (with the dog standing over the boy and watching him -- which was cute), but it scared the hell out of me. The landlord added locks to the latches to make it more secure... but that doesn't help if people aren't making sure the gate is latched. So my son is constantly watched. If I have to pee, I bring him inside with me -- kicking and screaming if necessary.

In my backyard I do, I have a 7 year old..The dogs are out there so I know that she will be safe, but there is no way that I would let her play out the front without supervision, its just too risky.

My son is not quite 3 yet and I do not let him play outside alone. We even have an enclosed backyard with a privacy fence and I won't let him play out there by himself. He is too facinated with water and I am afraid he will find a way to work the spigot and who knows what could happen. I haven't given much thought yet to what age he will need to be before I am comfortable with it.

I live in a rural community and the only childern really around are my own. Most childern I do see here though appear to be unsupervised as well. I do look like an overprotective mom as you rarely ever see my childern without me. I let them play outside in my yard alone. It is pool season so not the pool without me. My daughter is almost 12 and I will let her go with her friends. But the boys I wouldn't let leave the yard without me. They are 8 and 6. This is the first summer I have let the youngest outside without me but just the yard (where my eyes can see you) LOL Your daughter is way too young to be outside without you. I think you did the right thing. I think many people in rural areas are too relaxed about supervision but they think I'm too protective cause I was raise in a big city.

I have 4 year old boy and i will never allow him to play outside unattended by me.Roads are so busy .Its so risky out here.

Yes I am a parent and I do let my boys play outside, as we have a park by us, however my boys are old enough to play without supervision, but now and then I will go up into my room where I can see the park just to see if they are ok..When my boys were young they went to a daycare where they interacted, and when they got home I just let them play in the lounge where I could see them..

I think you need to watch the children play.3 year old is still too young. You can take her to near by [park to play with other kids. Once I read a story form a mother who told her real story in the article. Her 6 year old child was left to play alone in the yard. Child was playing with the ball. The ball went out of the fencing area. The boy ran out to take the ball. Suddenly the boy was hit by a Van driver(hit and run accident) and the boy got killed. So you need to watch the child while playing.

I like to send my kid to play outside if the place over there where we live is safe and with the kids that are from my neighhood till he grow up to 12 or 13 yrs,as i found the kids of that age more secure to themselves than those with less age.

My daughter's not old enough to play out with friends but no, i cant say i would, we live in a small country town too but the road we live on seems to be the one hoon use to do burnouts on & the trucks like to take shortcuts through here. I don't see it necessary for kids to play out the front of a house on the orads & such. I will allow her to play outside alone in the backyard when she's a little older & we have the new fencing put up - for the moment it's just not safe coz it would be easy for her to take off out the front & on to the road. I could never play out the front of my parent's house when i was younger either coz even though it was another small country town, they lived on the road leaving so it was always hectic. I think kids can play out the front alone if you can see them from your front window & there are fences around to stop them getting out of the yard.

As a mother it is bad to allow your ward to play alone, becauxe bad thing can happend to them. thanks

I'm very much like you. I have one son who's going to be eight in two days' time. Even now I allow him out only within the colony. If he's out with friends or visiting somebody's house I ensure I know who it is. Till even six months back there was always someone who was there to supervise. Every now and then, I would check on him and I've told him that he should be back before it turns dark. I never allow him outside our colony alone or even with his friends. I don't think I'm paranoid and I don't think it will make my son any less independent when he grows up. I feel parents who allow their small kids out on their own are just too indifferent or lazy to make the effort to supervise. They would rather spend that time on themselves.