At What Age Do You Think
By Rozie37
@Rozie37 (15499)
Turkmenistan
January 11, 2008 3:54pm CST
It is safe for a child to be out playing alone? I just read about a six year old being lured by a man with a skateboard, kidnapped, and raped in Ontario California. Then he dropped her off at what looked like an El Polo Loco resturant. I am so glad he did not kill her.
But, I believe that a lot of parents take for granted that they may be living in a nice neighborhood and that it is alright for their little ones to be out playing alone. But, just because a man is a sick pervert, that doesn't mean that he will be poor. They are everywhere and we need to keep an eye on our younger children at all times.
Say that I am being ridiculous, but I would not want my fifteen year old out by herself. She would at least have to have a friend with her. What are your feelings on this?
5 people like this
12 responses
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
11 Jan 08
Ir is so different when I was young. Back then, I walked home from my piano lessons, and the only bother I had were from two guys trying to hit on me. Before that, when my aunt and uncle invited me to Summerland, I got on the bus by myself and rode all the way there. Mom and dad paid for my fare and gave me enough money to buy food for lunch on the way, and some money for snacks. My aunt and uncle would pick me up, I would spend time with them and they would put me on the bus to go home. Sometimes when my father did not need to go to the hospital, my parents would come up at the end of the week.
Now it is different. You have to watch your children at all times, and when your daughter goes somewhere, let her go with a friend and know her route so no one can kidnap her.
2 people like this
@graedragon (329)
• United States
11 Jan 08
I have 3 kids that range from ages 7 to 15. I have always had a problem with leting them out to play by themselves. we lived in a bad area for a while and I could not even let them out in the front driveway by themselves. I don't believe thia worls is safe enough to let your kids go play by themselves anymore. It's a scary world out there even for us adults.
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
12 Jan 08
Now you are absolutely right. It is dangerous for adults to get from place to place in safety. That is why I do not understand these parents who let their young children play outside unattended. That man could have been watching that child's pattern for a while before that happened. That's exactly how I got robbed at gunpoint. He had been watching me for a long time and I had not given him a second thought.
1 person likes this
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
12 Jan 08
When they are seven or eight, then they should be old enough to play on there own.
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
13 Jan 08
No, I do not, I grew up in the 1980's and 1990's, and it wasn't safe then either, but parents knew that they could not shelter their children all of the time, they had to let them grow up. They had to let them make mistakes, and believe me, I have made plenty of them.
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
16 Jan 08
Even at the age of six I wouldn't leave my son alone in the front yard or back. I would be sitting there watching him or taking part in whatever he was doing. I live in an apartment complex and there really isn't an area for him to play so most of his play time is done in his room or our lounge with his friends and if we go to the park then I'm with him all the way.
I am always weary where we go and even though my husband says that I am too strict on him, i am still very careful. He lets my son wonder the grocery aisle on his own which upsets me because i tell him you just never know, one minute he;s there and you turn your back and he could be gone.
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
18 Jan 08
Thanks Rozie. It was a lovely wedding, very simple and just right for the both of them. The actual wedding ceremony was held in a park on a hill overlooking the sea with palm trees and all..it was beautiful and we took some lovely pictures with the sun setting in the background. The the reception or dinner was held at a local restaurant which was lovely also. I was so happy for her and glad that I could be there for her. I helped her get herself ready i.e. manicure, pedicure, facial waxing, makeup, hair etc and boy was it a lot of work but it was fun :) I couldn't believe 3-4 days went by so fast and the next thing you knwo I was heading home on a plane. I didn't get to see any of Hawaii which was ok because I was there for her wedding but I did manage to get to their local swap meat (flee market) to buys some tees for the boys :) overall it was a lovely catchup but I ended up with the flu when I got home, so been in bed for the last few days. Feeling better today though!
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
16 Jan 08
Welcome back, I guess I will get to read all about the wedding today. Anyway, your situation is very common. Men often think that their wives are being too over-protective of their boys. They want their boys to be tough manly men.
Listen, you just keep doing what your heart tells you to do. Your husband knows in his heart that you are being a good mother. It's just a macho thing for him. If he is letting his son run around like that(and I can tell by the pictures) he will move heaven and earth to protect that little boy.
1 person likes this
@solson (406)
•
11 Jan 08
I think that that dessicion has to be made up by the parents i mean if the parents think its safe then sure again its up to them. I have a little brother about 4 years old and he plays outside by himself all the time but we know it is safe and we always keep an eye on him. But for someone to do that to a little kid thats so wrong and bad that girl i am sure will have mental problems now for the rest of her life.
2 people like this
@enbrown (282)
• United States
11 Jan 08
I think it is terrible that we live in a world with such crummy people. In my are a 2 yr old boy was playing in the ball pitt @ Chucky Cheese when a 15 yo boy that had escaped from juvie came in and raped the 2 yr old. What the hell happened to the 15 yr old to make him do that? Things like this are scary. I think it's ok to let 7 yr olds play in their own yard where you can watch them butI would check often and really educate them on what to do and about keeping a afe distance from strangers. Playing with a group is better than a kid alone.
2 people like this
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
12 Jan 08
I am almost willing to bet my life that this very same thing happened to this fifteen year old boy. That is probably what made him a problem child in the first place. If these children do not get the help that they need, then they will continue to repeat what has been done to them.
1 person likes this
@SViswan (12051)
• India
13 Jan 08
Even a 15 year old with a friend isn't safe really.
I worry myself sick thinking of all these perverts out there.
We stay in an apartment complex and my 7 year old is allowed to play alone within the building and only in the areas that I can watch him from our apartment. I don't trust the people who work here....like the personal drivers and maintenance people.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
25 Apr 08
My heart says 35, but logic does not agree. 12 years old, during the day, in the neighborhood with friends, several friends, level headed friends with adult supervision nearby.
I am assuming a trustworthy child here too.
15 or 16 kids but again in a group, level headed etc and home by 9 or 10 depending on if it is a school night.
At 18, your hands are pretty tied...but curfews are still in order.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
11 Jan 08
The way things are these days I think I agree with you. When I think of how my friends and I went walked and rode our bikes freely all over my small town when we were kids it scares the cr*p out of me, thinking what may happen of a child did that today. That six year old was sure lucky, usually these stories don't have a happy ending. I don't mean to say it was horrible that she was raped but it's nothing short of a miracle she wasn't found murdered somewhere.
Annie
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
25 Apr 08
Although I don't have children, when we had foster children they weren't allowed out of the yard and they were always outside with 2 or more together. When my Niece and Nephew come over (their 10 and 13) I stay out there with them to keep an eye on them.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
@leeesa (884)
• United States
12 Jan 08
I have a six year old and I would never let her play outside alone. If I owned a home with a fenced in yard, I might let her play, but I'd be watching closely. I'd definitely say that I'm overprotective, but she is my life and I'd just die if anything happened to her. My feelings won't change much as she gets older either. I agree, I would not want her out alone at 15 either.
1 person likes this
@elemental69 (1561)
• Ireland
14 Jan 08
My eldest child is 8 years old and even at that age when he goes outside to play with his friends I always tell him to play where I can see him. If he is going into his friends house even for a couple of minutes he comes in to tell me where he is. If I dont see him outside I start to panic. He knows that he is not allowed to go to the shop with his friends alone unless there is an adult going with them.
