How old was you DC when you left them alone outside to play?

I know my DS is too young to be outside alone in the backyard, but wondered around what age they can be a little more independent?

Also, at what age did you start to let them ride their bike around the neighborhood by themselves?

TIA!

Re: How old was you DC when you left them alone outside to play?

Hmmm....that's a tough question.

We live in a townhouse complex so i dont let my older DD go far without me being in the vicinity.

She can go up to 2 streets away to her friends house on the bike and around the block we live on. Other than that she has set areas she can go to if her friends are out. She's now 10. She's been allowed out by herself since about 8. The boundaries have just gotten a little further over time.

Re: How old was you DC when you left them alone outside to play?

I just started to allow my DD to ride her bike outside alone this year. But she is still only allowed to go as far as I can still see her. She is 10.

Re: How old was you DC when you left them alone outside to play?

at 6 - not yet, but my neighbor's son is in 3rd grade and he comes to the field by my house (2 houses away) with his friends on their bikes.

Re: How old was you DC when you left them alone outside to play?

Donna, I generally let Gracie play in our backyard, but it's fully fenced & I can see her from our big kitchen window. I usually let her stay out there if I'm making dinner or feeding Jack or something. She'll be 4 in July.

Not sure about riding around the neighborhood...scary thought...and so different than when we were kids.

Message edited 3/28/2011 8:49:46 PM.

Re: How old was you DC when you left them alone outside to play?

DS is 4.5 and i will leave him in the backyard but i do check on him often.
but if he wants to ride his bike, i'm with him while he is on the driveway.

Re: How old was you DC when you left them alone outside to play?

NEVER. Maybe when she's 16?

Re: How old was you DC when you left them alone outside to play?

My DS is 2 and he plays in our back yard alone or with his sister. It's fully fenced and I can see and hear them from the kitchen. I wouldn't let them be out there say if I was showering and had no access to them but I don't feel the need to be out there on top of them.

Re: How old was you DC when you left them alone outside to play?

My sons are 9 & 7 and I still feel weird leaving them alone outside.. but I think I might be a little bit of a freak. I let them in the backyard without me as long as I'm in the kitchen or workout room and have a line of vision on them at all times. And the gate is closed.

They are NEVER allowed on the street (even though it's a quiet dead end) or in the front yard unless I'm there or Rob is there.

Message edited 3/29/2011 7:10:14 AM.

Re: How old was you DC when you left them alone outside to play?

DS whose 5 can play in the backyard by himself. I usually don't like to let my 3 yr old back there with him because she often walks in front of/behind swings no matter how many times she's been knocked over. The gate to the fences are too high for them to reach so I know they won't open them. As far as the front yard, it's off limits unless DH and I are outside. We live on a dead end but it is an extremely busy one.

Re: How old was you DC when you left them alone outside to play?

We live in a quiet neighborhood and a fenced yard. With that it wasn't until last year I opened the door and said 'go' to my 5yr. old. Now 7 and 3yrs. they play in the back alone while I keep the door open. When they are in the front I keep the doors open and go out every 5 minutes if I am doing something in the house. My IL's live next door anyway so they are back and forth all day and night long.

Re: How old was you DC when you left them alone outside to play?

Last summer I let DS and DD out in the backyard. I was in and out. They were 3 and 4.

The yard is fully fenced in and there was nothing they could really get hurt with.

Re: How old was you DC when you left them alone outside to play?

A month away from being 5. We recently moved OOS. Before I would have never let him play outside alone. We lived on semi main road and close to the road as well. I never even let him play outside in the back because there was only one window from the kitchen and a small window in the bathroom that allowed me to see in the back, plus a spiral staircase to get outside if something were to happen to him. So I never felt comfortable. Now we live on a cul de sac off of a road that only residents really use. He has two friends that are almost 7 that he plays with, one across the street and one two doors away. They all go between our houses so there is an adult around always. He know the rules. Look out for cars, scream if you need me! I check up on him constantly. I've never seen him happier. We know all our neighbors by name and we have only lived here two months. It is very family oriented here, even the "older" kids pay attention to the "little" ones! He maybe playing on his own outside, but I am watching from afar!

Re: How old was you DC when you left them alone outside to play?

DS is 7 he has never really been allowed outside alone to play. We have a lot of kids in our neighborhood and there is always an adult or 17 - 19 yo big sister out. Even with that I am always poking my head out or sitting on the porch when he is out. We all watch out for the group and have the same rules.

Bike rides are on the sidewalk from one end of the block to the other (its usually a parade)

Basketball is in a driveway only

When adult/big sister goes in you go in.

No crossing the street without specific permission

When its nice out most of us are out visiting with each other in the evening while the kids play. I know this won't last much longer as the 7-8 yo want to start going around the block. Im not ready for that unless its a scheduled play date.

Re: How old was you DC when you left them alone outside to play?

Re: How old was you DC when you left them alone outside to play?

DS is 8 and still doesn't play outside alone. But I live in a apartment complex so its hard for me to just send him out. I will sit on my steps and watching him run around and play.