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Melbernai
I am a lucky Momma!
Member since 7/05 15652 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Spinoff to "At What Age" post...
At what age do you start letting your child play in the backyard without you being there?
Emily is 5.5 now, and as much as I'd love to let her play back there on her own as I got things done in the house, I just can't allow myself to do it. So many "what ifs" run through my head.
I have such vivid memories of playing in the backyard as a child and my Mom was never there. I did have older siblings and there were always lots of neighborhood kids around, but I just can't wrap my mind around when it will be OK to do this.
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Posted 5/11/11 9:46 PM  |
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twicethefun
Loving life
Member since 7/06 4088 total posts
Name:
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Re: Spinoff to "At What Age" post...
I have partially fenced in back yard. My son and the neighbors started playing out there with no adults at about 4 yrs old. But we are always looking out the window and they always have a friend. Once my son's friend left him and he did not tell me suddenly I heard shrieking and my ds had his foot caught in a tree...and for this reason he must not play alone...in case something worse happened an noone could run for help. My 3.5 yr old dd plays outside now too, 5 kids all together between the two houses. Its nice and I listen and keep an eye out but I do not stay out there unsells they are playing in the front.
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| Posted 5/11/11 10:13 PM |
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joenick
Us
Member since 6/06 9370 total posts
Name:
Valerie...aka...Do Me A Favor?
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Re: Spinoff to "At What Age" post...
I was always worried about that myself.
I have a completely fenced in yard. Totally private, with one gate (PVC) to get out. I can hear the gate from inside the house, so I know they can't get out (nor can anyone get in) without my knowing.
I started letting them play outside by themselves last summer. Nick was 8 and Joey was 5. I open EVERY window in my house (even with the CAC running) so I can hear them. I do not have a pool, so that was never a concern. We have only a swingset, and my windows face it so I can see them.
I'm sure I could have let them outside by themselves much earlier, but I am a neurotic. 
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| Posted 5/12/11 11:01 AM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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Re: Spinoff to "At What Age" post...
Completely fenced in, high gate lock, NO POOL, kid-proofed at 3-4 yo.
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| Posted 5/12/11 11:30 AM |
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Eireann
Two ladies and a gentleman!
Member since 5/05 12165 total posts
Name:
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Re: Spinoff to "At What Age" post...
LOL, a friend and I were just saying yesterday that our moms used to virtually lock us out of the house in the nice weather when we were little!
I started letting them out in the yard last summer at 3 and 4. I always stay in the kitchen with the door/window open.
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| Posted 5/12/11 11:36 AM |
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monkeybride
My Everything
Member since 5/05 20541 total posts
Name:
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Re: Spinoff to "At What Age" post...
My 2.5 year old plays outside by himself. I can hear and/or see him with the windows open so I get stuff done in the house while he plays. We are surrounded by neighbors on all sides and he can't open the gates. Miranda has been doing the same since his age.
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| Posted 5/12/11 12:01 PM |
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MrsGmomof3
...
Member since 6/08 3290 total posts
Name:
Irrelevant
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Re: Spinoff to "At What Age" post...
My yard is completely fenced in and the gate locks, so I have been letting my kids play in the yard "alone" for quiet sometime. Oldest is 7 and youngest is 3, and even last summer I let all 3 of them play out there. I am always running in and out, and my kitchen is in the back of the house, where I usually am anyway.
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| Posted 5/12/11 12:11 PM |
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onlylisa
LIF Adolescent
Member since 3/09 740 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: Spinoff to "At What Age" post...
My son is 5 and I do not let him play outside alone for more than a minute or two. I only have a side yard, not a back yard and the entrance is from a bedroom so there's really nowhere in the house to watch him from except that bedroom. It's a terrible setup and I'm just not comfortable letting him play out there while I'm clear across the house.
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| Posted 5/12/11 7:08 PM |
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AnnBrunoXO
2 Girls For Me!
Member since 5/05 4377 total posts
Name:
MaMMa
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Re: Spinoff to "At What Age" post...
I have a 5 and a 3.5 year old and they play by themselves in the yard - BUT our yard is fenced in, we have a private driveway with a gate and I watch them and hear them through the window while I wash some dishes etc. I check on them constantly though.
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| Posted 5/12/11 8:11 PM |
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dm24angel
Happiness
Member since 5/05 34581 total posts
Name:
Donna
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Re: Spinoff to "At What Age" post...
My son will be 4 in a few weeks, not for a long time..he does crazy reckless things IMO. I always see the neighbors kid outside alone, all the time and he is just under 3 yrs old. It scares me honestly. They have a fence he can get through though.
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| Posted 5/12/11 9:14 PM |
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Bxgell2
Perfection
Member since 5/05 16438 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Spinoff to "At What Age" post...
Posted by Eireann
LOL, a friend and I were just saying yesterday that our moms used to virtually lock us out of the house in the nice weather when we were little!
I started letting them out in the yard last summer at 3 and 4. I always stay in the kitchen with the door/window open.
This was me... I ALWAYS played outside with my neighbors, by myself!
I started letting Alex play outside by herself at around 4. She had VERY firm guidelines, and was always with a friend, and I could always see her from the kitchen windows.
But that's all null and void now that we're moving to a house with an inground pool. The girls will NEVER be allowed outside without me until they are teenagers.
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| Posted 5/14/11 7:28 AM |
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ddunne2
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 4189 total posts
Name:
Doreen
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Re: Spinoff to "At What Age" post...
Posted by nrthshgrl
Completely fenced in, high gate lock, NO POOL, kid-proofed at 3-4 yo.
Completely agree. This describes my yard and exactly the age when they were out their playing. I have a wall full of windows that looks right onto my yard so they are alwyas in sight.
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| Posted 5/15/11 11:39 AM |
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BeachMom
Love my 4 kiddos!
Member since 11/08 8346 total posts
Name:
Kristie
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Re: Spinoff to "At What Age" post...
at 3-4 i let my older DD play outside while i was inside getting something or that i would be back in a minute. No longer than 15 minutes without me outside. We didn't have a gate, but large property set far back and i didnt worry about her going into the street.
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| Posted 5/16/11 11:59 AM |
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05mommy09
Family of 5!
Member since 5/05 15364 total posts
Name:
<3 Mommy <3
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Re: Spinoff to "At What Age" post...
I started letting Rj play outside by himself this past fall (5yrs old).
Backyard is completly fenced in(with a high lock)he knows he is not allowed to leave the yard and not allowed to do the monkey bars w/o an adult back there.
I always stay in the kitchen (usually cooking dinner) and can see him the entire time.
ETA- We do not have a pool.
Message edited 5/17/2011 9:11:04 AM.
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| Posted 5/17/11 9:09 AM |
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