So my friend and I are in disagreement on an issue dealing with children and I would love to know what you guys think.
My friend thinks that it is OK for her son to go out in the back yard to play, by himself. Her son is almost six and she feels because they live in a good neighborhood that it is fine. The yard is not fenced in but she does have a sliding glass door that looks over the backyard from the kitchen.
I disagree and say that a child that age should not be allowed to be outside without adult supervision, regardless of neighborhood.
What do you guys think? Be honest, It’s OK if you disagree with me.
When I was a kid, i went out all the time. i remember at 6 walking to the bus stop by myself because my sister was sick. Our bus stop was 1/4 a mile away. It really depends on the area and the parent's comfort level. if she can see the child at all times, and there WERE a fence, i'd say it's okay, but the lack of fence worries me. Anything, not just people can get to her child. What happens if some random dog wanders into the back yard? Also, with out a fence, the child doesn't know the boundaries, so how are they to know where to go?
The lack of a fence is what bothers me, as well. This is NOT the world we all grew up in…
I don’t let my five-year-old play outside by himself and we have a fenced in yard. I let him play outside with his older siblings though…especially the teenagers.
Nope, he would not be aloud outside by himself..esp with now fence..
On my block (inner suburb of a big city), kids 5 and under are allowed to play alone in fenced backyards (with parents checking on them by looking out the window) and kids 6 and up are free to roam the sidewalks together.
My daughter’s only 3, so I’ve only let her outside alone in our fenced yard for about 5 minutes, but I’ll probably follow the other moms’ lead as she gets older.
Not alone, especially without a fence. Our yard is not fenced, so if my 13 and 10 year old want to go outside to play, they do so together. We open all the blinds and windows so we can see and hear them. I believe it is better to be safe than sorry.
Would you say that it is OK if we put the dog collar shock on the kid? So they know where the fence is?
Just want to clarify?
You are very funny anonymous. Good thing I know who you are!!!
Wooo…a tough one! Without a fence to contain them and keep unwanted things out..no way. Even with a fence I would have to check out the window like every 30 seconds…so I might as well just go outside.
Mine play out back all the time, but we do have a fence. I only let them go out front in there is an adult or one of the older sisters can go out with them. We live on a cul-de-sac with 17 other kids so there’s always someone playing! But it is definitely a different world than when we were growing up. How sad for our children!
This is a very tough call. A lot of it depends on the maturity of the child. If it was my decision no fence = no play.
Nope, I wouldn’t feel right about it. A fence would help a lot.
I let both my kids play outside by themselves in our backyard. I do not have a fence and I feel comfortable with them being in our backyard without me. I am usually cooking dinner etc and can see them, but I do walk away and do stuff and come back.
As for knowing boundaries… my kids don’t need a fence for that, they know the rules and those are their boundaries.
For me, the fence is the determining factor.
I wouldn’t have a problem if we’re talking about a privacy fence and me being able to see out to the yard from various windows.
But no fence? I wouldn’t be comfortable with that.
I would be more than a little nervous to let my girls play in an unfenced yard by themselves at the age of six. A fenced yard? Maybe, but I’d be at that door every two seconds. It’s beyond me why some parents just don’t suck it up, grab a book and supervise the situation!
In our prior house, we had no fence. The kids knew their boundaries and were allowed to play outside without me as long as I knew they were there.
Where we live now, we have a very enclosed backyard with locked gates. Although it is urban, they can play outside without me.
It is all about the kids, the yard, the neighborhood, and the mom/dad.
You know, I’m not too sure if the world today is any different than when we were kids. I’m sure there were just as many kidnappings, abductions, etc. when we were growing up, but we didn’t have the “benefit” of news at your fingertips 24-7, or the world wide web. I blame the media for sensationalizing every story and making us prisoners in our own home.
That being said, We let our kids play in the fenced in yard only. Call me two faced.
Kids can get into trouble too quickly. . .Our son plays in our fenced back yard with locked gates with one of us on the porch or in the yard with him at all times. Our motto is better safe than sorry.
I let Josh go outside and play in our front cul-de-sac (we live on a double ended cul-de-sac) and play with a friend. I have to be able to see him from the front window.
I do let them go out back too — we’re partially fenced.
I guess it would totally depend on the neighborhood and all. Fenced is better. I don’t think I’d be comfortable letting him out all alone, but with a friend it’s just a bit different.
I don’t know, depends on the neighborhood and child, I guess.