https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 07 May 2026 06:48:05 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird/page/2#post-2270454 Sat, 22 Aug 2015 16:07:42 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2270454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine don't, but they're too little. Older kids in our neighbourhood do. We're are in a very dense city with a large park at the end of the street. For ball hockey and bike riding it's what they do.</p> <p>Growing up we did and so did all the families in the neighbourhood. Our neighbours had a basketball hoop at the end of their driveway and they played there every day. This was in the burbs ten hours from where I am now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird/page/2#post-2270451 Sat, 22 Aug 2015 16:00:35 +0000 jessibear 2270451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm really floored by how many people feel this is normal and fine. This definitely not something that happens here. I live in a relatively small town in Iowa and kids definitely don't play in the streets here. Even in quieter neighborhoods. And the majority of streets in our town are one way streets. I don't think I'd be comfortable with it. Streets are for cars, period. The cones sound bizarre to me, but I'm really interested in how routine this is for so many others. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird/page/2#post-2270337 Sat, 22 Aug 2015 10:20:07 +0000 pinkcupcake 2270337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's weird and personally don't like it. A lot of times kids just dart out and scare the crap out of me. I would never let my kid play in the street in our neighborhood (even though it's relatively quiet). </p> <p>In my old neighborhood, the family who lived across the street (we were in a cul de sac) put up a caution thing in the middle of the road whenever their kids were out playing. Super annoying IMO and reeks of entitlement. It's not your street! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird/page/2#post-2270327 Sat, 22 Aug 2015 09:45:57 +0000 babynumber1 2270327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: ours do, but we are in a culdesak. If we weren't i would think it was weird too. Out neighborhood is huge and it would be unsafe to play in the road at the front of the neighborhood. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird/page/2#post-2270208 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 23:33:15 +0000 winter_wonder 2270208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's unsafe. I would never feel comfortable with my children doing this. I have seen it done (very rarely in my area) but it makes me nervous. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird/page/2#post-2270117 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 20:34:47 +0000 ShootingStar 2270117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would think it's weird for kids that young to play on a busy street. I live on a cul de sac with only 5 houses and the older (9-10 year olds) play in our street. One day we'll probably get one of the "kids at play" signs and let DS ride his bike or scooter in the round part of the cul de sac. But there's only ours and one other driveway at that part of the street, so very very little traffic. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird/page/2#post-2269637 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 11:13:14 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2269637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Kids play in the street in my neighborhood. When cars come they stop play to let the car pass. I find it annoying, but some games are better played on pavement than grass. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird/page/2#post-2269551 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 10:24:33 +0000 HabesBabe 2269551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it's weird at all. Common when I was growing up and common in our neighborhood right now (OC suburb). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird/page/2#post-2269511 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 09:58:32 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 2269511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our kids play in the street of our neighborhood. The driveways are pretty steep and there aren't any sidewalks, so that's where they play. There are a lot of kids on the street so they all come out in the evenings and weekends and play together. The parents are always out with them, watching for cars. I'm sure it's annoying for people driving by, but most people in the neighborhood are families. </p> <p>There is a playground at the back of the neighborhood, but it's really small. It's just so much more convenient to stay in front of our houses so the kids can get to their toys and we can bring them snacks/drinks and take them potty whenever they need it, instead of trekking all the way back to the house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird/page/2#post-2269427 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 08:57:43 +0000 LovelyPlum 2269427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live in the city, and kids play in the street all the time. I actually put the onus more on cars in that situation, because so many people fly down roads where the speed limit is 25 mph. We live in a residential part, and signs like that help remind people thst kids live and play here </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird/page/2#post-2269418 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 08:51:25 +0000 avivoca 2269418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Kids do in my neighborhood, but they are older. Not a lot of people have young kids right now except for us. We don't have sidewalks, so anyone who rides their bike/scooter has to be in the road. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269408 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 08:40:51 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2269408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: in a lot of places it is illegal to ride your bike on the sidewalk, so it's important for kids to learn how to ride on streets safely and follow the rules of the road. </p> <p> @Ra: I agree, because we are out on the street a lot, we talk a lot about safety on the street and most of our neighbors seem to as well. My LO is not even 2, so she's not out there without us being a few feet away, but all of the kids who play on our street are very good about watching for cars and moving out of the way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269314 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 07:17:53 +0000 yin 2269314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have older kids play basketball in the street, and they're usually mindful of cars. I wouldn't let my LOs play in the street. I've taught them that the street is for cars to drive on, and the sidewalk is for people to walk on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269302 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 07:06:46 +0000 californiadreams 2269302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i guess it depends on the street. I grew up on a very small quiet street and we definitely played in the street as well as our front yards all the time. It just depended on what we were playing. The house we just moved to now is a busier than what I grew up with and i don't think i would feel comfortable with my kids playing in the street, which may be unfortunate for some games, but i assume they will adapt and make the best of what they can do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269297 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 06:52:35 +0000 looch 2269297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up on a very busy street, I was taught from a young age not to even think about crossing the road to get a ball. When I rode my bike, it had to be on the sidewalk.</p> <p>Now, we live in what used to be a development. There are no sidewalks, which bugs me, but I do let my son ride his scooter or bike out on the street but I am always with him. There are some older kids that will bust out their lacrosse sticks and throw a ball around in the road, but they're at least middle school age and they get out of the way when they hear a car (except for my husband's silent electric, he honks). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269253 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 00:59:16 +0000 Cherrybee 2269253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up playing in the street with the neighbour kids. Riding bikes, playing ball games, hide and seek, pushing dolls in prams. It was totally normal back then. But now? My own kids? No freaking way! </p> <p>@Mae: Haven't their parents read/seen IT?! Clowns lurk in drains you know?! (on a serious note - there are just too many risks out there for my liking) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269241 Thu, 20 Aug 2015 23:40:20 +0000 birdofafeather 2269241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we live in a cul de sac now and i let her play to a point in the street since it's flat there, as do the other kids in the cul de sac. other houses in our community have similar kid signs but i can't really remember if the kids are set up fully in the street. no other streets i've lived on were appropriate for this, so it's not something i grew up with, but i could see it happening! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269240 Thu, 20 Aug 2015 23:32:12 +0000 mrschickpea 2269240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live on a quiet cul-de-sac in an older neighborhood (ie: no sidewalks but larger front yards/1 acre back lots) our neighbors at the beginning of the street have a kids at play sign and older kids play in the street since there's not much traffic. I would find it odd if really young kids were though. I reallllyyyyyy don't want my kids to play in the street because of unpredictable drivers and such but that's why we bought a house with a huge backyard and larger front yard :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269228 Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:40:47 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2269228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up on a cul-de-sac and everyone played in the street! I'll do the same with my LOs when they're old enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269215 Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:15:53 +0000 yoursilverlining 2269215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live on a cul-de-sac and kids of all ages play in the street. Kids played in the street at our old place too, which was a standard neighborhood bordered by 2 busy streets.</p> <p>I think those caution cones/signs are obnoxious as hell. If you are ok with letting your kid play in the street, that's fine, but it's still a STREET, not your private playground. Reeks of entitlement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269212 Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:13:23 +0000 Greentea 2269212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Grace: I agree, even as an adult I wouldn't play in the street, personally. (I mean, like be in the street even without kids.) People are crazy drivers. I also saw some killed right in front of me while walking home once in college (someone flew by right in front of me at an intersection, ran a stop sign and killed a lady riding a bike...) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269211 Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:12:13 +0000 Grace 2269211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ra: I'm sure you do. Lots don't. There was a kid on my street who ran out just yesterday in front of my car. And she was 7-ish. Plenty old enough to know better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269208 Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:09:11 +0000 Ra 2269208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Grace: I disagree. Because my son has to play in the street we discuss traffic/street safety much more than the average family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269207 Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:09:01 +0000 Greentea 2269207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: I really don't think you are in the minority! Even growing up we never did this, in city, country (people would fly by!), never. I've also never seen kids doing this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269201 Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:03:14 +0000 mrbee 2269201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My whole neighborhood grew up playing sports on the streets. Traffic was relatively low and slow, so we had plenty of warning to clear the street when a car was coming. Traffic is way too high where we live now to consider it though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269200 Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:02:31 +0000 ALV91711 2269200@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in a cul de sac full of kids and they don't play on the road. Sometimes in the driveways to ride bikes, but most of us keep them in the fenced back yards to play.</p> <p>I could see older kids/teenagers playing basketball or hockey on the road but I wouldn't let young kids play on the road. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269197 Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:00:45 +0000 Grace 2269197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One of my biggest pet peeves is kids playing in the street. I think allowing them to use the street to play doesn't teach them to respect how dangerous it can be to be on road. I see far too many kids and teens that don't look before they cross a street, or who push a crosswalk button and don't check to make sure the cars have stopped. Too much not paying attention when it's slippery outside when cars might have a hard time stopping. Rant over. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269196 Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:00:40 +0000 Ra 2269196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live in the city but we live on a side road. Our street has no sidewalk so Brady plays in the street all the time but I'm always with him. He literally couldn't walk or ride a scooter if I didn't let him in the street. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269195 Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:00:35 +0000 BSB 2269195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: Oh, just read through your responses. Older kids okay but 3 &amp; 5 years seem kinda young to me. My neighbors kids are that old and when I come home they don't usually stop what they are doing when they see me, so I stop because i don't know where they are going next. (I know one of them were on their bikes and can't remember what the other one was doing.) One of them did stop but in the middle of the road and I couldn't get by. I was sorta stuck, couldn't get passed them to get into my driveway. Finally the mom got up and moved her daughter out of the road. I can't say much since I don't have kids yet but I would think I would make sure my kids know to get back on the sidewalk when they see a car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-play-in-the-streetis-this-weird#post-2269187 Thu, 20 Aug 2015 21:50:50 +0000 reverie 2269187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It seems odd to me.... especially a 3 and 5 year old. I'm terrified letting my 2 year old have some independence by letting him not hold my hand when we walk in more isolated areas of the neighborhood. There doesn't seem to be a need to just congregate in the road. </p>