Hellobee Boards Topic: how old is old enough to play alone outside?

Hellobee Boards Topic: how old is old enough to play alone outside? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:33:06 +0000 JerricaBenton on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1870560 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 15:19:52 +0000 JerricaBenton 1870560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I would think once she's in kindergarten, she could play in the fenced back yard on her own. LindsayLou on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1870553 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 15:17:27 +0000 LindsayLou 1870553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ As others have said, I think it depends on the space the kid is playing in, and the maturity of the kid, in addition to age. My stepson has been allowed to play unsupervised in our fenced backyard, in a quiet neighborhood, for short periods of time since around 5. With frequent checks, always within sight if we look out the window. At around 8, we began trusting him to play in the front yard, still with frequent checks, and usually, windows open, so we can hear as well as see him. sarac on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1870527 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 15:02:51 +0000 sarac 1870527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My daughter (3) is allowed to play in our backyard when I'm in the adjacent kitchen. Boogs on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1870524 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 15:00:40 +0000 Boogs 1870524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My 3yo occasionally plays in our small, fenced in back yard by himself at times. I've never thought it would be an issue. LovelyPlum on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1870514 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 14:57:00 +0000 LovelyPlum 1870514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Anagram: I was wondering about this, too. In the part of the city where we are now, I wouldn't let her go alone for a while, because there can be a bunch of traffic. It's something we'll have to think about. I think by 6 is totally fine if the area is safe, and especially if they are with other children. By 6, we were all over the place, and by 8, my sisters and I were walking to the bus stop by ourselves. Rainbow Sprinkles on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1870498 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 14:44:44 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1870498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We have a fully fenced backyard with big tall wooden fences and I let my 2.5-year old play on the grass or with her chalk by herself. I can see her through all the windows and obviously am in and out, usually doing dishes or something. Now, if we are talking outside of the fenced area, I'm not sure. We live on a residential street but it's close to a busy 4-lane road, so that would make me nervous. sunny on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1870358 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 13:35:13 +0000 sunny 1870358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Hmm I don't know. If the other neighborhood kids were around, I was allowed to go out with them unsupervised when I was 7 or 8. I don't know that I was allowed to go out front by myself or with just my younger brother until I was 9 or 10. My parents were really cautious though. Kidnapping was big in the news in the 90s in Toronto. I'm thinking for my LO probably when she is 7 or 8 as well because I don't think the kids would be playing directly in front of our home. They would probably be going around the corner to another part of the subdivision and I wouldn't be able to see them. Beebug on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1870234 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 12:39:40 +0000 Beebug 1870234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm pretty chill, I cook dinner and let my not even 2 year old play in our unfeced back yard. She doesn't go anywhere, we have a "Marco Polo" type call that if I say my part and I don't hear back I physically check, a snail or worm usually has her full attention, but she calls back and usually i can hear her anyways. She's not going to go anywhere and when she challenges that, then we'll re-evaluate! Off our property though, haven't thought that far ahead! Don't want to....! lamariniere on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1870218 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 12:29:59 +0000 lamariniere 1870218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think it totally depends on your child and where you live. We live in a capital city, but it is incredibly safe. I often see kids who look like they are 6 or 7 walking on the sidewalk alone on the way to school (or alone in public transit). It is pretty normal here. In the parks after school I see a whole lot of kids between maybe 7-10 that don't look like they have parents hanging around. I myself am too neurotic to let a child under 8 play outside unsupervised. Maybe if we lived in suburbia with a fenced in yard I would. But not in the city. Cole on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1869995 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 10:22:54 +0000 Cole 1869995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrs. bird: I think that's a fair set up assuming she checked in on him every so often, and of course that he is a kid who has shown he can handle that responsibility. Mrs. Sunshine on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1869906 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:36:59 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1869906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @loveisstrange: I'm a free range parent & MY DH is like "don't let her do anything, EVER!" lol so we'll see what kind of rules we'll come up with when LO starts wanting to do things on her own! Mama Bird on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1869891 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:31:08 +0000 Mama Bird 1869891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Anagram: I am wondering the same thing! My neighborhood is "safe" for adults, but by no means safe for an unsupervised child. Lots of traffic, and every now and then I see really sketchy people that make even me nervous. DH and I were both playing outside by ourselves by 5 or 6. I really hope we can move somewhere that at least doesn't have all this traffic soon :( loveisstrange on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1869866 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:23:04 +0000 loveisstrange 1869866@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I would definitely allow my 6 year old to play outside by herself, but probably just in our yard. We live in a very quiet, suburban neighborhood with very low crime and our neighbors are mostly elderly and empty nesters. Id say around 8-10, Id allow her run of the street. I know by 10, I was allowed our whole block and we were allowed to walk to the park a couple blocks away alone. We're definitely more "free range" when it comes to parenting. Anagram on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1869852 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:16:26 +0000 Anagram 1869852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I've been discussing this with my DH a lot--like, in an urban environment, what age is appropriate to let LOs walk the dog alone (staying within a 2 block radius)? What do you guys think? Or soon, our city will have a dog run and park (with playground) 2 blocks from our place. What age would we allow LO to take a dog there herself? Or go to the playground alone? There would be 2 intersections with cross walks to cross (not big intersections, one lane one-way roads). Anagram on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1869847 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:14:57 +0000 Anagram 1869847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think I was 5 or so when I learned to ride a bike (possible younger?) and I rode my bike around with my older brother ALL THE TIME and we went far for our age. My mom never even asked us where we were going. We were definitely not within eyesight of the house. So just playing alone outside...it would depend on our neighborhood. Right now, I live in a really urban environment so there's nowhere to "play" anyway--just a sidewalk and the street. But if LO wants to walk to the corner store alone to buy candy or gum or something (it's not our corner. We just have a nail salon and a DD, so the store is 2 blocks away), I would probably make her wait till she's 8-10 years old. Mrs. Sunshine on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1869733 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 08:13:01 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1869733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Considering where we live now, I would allow LO to play alone outside around 4. I don't think 6 is too young but considering the child wasn't in their own yard I'm torn. I didn't know how to ride my bike until I was 8 (so embarrassing) & like previous posters I had boundaries. My brother was 4 years younger than me but was allowed to come with me but not go alone for a while. I don't remember what age he was allowed to go to the boundaries on his own. I don't think this situation is really that bad. I'm not sure if I would have let my child play somewhere other than our yard but I see why it would be considered at that age. 78h2o on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1869729 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 08:10:43 +0000 78h2o 1869729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think it really, really, depends on the space involved. Are there any hazards nearby... road, pool, etc. How safe is the area? Can parents see the child from the house, etc.? I definitely played outside by myself at that age, but we lived in a very safe rural area and had 4 acres of property. I would let J play in our backyard at that age unsupervised for a few minutes at a time, but it's in a safe area and fenced. I could also look out the kitchen window and keep tabs on her. looch on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1869727 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 08:10:12 +0000 looch 1869727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ So, before this summer I didn't really have an opinion. But now I do, because I let my son go outside in our fenced in back yard for 3 minutes while I changed my shirt. He asked if he could go to his swingset, which I could see from the room where I was changing. He proceeded to go to the gate to the driveway, opened it and went into the unfenced front yard. I went out into the front yard to ask him why he did that and he said he was chasing a squirrel. So, long story short, it's not age dependent for me (he'll be 4 in December), it will be when he can understand the consequences of his actions. It's not that he's unintelligent, but he just didn't connect the dots that if he went into the front yard, he wasn't following the rules and something bad could happen to him. Mrs. Jump Rope on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1869720 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 08:02:32 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1869720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Wow! I'm not sure what age we'd feel comfortable letting the kids play outdoors by themselves. It would depend on their maturity and where we live, I think. I was definitely allowed to play outside by myself at age six though. At my grandparents house I had 'boundaries': I was allowed to ride my big wheel from the green house to the yellow house on the side walk. Similar rules at my own home. We lived on a cul de sac so maybe that played a role in my panera decision...? Mrs. Lemon-Lime on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1869712 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 07:57:49 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1869712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I played outside without adult supervision at 4. At the time we lived in a small enclave of town homes. Pretty much all the backyards let out onto a playground area. I used to play with the other kids. If any one ever got hurt we just would walk them home. My kid won't be so lucky at 4. The way our neighborhood is set up a child is quickly out of eye sight. At 6 or 7, neighborhood outside play is ok. ETA: I have stopped a small child in my neighborhood who looked upset walking away from older kids. Even though I was concerned for his safety I scared him even more. Neighbors, like me, need to but out. mrs. bird on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1869705 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 07:54:31 +0000 mrs. bird 1869705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Cole: they had her on this morning and showed the place he was playing, it was a green space in their neighborhood, but not their own yard. you could see the house from the green space, but may not have always been able to see the child depending on where within the green space he was. they said it was about 100 yards from the house, in a developed neighborhood with sidewalks and he wasn't allowed to go passed the stop sign on the other side of the green space. Dandelion on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1869701 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 07:52:04 +0000 Dandelion 1869701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ D has been playing outside alone at my parents since he was 4. We didn't have a yard until he was 5, so since then he's been playing by himself alone. But, he's very trustworthy. ETA: I would have had some words for that neighbor, if they pulled that on me. Cole on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1869695 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 07:47:30 +0000 Cole 1869695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Oh my, I was thinking like 4. Obviously, this would be in my safe back yard and they would be checked on frequently. I do think the temperament of the child is a consideration but normally 6 is a pretty competent age to be unsupervised for short periods of time. It sounds like this child was out front which I also would not have a problem with at 6. Our street is a slow, residential street and the visibility is great for both the playing child and the drivers. With kids I nannied for on a very similar street they were given permission to go about half a block ahead of me or their parents from about 4, we were outside too but there is nothing you can do to keep them from being run over at that point. Similarly, at 9 they were allowed to go half a block to the playground with friends. They were out of sight and probably out of yelling distance but knew the important phone numbers and there were always people out in the event of a catastrophe. I don't think there is anything inherently dangerous in what that mother did and further more it was irresponsible of that neighbor to use up the resources of CPS on such a silly situation. mrs. bird on "how old is old enough to play alone outside?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-is-old-enough-to-play-alone-outside#post-1869688 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 07:38:34 +0000 mrs. bird 1869688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ on CBS there is a woman who was investigated after letting her six year old play outside by himself. <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/protective-services-called-on-mom-for-letting-child-play-outside/" rel="nofollow">http://www.cbsnews.com/news/protective-services-called-on-mom-for-letting-child-play-outside/</a> how old do you feel is old enough to play unsupervised outside? what boundaries would you set for them?