Hellobee Boards Topic: When will you let your LO's play outside alone?

Hellobee Boards Topic: When will you let your LO's play outside alone? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:47:53 +0000 catomd00 on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2574762 Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:52:53 +0000 catomd00 2574762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DD is 2 and I let her play in our backyard alone. I'm in earshot and usually eyeshot and check on her often. She has never attempted to go beyond the boundaries we set for her. BananaPancakes on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2574758 Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:48:43 +0000 BananaPancakes 2574758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We have an acre. It's not fenced, but has woods on 3 sides. I've let him play outside by himself since he was about 2.5. I literally check on him like every 3 minutes. He's 4 now, and he's not a wanderer and doesn't get into trouble, but I still keep an eye on him from the window because I have irrational fears of tree limbs falling on getting bit by a snake or something. But I try to keep him from knowing I'm watching because I think it's important that he has alone time to play. snowjewelz on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2574723 Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:10:16 +0000 snowjewelz 2574723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We have a fenced in backyard, no pool, so I think when I can trust them not go open the gates to go out front and in general not do stupid things to hurt themselves. JenGirl on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2574718 Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:04:27 +0000 JenGirl 2574718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We put up a baby gate on our back deck, specifically so that we could let our 9 month old son play out there. One of us is generally with him, but I've left him alone on the deck to run inside to get something - there's a screen door that we keep closed, so he stays on the porch (can't get in the kitchen which isn't child proofed) but we can hear/see him. As he gets older letting him into the backyard will be based on fencing and how well he follows rules. Mrs. Sunshine on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2574373 Fri, 24 Jun 2016 08:00:36 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2574373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm thinking 4 or 5. At 2.5 I allow her to be out for a few minutes here and there alone of her sister needs attention or I need to grab the sunscreen or water or whatever. We live on an extremely quite country road that dead ends to 5 acres that we share with 4 other members of DH's family so it's pretty sage and even when I'm not outside there is still a bit of supervision like 90% of the time. I don't know what I'm going to do if we move. Living here definitely makes me feel safe looch on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2574312 Fri, 24 Jun 2016 06:38:04 +0000 looch 2574312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I let my son out alone, but only for short periods of time. He can open every gate and climb over a wall to our neighbors house and at the moment, he's not the best decision maker. The only time I fully trust him not to "escape" is when he requests to drive his electric car. He sets up cones on the front lawn and drives in circles. NavyRN2012 on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2574294 Fri, 24 Jun 2016 05:05:12 +0000 NavyRN2012 2574294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I live on a military base, and the houses are townhouses set up with a large courtyard in the middle. We let our oldest play outside alone at 9. lamariniere on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2574242 Fri, 24 Jun 2016 01:14:06 +0000 lamariniere 2574242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We live in an apartment but people let their (older) kids go to the neighborhood playgrounds alone. We live in a very safe city but I have no idea when I'll be comfortable with this...maybe 9 or 10???? @Ree723: If we had something like this, I would be comfortable letting them out alone now (and they are 2 and 5). ALV91711 on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2573967 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 18:30:25 +0000 ALV91711 2573967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DS is 3 and I've started to let him go in the yard alone if I'm getting dinner ready or cleaning it up. If the curtains are open and the sliding door I can see and hear him. Our whole yard is fenced and the gates are locked. It is usually never for more than 15-20 minutes at a time and he usually stays pretty close. Our neighbours down the block have a boy the same age and they let him ride his bike up and down the sidewalk alone (they just watch from their house) and we feel there is no way we'd let DS do that. Too scary and dangerous for us. coopsmama on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2573951 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 18:12:52 +0000 coopsmama 2573951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Our yard is fully fenced and padlocked. It's a tall fence, too, and we have intentionally child proofed it. My kids (2 and 3) play out there by themselves all the time while I leave my kitchen door to the backyard cracked. Cole on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2573946 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 18:12:14 +0000 Cole 2573946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My 20 month old is allowed to play on the deck by herself while I'm in the kitchen so I can see and hear her the entire time. I leave the door open so it seems about the same as being in the same room. We have a fenced yard, safe street without much traffic if she did escape etc. It will be awhile before she can just go play in the whole back yard though. brownepiano on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2573939 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 17:57:44 +0000 brownepiano 2573939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I used to let my two year old stand out on the deck and watch the neighbor's dog with the door open so I could hear him. But once that got boring he started leaving the deck so now he's not allowed outside without us. If I had a fenced in yard, I would let him play outside by himself but i would probably check on him every few minutes or watch out a window. Kemma on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2573938 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 17:55:32 +0000 Kemma 2573938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My kids are almost four and fifteen months and the play outside all the time but our yard is fully secure and the hazards are minimal (no pool etc). Andrea on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2573935 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 17:52:02 +0000 Andrea 2573935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I let my kids play outside alone in the backyard but I can see them the whole time from the kitchen. They are 3.5 and 6. It's not fenced off, but they know not to run to the front yard and I am watching them from inside. Boogs on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2573890 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:55:43 +0000 Boogs 2573890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I let my 5 year old in the yard, but I keep checking on him. Ours is fully fenced. Ree723 on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2573889 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:55:03 +0000 Ree723 2573889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Our back garden is very secure - fully fenced around the public perimeter with a 6 ft high wooden fence, including a gate with a lock high out of reach, and then a similar height hedge separating our garden from our neighbours - I am ok with my 2 yr old and 4 yr old playing out there if I am just inside where I can see them. I am nearly always out there with them but I don't stress if I go inside for a few minutes. There's no way for them to get out, people can't see in nor get in easily, and we have it childproofed so there is nothing dangerous out there.... ETA: here's a pic of our garden looking back towards the shed and storage area (no entry/exit access); the front gate is behind me. [attach=1312/16/o98voc.450x600.image.jpeg] Miss Ariel on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2573887 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:54:30 +0000 Miss Ariel 2573887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 6 maybe? But I'd want there to be 2 kids out there to keep an eye on each other. I'd feel less comfortable with only one. SugarplumsMom on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2573860 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:36:21 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2573860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Never :silly: She's almost 4, but I don't feel comfortable with her being out there alone. Maybe in a year or two? anonysquire on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2573856 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:34:27 +0000 anonysquire 2573856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Never. We have a backyard similar to what you described. Even though we are getting a gate over the driveway soon, I don't trust our neighbors fence. It's some ratty chain link fence that a part of it is held up with cinder blocks. He has 2 pitbulls that are very aggressive and bark at us. That and there was a snake out there last year. It's just too scary for me haha!! And never, ever in the front yard alone. The road is 35mph and our cat was killed there 2 years ago. DillonLion on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2573853 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:33:25 +0000 DillonLion 2573853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ When I'm more confident she won't run into the road and get run over. We are in a suburban neighborhood, but live right at a T where a main entrance to our subdivision dead ends into another so there's a ton of traffic. josina on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2573849 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:31:19 +0000 josina 2573849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Never. :wink: I guess it depends on the child, probably 6-8 if I can trust them to not run off... we live next to a small river and I'm paranoid about LO's getting too close. We live in the country, so I'm not worried about other people, just about them being safe. If we get a fence put up, I'd be fine with LO's being outside alone for short periods of time as long as I'm SURE they can't get out. regberadaisy on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2573847 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:30:41 +0000 regberadaisy 2573847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We have a inground pool in our backyard....so, never?! Bao on "When will you let your LO's play outside alone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-los-play-outside-alone#post-2573837 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:25:57 +0000 Bao 2573837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Does it make a difference if it's backyard vs front yard, busy street vs not busy (quiet neighborhood)...etc My kids are 2 and almost 4 and I don't let them play outside by themselves. Our backyard is big and private but no fence and the driveway connects front to backyard. We live on a 25mph road but people fly through here and street aside there's no way. The kids across the street at 4 and 6 and ride their bikes up and down the sidewalk alone all the time. So I'm curious what age is ok for you guys for your kids to play outside alone, and under what circumstances.