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Are they like riding bikes? Or like coloring with chalk that they could easily do in their own driveway?

All the older kids on our street play in the street. We don't really have big front yards, so there's not anywhere else to throw a ball around and the street is the best place to ride their bikes or scooters.

There is often younger kids playing out there too with their grandparents watching from the yard. Several of us have orange cones that we will put out so drivers slow down.

I don't think it's weird and actually think it's a good thing, as long as the kids are respectful of the cars driving through and get out of the way. I think it also promotes neighbor interaction, because the parents or grandparents are out there and we stop and chat when we walk the dog.

No one plays in the street where we live unless it's a cul de sac. But tons of people have those caution signs.

We have people down the street that put out signs like that, but they don't actually let their kids play IN the street. It's just that the kids are in the driveway or sidewalk or something, and they want people to slow down around there just in case? I don't know. I think it's sort of weird, but I drive really slowly in the neighborhood already and I know not everyone does. But playing in the street is just weird to me!

A lot of kids play in the street in our neighborhood, even near the front of the neighborhood.

Our house is on a cul de sac a few streets off the main road, so there's very little traffic, just the ten or so neighbors and most have kids, so they're typically pretty cognizant. I will let LO drive his electric car in the street or occasionally pull the wagon in the street, but if he's in the street, I'm an inch away from him. We have a small lot so LO sometimes needs a little more space.

We live in a city, so the kids absolutely do not play in the street. One of my biggest fears is an accident. That said, I grew up in a small town on a cul de sac street and all the neighborhood kids played in the street.

I live on a cup de sac and I would never let mine play IN the street. Nobody else does, either

@Mae: I've actually seen 4-5 year olds playing hockey in the street (with parental supervision, and the nets parallel with the street not in the middle). It takes them a minute to scurry out of the way, but they are so cute it is okay.

We live on a quiet dead end so my children play/walk in the street. Our driveway isn't paved. Also there are only a couple of driveways so it isn't busy at all. However we do not go in the streets around/anywhere else. We stick to sidewalks. In your case I think that is kind of odd given other options.

@Mae: in your situation which is similar to my sister's house and development, I see middle schoolers playing hockey in the street. When they see a car they move the nets to the side. I don't think I've been bothered by it. Though, I am pulling over to park so I'm slowing down anyway. It might be annoying for people who are driving through. The section of the road where the signs are put up are highly visible from both sides and there is plenty of time to see the kids playing. (Like its not a blind curve or anything.)

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.

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.

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.

I could see older kids/teenagers playing basketball or hockey on the road but I wouldn't let young kids play on the road.

@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.

@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.

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.

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.

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

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!

@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)

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.

@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.

@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.