Do you let your kids play outside alone?

We have a high fenced yard and lockable gates with the lock up high.. which we lock and close each time we are home. (you can't get in and out, and you can't unlock them from the outside.. he he, mike has come home many times and had to run around knowcking on windows cos he can't get in the gates.

Ayja is a 'runner' so i would never trust her with the gates open even if she was inside.. i like to know that if she snuck past while i was getting something from the laundry.. that she would have no where to go.

I do let them play outside sometimes by themselves, but usualy when i am in the kitchen which looks out over the yard and the gates.   I will get out chalk or their bikes or whatever. But i always check, and usually it's just while i finish something then i'll go sit ont he step or go play too. Prob only ever 5 - 10 mins at the very most.. and constantly checking. (i am probably a worry wart..)

I let Andrew play outside, the back yard only, (only when the weather is good so not often) he knows the rules that he plays on the grass only. I always go out and check on him every 5-10 minutes just to make sure he hasn't fallen over. When DH is working outside then Andrew is allowed to play on the driveway and on the path outside our house. If we have the gates closed then Andrew would have free range of the whole place as we are fully fenced.

SMoody wrote: Just curious to know who allows their kids to play outside alone and if yes from what age?

Yep, mine just have the door open and come and go as they please. Jayde was probably a little over 12 months when she started doing it

SMoody wrote: Do you check up on them now or then?

Yep i poke my head out the window to check

We also have a fully fenced section (thanks to our neighbour who kindly made a gate for us while I was in hospital with Krystiana). The girls can play out there by themselves, it's a little bit new for me cause I'm usually in our lounge which is upstairs - but with the windows open I can hear them (like Janine's Paris, Hannah never stops talking and like Janine's Ayja, Briona can clearly let the neighbourhood know if Hannah is being pushy ). Every now and again they go quiet so I'll go out and check on them then, usually to find them eating "ten thousand" grapes!!!

I actually can't go outside easily with a broken foot (uneven surface or wet ground) so the girls have been looking after themselves out there nearly all of the last 6 weeks.

yep my kids play outside on their own oldest 6 years and youngest 22 months and they have done for ages we have a fenced backyard and i ckeck on them especally when thay go quite always meansc thay are up to no good.

i also look afther kids at my home (4 under 5years) and the rule book says that i have to be out side when the kids are so during the day when my eldest is at school i am always outside watching the kids.

You could get a padlock for the catch?

we have a deck out fornt adn a bbq area deck out back.
i let haleigh on our deck up front on her own but i can see her still and hear her and she generally stays close to the glass sliding door (its huge) i think more cause she can see her reflection and loves talking to ehrself.
i dotn let her out the back on her own though because she likes to eat the leaves to the tree and the bark plus hteres lots of pungas so not sure what will be crawling around in them.

daikini wrote: AlyAyde wrote: SMoody wrote: Just curious to know who allows their kids to play outside alone and if yes from what age? Yep, mine just have the door open and come and go as they please. Jayde was probably a little over 12 months when she started doing it SMoody wrote: Do you check up on them now or then? Yep i poke my head out the window to check Same, as we have a fully fenced section.

same here as well. Jake wants to play outside ALL the time, so I have bought him waterproof over pants to go with gumboots when it is wet underfoot, but ok outside to play.

I never let Bay played outside by himself when he was younger BUT that was because we lived on a farm so not fenced!! and i didnt trust him to leave the goat (MR ATTITUDE GOAT!!! ) and the other animals alone!!! but now that we have moved and our house is fully fenced i let him play outside alone....although i never shut the gates!! but i wouldnt leave them open if i thought he would take off!! hes pretty good and knows not to go beyond the gate!! and he often comes in to tell tales on the cats because "they were naughty and went outside the gate!" lol

Our Latch is at the Top of the fence so it will be a while before she can reach it!! but I am more worried that some one from outside will come in to our property. Other than that I let her loose. She also likes to touch and try some grass and weeds (Dont know why??) So I try and stop her when ever I can......