5 year olds outside alone together

amother

↑ Papaya ↓

Sun, Jun 02 2024, 10:02 pm

giftedmom wrote:

Because I do the same for them. We help each other. We’re not “each to their own” like you seem to be. I don’t mean a little scrape. They come in for those.
I would help any bleeding kid I see on the street, and so would any adult outside.

We're not each to our own, of course we help each others out. But we do supervise our young kids outside.
You can't know how your kids are behaving outside, if they don't get in to trouble or don't bother other kids... if you're not outside with them.

amother

↑ Papaya ↓

Sun, Jun 02 2024, 10:03 pm

amother Alyssum wrote:

I'm loving reading this thread. I live in a bad neighborhood, I don't let my kids play outside in the front of the house ever, even with me. It's so nice to read about neighborhoods where this is not a thing.

We don't live in a bad neighborhood. Kids need to be supervised for many different reasons.

amother

↑ Butterscotch

Sun, Jun 02 2024, 10:06 pm

We def look out for each others kids.
And no a 5 yo, unless significantly delayed, behaviorally challenged or neurodivergent (and the 2 families with children with these issues do not send this age kids out alone without a proper carer) 5, 6 and 7 yo don't take someone else's bike.
Everyone bh has their own.
There are groups of older kids too. All ages up to adults. In the street (no side walks here. We share the road), in backyard. In the park or in someone's backyard trampoline.

↑ Cheiny ↓

Sun, Jun 02 2024, 10:19 pm

giftedmom wrote:

I’m talking about an emergency. Anything else they just come inside and ask me. I’ve helped plenty little kids while sitting outside and wasn’t annoyed. Maybe we just have bigger hearts over here.

Oh that must be it… bigger hearts. Or less of something else…

notshanarishona

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 7:15 am

My daughter and a friend we’re playing dodgeball in our front yard (they are both 5th grade). Their ball went in the street, bounced in front of a car. They both waited for the car to pass but the driver got out and started screaming at them for throwing a ball at his car. They tried to say it was an accident and they were just playing but he didn’t believe them and insisted on seeing the parents so he could tell them how naughty they were. Could you imagine 2 5 year olds dealing with that situation?
This was fairly innocuous, just obnoxious of this man but still both kids were very shaken up.

amother

Gray

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 7:18 am

Yesterday we watched a five year old climb up a rickety rusty gate and from there climb onto a mailbox about 7 feet high. Something really scary could have happened. I helped him get down and told him not to do it again.
Kidnappers are the least of my concerns.

amother

Blush

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 8:01 am

Op if you could trust your 5 year old not to go in the street. If I must leave my child that age out I will do so in the early ours. When kids are still coming off the bus and mothers are still likely to he around. Also I check on my kids even my 10 year olds. So a 5 year old I would check on often.

amother

↑ Jade ↓

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 8:05 am

What I find most fascinating is on parenting posts people say a 5 year old is a baby you can’t expect them to understand what you want, you can’t expect them to clean their toys or get dressed alone or know right from wrong. So when you discipline assume they had no idea what was wrong with what they did. But at the same time they are old enough to understand street danger and are totally safe outside alone. They are no longer impulsive or lacking ability to understand. Make it make sense.

Trademark ↓

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 8:47 am

amother Jade wrote:

Who said those are the same people?

Actually most people on this thread are against letting 5 year olds playing outside by themselves. Those same posters are probably saying on other threads that 5 year old are still young.

And most likely posters who let their children play outside, do expect more from their children.

amother

↑ Jade

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 8:48 am

Trademark wrote:

It’s the same. Can’t say more.

amother

↑ Quince

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 8:52 am

amother Jade wrote:

I think the parents who trust their kids who also have higher expectations. Starting from age 2 my kids are expected to take out their own plates and bowls for snack, clean up their toys, pick out their clothes and at least partially dress themselves, put dirty clothes in the hamper, and help put away their clean clothes. By about 2.5 they can help themselves to a healthy snack, put on their shoes and coat, etc. Maybe my kids grow up too fast, but they like the independence, and they push themselves to earn more independence.

amother

Slateblue

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 9:02 am

Just wanted to chime in and say this sounds so nice..not having to watch your kids and get a break.. my kids won’t go out unless I come with them and no other parent will kindly watch my kids because they have big hearts…I’m so tired I should really move to the suburbs

amother

Winterberry

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 9:18 am

My 5 YO can certainly dress herself. She wouldn't steal other people's bikes either. My 3 YO does that...

We live in Israel. I will send her to a neighbor a building down to borrow milk or do an errand (return X to the neighbors next door or upstairs). She could also wait outside the building for me to come. If she wanted to play, I would let her with my almost 10 year old watching her. I even let her go to the park nearby but only at a time when there are mothers they know there.

The mother's don't care. People send their kids there all the time. We help each other's children out when needed. I do the same for their children when I'm at the park.

My 5 YO would not go in the street for a ball. She knows better than that. She also isn't such an easy target. She can already detect when things seem "off". I've seen that part of her.

The kid I do not trust at all is my 3 YO. She could get tempted to go in the street very easily. Someone could lure her anywhere so quickly. She could get lost or fall etc. cvs and no I don't trust my 10 YO with her yet. Too much responsibility. The 5 YO takes way less.

amother

↑ Papaya

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 9:24 am

amother Slateblue wrote:

Neighbors may have big hearts, yet may not want to supervise your kids on a regular basis.

amother

Jean

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 9:32 am

5 year olds don’t belong outside alone. I didn’t trust my son till he was 10 he’s impulsive and even now I still have to check on him to make sure he’s playing nicely. I see kids playing alone all the time smashing rocks up in construction sites climbing inside huge holes no one is watching them - it’s the boys usually that are playing very unsafe. I wldnt trust my dd to watch my 2 year old alone either. She’s almost 12 and still likes to play ball she cld easily forget and turn her eyes away from her for a minute and my toddler cld c”v run in the street I don’t need that to happen. Once I was driving and mother was on her phone her toddler crossed the street and was front of my car when my light was green. It was so scary.

My relative says he can’t rely on the bigger boys to watch the younger sibs get off the bus when he drops them off - he makes the younger kids get off first so the bigger kids will remember to walk with them to the house. Hes seen so many close calls it’s a nes more ppl are not hurt.

amother

Sienna

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 9:47 am

amother Jean wrote:

I agree kids of all ages need supervision, it doesn't mean you need to be out there with them the entire time.

In my safe quiet neighborhood I would allow a mature 5yo in the front of the house with other kids ( never alone!) While I peek out every few minutes. Of course if your child is impulsive or otherwise doesn't follow your instructions (to stay in front of the house for example) they may need more supervision.