[foxhill]

We live directly across the road (a quiet residential street) from a small park that has the usual swings, climbing frame etc. My five year old son started a conversation with me the other day about it:

DS5: "Dad, I have to talk to you about something" (alarm bells, he says this usually when he's in trouble but not yet caught)

ME: "Yeah mate?"

DS5: "Now that I'm five and a half and have been going to school, I think I'm old enough to go to the park across the road by myself..."

Me: "Hmmm...I don't know..."

DS5: "...and you can see me from the loungeroom window and I'll be very careful and look left and right before crossing the road and will only stay at the park for 15 minutes"

Me: "No mate, I don't think so, we can go together a bit later".

~~~

He was a little disappointed that he couldn't go by himself but was still happy that I took him. My question is, what age do you think is suitable for this? He has some confidence issues and I'm thinking it might be a good way for him to feel he has control over something like this, but I'm concerned he's too young - despite me easily being able to watch from the window.

Thoughts on this anybody?

[CallMeProtart]

TBH if you can see him from your house, I'd be fine with it.

[girltribe4]

Hmmmm I am def not a cautious mum but I am not sure I would let him go on his own yet . Maybe he could go over for 5/10 mins on his own and then you join him ??

We have a park on the corner of our street , I can see it from our front porch . I often let my 3 youngest go down there without a adult but they are together and on strict instructions to stay together and leave together .

[Butterfly*77]

My DS would love to do the same but we have told him no. Our park is out of view from our house. I even feel uncomfortable about him riding up the end of our street with the neighbour's little boy without one of us outside watching them like a hawk.

Maybe if you stood outside in the front yard and watched him cross, then watched him play over at the park, it would be a better compromise?

[Kay1]

I think if you can watch him its a perfect situation. I would put a time limit like, as he said, 15 minutes on it so that I could make a cuppa and actually sit and watch him the whole time (although I probably wouldn't tell him this). I think it would be good for his independence. I'd first talk to him about coming straight home if he has any trouble, anything worrying at all happens etc so that he has the tools to practice.

But then I don't know your street/area etc. In my area I would do this.

At that age DS1 started wanting a little independence, like for example he will take a slightly different path if we are walking together so he can't see us for a minute and then we meet up. He finds it exciting and empowering.

[The Old Bag]

Not at 5.

My 8yo, I might.... it would depend a lot on the park (the area, the kind of kids that typically hang out, the equipment etc) and even more so on the road between you. In fact, even at 8 I'd be inclined to walk him across the road. I'd be worried if something freaked him out, he'd barrell across the road towards home without looking.

[freemummy]

whats his road sence like? Maybe to begin with you could walk him to the curb and tell him you will meet him back there in 15 min ? see how he goes crossing the road. I think it would also depend on how busy the park was and how well he can handle himself around other children.

[yabbadabbadoo]

Do you have a front verandah or something that you could sit on and watch from. Alternately can he go whilst you are outside mowing the lawn or something - that is assuming you mow the lawn! Or any other sort of gardening...

[foxhill]

whats his road sence like? Maybe to begin with you could walk him to the curb and tell him you will meet him back there in 15 min ? see how he goes crossing the road. I think it would also depend on how busy the park was and how well he can handle himself around other children.

Admittedly his road sense is actually quite good, in fact he often reminds ME to use the crossing and not just cross anywhere (naughty daddy!). Our street is quiet (probably one car every 30 minutes) and the park itself is not busy at all.

He is fairly shy so will move away if another child pushes in but is not likely to start a fight about it, and the park itself is fairly quiet. As per some previous suggestions I think I might walk him to the curb, watch him cross the road to the park and then tell him I'll be back in 15 minutes to get him (and then watch from the house).

Plenty of great suggestions!

This post has been edited by foxhill: 18/05/2012, 09:05 PM

[zzgirl]

Never. I would never let my child go to the park by themselves. I am just to scared of what is out there. Even if I could see them from my window - it only takes a minute for someone driving past to spot a child by themselves and the rest is self explanatory.