Is it safe for a 3 year old to play outdoors on his own?

Question

We have a large area of woodland that belongs to the 6 houses on our estate.
My son often goes out 'exploring' on his own in there when my mother in law looks after him when i'm at work.
I dont think this is safe, however she & my husband think that I am being 'over protective' and that "nothing ever happens" and so on...
What should I do?
Are they right in your opinion?
Help / advice / opinions please
Thank you so much
Jackie

PLEASE WHOEVER DELETED MY LAST QUESTION - IT IS UNFAIR TO THOSE WHO ANSWERED TO GIVE ME ADVICE.

Answer 1

Hello Wirral Girl,
I agree with your husband (and mother in law) that children should be safe out on their own, but at 3, not even taking in to account the threat of other people in society but dangers such as cars, falls ect.. the list is endless!!
What they are advocating isn't even legal, therefore before anything happens (whether it be someone reports this, or worse) please for the sake of your family please put a stop to it.
Show the response to your Q. to your husband & mother in law.
Lots of llove
Claire xx.

Answer 2

Sorry but I have a 12 a10 a7 year old and I wont let either of them go out alone the world just isn't safe anymore I live in a town with maybe 1000 people anyone of the 995 people that remain after counting my family can be a child molester,abductor,killer. its becoming more common in smaller towns. I can remember playing out side when I lived in Kansas city Mo you cant even do that anymore!case in point 2 weeks ago there was an amber alert out for a baby this woman came up the house and asked the babies mom to use the phone then sliced the mothers throat and took her baby that was in a small town on the out skirts of St.Louis Mo population 600 if a person can be so bold as to doing that imagine what a person could do to a 3 year old outside by himself with no adult supervision you are not over protective even if you were its better to be safe then sorry *DON'T LET YOUR CHILD BECOME ANOTHER STATISTIC* next time your family has something to say tell them you'd rather be over protective than have my child dead!

Answer 3

Personal opinion, okay? I think it's an insanely bad idea for the following reasons.

1. Do you know how many children are abducted every year from their neighborhoods? If you were a pervert, what better place to stalk than from a large wooded area. And if your family says "That can't happen here." Remind them, that THAT is exactly what everyone else who has a child stolen says as well.

2. What is to prevent the child from wandering off? Even if the woods were safe, how can you guarantee your child will stay there?

3. Do you know how many ways there are to get injured and killed in the woods? Sometimes, older kids shoot guns in wooded areas. And many plants your child can find may be poisonous. When children find anything interesting the first thing they do is put it in their mouths.

No offense, but I think your husband and mother-in-law are out of step.

Answer 4

Shes there to take care of him in your absence and it doesn't seem like shes taking it seriously.
If this was any other babysitter other than your mother in law, would you tolerate this, or would you fire that person and hire another?
Don't let her intimidate you.
To let a 3 year old wander on their own is just total negligence.
They don't know all the dangers or understand everything so how can we expect them to keep themselves safe. That's what we are for.
I think you should find another sitter even if it may hurt her feelings because I'd rather her feelings be hurt than your child.

What would happen if he stumbled into ants or bees. Sprained an ankle. Anything could happen. Dealing with family can be hard, but the mother in you will find the strength.

Answer 5

1. There is a larger issue here. YOU are the parent. Grandma must learn that she confuses the child when she changes the rules. I remember the first time I turned the tables on my father: "When you're in my house, you'll live by my rules." (MAN I loved telling him that!) But it's true. Whether or not she likes it doesn't matter. Just make sure your husband is a unified front with you.

2. Is a three-year old educated enough to know how to identify a poisonous snake? a black-widow spider? There are skills and responsibilities to safely playing in the woods. I grew up in a rainforest, and my parents made sure I knew what was out there, what to touch, what not to touch, etc. A 3yo is much more at risk to poisonous predators than a 30yo adult. A black widow can kill a small child, but generally won't kill an adult. (I know - I've been bit.)

I say "no" - a 3yo doesn't know enough to play safely by himself in the woods.

Answer 6

I wouldn't run the risk. Presumably there is a pattern here. Your mother in law arrives every working day and when the weather is fine your little boy is to be seen wandering off on his own. Some dubious person may be keeping a watch and noting this as the usual pattern. Apart from that, other things could hurt a little boy of three in the woods -- other people's dogs, for example. But I don't know how I'd set about persuading my mother in law of anything. Tackle your husband first!

Answer 7

No it's not safe there is so much that could happen to a small child like that in the woods. I don't even let mine go in the yard alone. The woods have all sorts of things that could be harmful what if he saw a berry bush and decided to eat them and they were to make him sick. And also are there snakes where you live?? Here there are rattlesnakes everywhere I wouldn't let my son in the woods alone for anything. And just because "nothing ever happens" doesn't mean that it won't one day. Maybe it's time to find a new sitter one who's more responsible and one who listens when you ask them to do something. Because your MIL is just being rude by ignoring you when you ask that it stop. It's your child not her's. You have a right to make sure he's protected and it doesn't sound like that's happening in your MIL's care.

Answer 8

Whatever does your husband & mother in law think they are doing !!!!!!! for goodness sake put a stop to this, they are putting your babies life at risk from all sorts of things. Do not allow this to go on any longer honey, put your foot down & tell them that if they allow your son out like that again, you will give up work no matter how much they object and PROTECT YOUR SON yourself, if they are not capable then you have to take that responsibility on your shoulders. I would have gone absolutely mad if any of my children had been allowed to do that @ 3 and the youngest is 13 now, so that was 10 yrs ago, let alone now with the likes of phedophiles around more commonly.

Answer 9

Yeah i think you are totally right. I mean he is 3? Unless there are locked gates, a woodland area is no place for a 3 year old on his own. He could go anywhere. Or fall over and no1 can help him out. Or even any one could go in there and take him away. I dont think you are been over protective, i think you are just looking out for your son and just been a mother. I think you should talk to your mother in law and tell her "its just not on and you would never forgive her if anything happened. Good luck with that. Hope this helps m8 : )

Answer 10

Please, please,please don't let him wander on his own, he is only still a baby. Not only is it a chance he may get run over but also all those horrible people about that kidnap and kill children. A few weeks back in manchester where i live a 5 month old baby was savaged to death by two dogs that were in the childs property, so they knew the baby. Imagine if a dog was to attack your child? I added a question like this a few months back as my friend was letting her three year old wander about and informed me that i was 'tight' for not letting him out of the garden. Last week he fell down our street and sprained his arm and was lying there for about 15 minutes until someone picked him up and had to try and get him to tell that person where he lived. Needless to say Social Services paid her a visit. Please speak to your partner and mother in law and explain these few points that i have said. Its better to be over protective than visit your childs grave every week. Good Luck xxxx

Answer 11

You are not being over cautious! Anything might happen from your son having an accident to his being picked up by a child abuser in what appears to be an open common area. Do not tempt fate. You could not live with yourself, or forgive your husband and his mother if anything happened. Three years old is just too young for a child to roam around without supervision. Children of that age are blissfully unaware of dangers. If he is allowed to explore the woods on his own, it is just a drama waiting to happen. What is more if social services or the RSPCC get wind of this you might open yourselves to prosecution.
Your mother-in-law and your husband are being irresponsible, and she should take better care of him whilst being in charge. If he feels the need to explore, she should go with him and not let him out of her sight. Any chance of your putting him in a nursery?