Did anyone watch the NANNY 911 tonight??

Question

If parents who are hear in YAHOO i would like to suggest watching it i watch it too and i have learned alot about raising kids because of that show. Tonight i was shocked to find the mother and father let there 6 and 3 year old go outside by thereselves unsupervised and the NANNY sure told them about it, i would never let my kids at that age go outside by themselves, i was really shocked by that. How do you feel about it? THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ANSWERS!!

Answer 1

I didn't see this episode, but I am appalled!! Those kids are too young to be out by themselves. This is just sheer laziness on the part of the parents. How hard is it to sit at the park and watch them play? Or better still, get out and play with them.
I have two little ones (almost 3 and almost 1) and I have OFTEN questioned how old they should be before I let them go out playing by themselves. Is 10 too old? LOL

Answer 2

Quite honestly, I think it depends on the neighborhood, matuirty, etc.

As a child, I remember quite well playing outside, unsupervised, as a 4 and 5 year old. The only rule was that I couldn't go past the end of the street. Otherwise, I was free to roam.

The family I worked for had a 4 and 5 year old. They were allowed to play outside, at their friends', at the playground, etc., as long as one of the adults in charge knew where they'd be.

If your child knows the safety rules (look both ways before crossing the street, no playing IN the street, don't get with a stranger, etc.), it's not the horrible thing you think it is. Remember, most children are abducted and/or abused by relatives and close friends of the family. Only 37% are kidnapped by a "stranger". Stranger danger is WAY overblown

Additionally, over 60% of stereotypical kidnappings (stranger, taken more than 50 miles from home, etc.) occur with children aged 12-17. Over 80% of all non-family abductions occur in that age range. Younger children are safer from that sort of experience.

I think people just need to put stuff in perspective. I'm not saying I'd let my child walk three miles to a friend's house at age 3, but, I don't see a problem with letting a 4 year old play in the front yard if I'm in the house, or out back or whatnot.

Edit to address the person below me.
My point is your child is much more likely to be kidnapped and/or abused by someone you know, such as your uncle, your next door neighbor, the babysitter, etc. Are you NEVER going to leave your child with someone else, including dad or grandma? Because 93% of sexual crimes against children are perpetrated by a relative OR a family friend.

Your child is FAR more likely to die in a car accident, but we don't keep them from riding in cars, do we? In fact, your child is more likely to die from the flu than a kidnapping, but we don't keep them from school "just in case" someone has the flu there.

My point is, of all the things to worry about, "stranger danger" such be much further down the list.

Answer 3

I don't agree. I think a 6 and 3 year old should be allowed in their own yard unsupervised. I watch a 5, 4, and 2 year old and the older 2 are allowed in the front yard but themselves. They must stay in the front yard (Which is almost all the way fenced in) or in the sand box on the side of the house. I check on them every so often but they typically play by them selves. as long as I know where they are and what they are doing I don't have a problem with it. and neither does their mom. The kids know the rules. If I go out and they are not where they should be then they have to come inside. Usually they are only out in the summer when the younger one is asleep.

Of course I live in a small town where everyone pretty much knows everyone else. And their house is prety much surrounded by trees. But still when I have kids I will let them be kids and play outside by themselves in our own yard. I did it as a kid and I am just fine from it. I was 2 and was able to play in my own yard by myself. My parents would check on me from time to time. My yard was NOT fenced in. I knew the rules and followed them. If Not I was not able to play outside without supervision. Of course it helped that my parents wern't that strict and we lived near other family.

I'm curious as to what you would do at the park with your kids. follow them everywheres they go? I tried that once. But when you have 3 kids all of which are playing on something diffrent what do you do? You give them rules to follow. and you can sit back and relax. check on them every once in a while.

A 5/6 year old is old enough to play outside by them selves. Even a 4 year old is depending on how responsible the child is.

Answer 4

You know.. I dont evenhave kids yet and I love this show! I was taken aback at how these kids just left the house....sure I did it as a kid myself BUT we lived in a quiet neighborhood with neighbors who looked out for everyone and we always told mom and dad where we would be...backyard, friends yard, bike ride, woods.

Answer 5

Oh i watched it.....and i totaly agree with you, I can beleive they were so calm about their kids running outside, up and down the street unsupervised.....I would not allow it and as parents its our job to supervise our children to avoid any hazard !

Answer 6

Katheek77.....so you think that a 20% chance that a child would be kidnapped is ok?

Answer 7

yeah