Children are not being given the freedom to play out unsupervised with their friends because of adult fears over their safety, a survey has revealed.
Research for The Children's Society found 43% of adults think children should not be allowed out with their friends until they are 14 or over, even though most of them were allowed to play unsupervised from the age of 10 or younger when they were children.
The survey, which forms part of the charity's Good Childhood Inquiry, also found that more than a fifth (22%) of over-60s thought children should be over 16 before going out on their own.
Do you let your children play outside unsupervised?
yes or no
*plus*
What age do you think a child is responsible enough to be on there owns with out adult supervision ?
2007-06-05 04:46:31 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
no, I do not let my children play outside unsupervised. I think it depends on your neighborhood. I think it also depends on the child. There is no magical age, because different children mature at different rates. There has been a creep, creeping around our schools lately.
2007-06-05 04:49:56 · answer #1 · answered by Soapbox 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am unfortunately one of the parents that have a hard time letting my children away from home unsupervised. My children are grown now, but I am raising two teenage boys that are relatives. Things have changed in this society so drastically that the fear is always there that you child could encounter a dangerous situation. I make sure that I know where they will be and pray they come home safe. The age depends on the maturity of he child and the company they will be with.
2007-06-05 11:52:56 · answer #2 · answered by jdnsmama13 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't let my children play away from our own yard unsupervised at an age when I know me and my siblings were allowed to. We live in a very small town and I am still worried about letting them out and about on their own.
We do have a few registered sex offenders in our area and it makes me nervous.
I don't think that there is a magical age when children can be without adult supervision. I think it will always depend on the child and the situation.
It's sad that our children can't be as "free" as I feel we were.
2007-06-05 11:52:46 · answer #3 · answered by 17_peppers 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my kids are grown up now thank goodness ,but my 2 grandaughters play out aged 8 and 12 the 12 year old walks to school and home again with friends 2miles each way,they say a child is more likely to have a bad accident in the home than get hurt outside ,the risk of paedophiles is the same now as it was 40years ago its just that the media covers it more,and how many children do any of you know personally that have been abducted, i do live in UK where it is safer than usa i feel
2007-06-05 11:54:24 · answer #4 · answered by dumplingmuffin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was 12 when i was allowed to go over to friends houses without asking. I let my three and five year old play in the front yard. We live in a court so there is not much traffic. Plus many other kids live there. However, they are not allowed to go into other peoples houses. I think if i lived on a busy street i would not let them play alone in the front. I have seen it to many times a ball rolling in the street and children chasing it. It's scary.
2007-06-05 11:53:38 · answer #5 · answered by Renny 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES, i guess it's something these children are missing ...playing till the evening fades into night..getting called in by parents etc...
All this ..thanks to the numerous child molestation/kidnapping episodes in the news..
anyways i for one think they should be allowed to play from age 2 - supervised
from age 10- unsupervised, but within calling distance.
BTW, thanks for asking this question!
2007-06-05 11:52:30 · answer #6 · answered by gopikap 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This isn't a "parents" problem, but a "mother" one. Statistically a child is safer today than in the 50s and 60s. Yet mothers are less likely to allow their children a normal childhood. Mothers are what is wrong with America.
2007-06-05 11:52:20 · answer #7 · answered by Just a friend. 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Your so right. Parents should trust their kids more. I think the media have influenced a lot in madly displaying extreme cases of kidnaps, when actually there are only few each year in britain and everyone seems to think children are being abdupted everyday.
2007-06-05 11:53:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Every child is different. Every neighborhood is different.
What might help, though, is if, instead of protecting our children, we started teaching them how to be safe & make good judgements for themselves.
2007-06-05 12:06:18 · answer #9 · answered by Maureen 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With all due respect:
Why is your icon what it is and you are asking about children playing outside unsupervised???? \: ^ }
2007-06-05 11:50:55 · answer #10 · answered by luna 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋