My neighbours parenting skills are a bit shabby to say the least. Driving home up our street yesterday I narrowly avoided running over my neighbours little girl, 5, and her friends who were running onto the road.
Got out the car a bit down the road and my neighbour comes out asking if I'd seen her daughter! I told her I just about ran her over and she was up to road - quite a bit up the road and well out of sight from her house.
Is that right for a 5 year old with no road sense? My son is to wee to be out alone yet but when he is I'd want him in view with strict instructions on what he is allowed to do and where he is to go.
Am I a paranoid mother?
2007-07-28 07:33:18 · 46 answers · asked by Lovely Lady 4 in News & Events ➔ Current Events
A 5 year old should never be out of sight of a responsible adult. I'm not saying a mum has to stand over them every second of the day, but somebody should be supervising their play. Regrettably, this is not a safe world in which small children can play outside alone, I'm not sure it ever was, but it isn't worth the risk.
2007-07-28 07:41:32 · answer #1 · answered by The Guru 2 · 12⤊ 1⤋
You're not paranoid at all, you're sensible!
My children are 3 and 6 and they never leave the house without an adult. I live on an estate and there are always little kids running around unaccompanied, sometimes I even see young kids pushing toddlers around in their pushchairs without an adult in sight. It boggles the mind really, especially as the road is quite busy. And the language they use is astonishing for kids so young. My kids won't be playing out on their own until they are much, much older, and I will be keeping a good eye on them and what they are doing.
2007-07-28 08:43:45 · answer #2 · answered by Chipmunk 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Lol . You are not paranoid.
I am a 21 year old who drives up my street too, to be met by loads of children, most probably oldest being 7, and they just run across the road back and forwards, i think they think it is a game.
I know when i was little, and i mean about 10, i was not allowed that far , to the bottom of the street , which is 4 houses away, to the top, of the street, which is about 10 houses away.
In my town, there are children, who are about 5, who are allowed to run the streets, till like 10pm, which i think is shocking.
I would never let my child do that, i would like to know where they were, and to be honest at that age, i think i would want them only to play in the garden.
You are not a paranoid mother, you are just a great , protecting Mother who cares for your children.
2007-07-28 07:46:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
There was once a time when no parents in their right mind would let a 5 yr old roam in the streets. Sadly it's a sign of the times - get the kids off your backs and let them annoy someone else. In a few years time they'll probably be part of the ASBO generation.
What a country.
2007-07-28 15:14:42 · answer #4 · answered by Beau Brummell 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No you are not paranoid. My five year old certainly does not play in the street unaccompained. Times have changed and not for the better - when I was young the traffic was a lot lighter, and neighbourhoods were more community oriented and would look out for all the neighbourhood kids, but now you need eyes in the back of your head! My 13 year started to play away from the house at about 9yrs, but even now I want to know where he is and with who. Anything less is irresponsible.
2007-07-28 07:51:12 · answer #5 · answered by ackers 2 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Five is far to young to let wander the street.. the terrible thing though is when I was not much older, I used to play out in the little cul-de-sac we lived in at the time. Back then everything seemed safer.
Now I would not dream of letting my 7 year old play outside on his own (plus I live on a main road!) There are so many dangers that we have to face in the news everyday.
Its a sad world nowadays where we are even too scared to let our children play out of site in the park due the fear of Paedophiles, abdutors, cars and more.
2007-07-28 07:48:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
My children are 7 & 5 and I have no intention of letting them play in the streets until at least the age of 10.
I live in a quiet street but it only takes a few seconds for the kids to get distracted by other kids or toys & it's not just accidents that we have to worry about.
The names of poor Ben Needham, Jamie Bulgar & Madeline McCann spring to mind.
It's a crying shame that kids cannot be kids and just play outside their houses. Some parents seem to be completely oblivious to how unsafe this world is.
Your not paranoid, your a normal human being with some common sense!
2007-07-28 07:46:27 · answer #7 · answered by poppies say grrr! 3 · 5⤊ 2⤋
You are a very sensible mother. I think too many young mothers have the wrong idea about parenting skills these days.
Young children of that age do not sense any
danger, take your eyes off them and they will be off. Life is an adventure.
They need to be in a safe enviroment, with a caring Mum, like you.
2007-07-28 08:06:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
No. One of my sons is 5 and he is enough of a danger to himself in the house. Goodness knows what would happen if I let him loose in the street. My 10 year old daughter is allowed to the local shop on her own and I only allow that as she will have to get herself to school on her own in just over a year when she starts high school. I don't think I am paranoid ,it is not that I'm hysterical about her being snatched but I worry about the amount of traffic that is about and how careless some drivers are.
2007-07-28 07:42:14 · answer #9 · answered by Louise 6 · 5⤊ 2⤋
When I was little (50+yrs) you'd have been seen as 'paranoid', when my daughter was little (30+yrs) you'd have been seen as 'over protective'
Now with ALL THE TRAFFIC AROUND you should be seen as a 'Caring MUM'
I certainly wouldn't let my Granchildren (if I had any) play in the street unless I was sat outside watching them, and it's quiet where I live!
5 year olds DO NOT have Road sense, and are likely to forget that it's wrong to talk to strangers (the local kids talk to anyone with a dog!!)
2007-07-28 07:58:36 · answer #10 · answered by willowGSD 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋