DC families—what age for the playground unsupervised?

[Anonymous]

I’d say 10ish but would feel a lot better with a group of three instead of two. 8 definitely seems too young to me. The Bancroft playground is kind of isolated since it’s behind the building which would worry me a bit unless they were going at a time the playground is known to be busy. I live nearby but not in Mt P.

[Anonymous]

It depends a lot on the playground.

We had a an adult with some mental issues on our school playground last week after hours shouting that he had a gun (police were called.) There is a creepy guy known to all us moms who hangs around giving young girls candy. There are groups of teenaged boys on e-bikes who ride really fast.

So I’d say 11 or 12 and in a group of three.

[Anonymous]

With checks? 7 it sounds like checking on them won’t be too hard.

[Anonymous]

I live in the suburbs and allowed this at 6.

[Anonymous]

Depends upon several factors including neighborhood, neighborhood kids, maturity of child, distance, time of day, etc.

My best guess is at least age 10 for a mature child accompanied by nice friends in a close by safe area. But, if you want to quote me--then age 11 or 12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in the suburbs and allowed this at 6.

Yes in the suburbs you can do this earlier and kids can run around the neighborhood more freely. The flip side is that you wind up driving them around to everything until they can drive themselves (and then have to worry about a teen driver) whereas in the city it takes longer to let them be independent, but then they can be very independent in terms of getting around town, to activities, etc., because they can take public transport most places.

[Anonymous]

9 or 10, for playgrounds in the city that I know, but I don't know that specific playground.

[Anonymous]

Our daughter was 9 when we started allowing this. COVID hit mere months later and set everything askew. My son is currently 8 and is nowhere near ready for this, so I think it depends on the child. We live in Woodley Park.

[Anonymous]

We in a more suburban area, but at age 7 I let my kid meet friends in the playground I could basically see from our kitchen. No roads to cross and I could hear them playing and yelling….but a nosy neighbor did interfere (stopped her and walked her home) one day.

Now my older DD is almost 11 and we’ve moved and I definitely let her walk with friends to the park 2 blocks away - one not very busy street to cross. I let her walk there the other day alone, though I don’t love that.

My 6.5 year old DD is less mature and wouldn’t be ready for this even if we still lived right by the park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I would not, ever.

Me either. Why would a child go to a playground alone? And by the time they are old enough they don’t go to playgrounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in the suburbs and allowed this at 6.

In the suburbs you can allow this at 4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I would not, ever.

Me either. Why would a child go to a playground alone? And by the time they are old enough they don’t go to playgrounds.

? To meet up with friends?

[Anonymous]

My kid has ADHD and is impulsive. I still supervise at age 9

[Anonymous]

We also are in Mt P and I allowed my 10 y o child to do as you suggest. There are usually adults there supervising younger kids.

I’d not insist my kid stays there though. I’d want them to be able to leave to come home.

I also started to let my kid run quick errands to the convenient store, esp. with an older sibling.

At 13 my kid now can take the metro on their own to come home after school sports.

Of course this all makes me kind of nervous but they have to learn independence. We’ve talked about what to do if someone hassles them and even role played.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on the child. However, do recommend checking the sex offender registry so that you are aware of anyone who might live along the way they would walk.