Do you let your kids out of your sight at the playground?

[Anonymous]

Depends. At 4, depends on the playground and who he was with, but he was the youngest of a crew of neighborhood kids and just starting around that age I'd be comfortable with it. But my kid is a cautious type and not likely to wander off without knowing where I was. Feels like a "know your kid, know the space" judgement call to me.

[Anonymous]

No. Never.

[Anonymous]

At our small neighborhood park, yes, because I know roughly how long it takes to bike the tiny loop and when he should pop out - and I will stand up and look if he takes too long.

In your situation, no. Not if there is potential trouble in the other side of that hill. My kid is newly 5. I always have my eyes on my 3yr old.

[Anonymous]

I only let my 4 year old out of sight if she is with my older child or with older children that I know well, and I know will keep an eye on her.

[Anonymous]

Nope. Old habits from teaching preschool die hard.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Not intentionally but in some parks it’s more difficult to be near the kids all the time. So I try to follow with my eyes as much as possible but sometimes I would lose sight of them.

[Anonymous]

Nope, never. I have a child that might elope, so, I'm always nearby and watching at all times.

[Anonymous]

Depends. If it’s a place I know well with no cars, sure. But I have talked to my kid about never going anywhere without consulting me first. By 5 I definitely let him out of sight a lot, like playing with neighbors kids on our street, fenced playground etc. I have a very active toddler so I cannot watch the older child that closely.

[Anonymous]

Inside a tunnel or something? Sure. Walking away from the area they've been let loose in? Nope.

[Anonymous]

Yes. And so do most moms I observe at playgrounds.

[Anonymous]

Yes. My 4 year old gives herself boundaries (I won’t go outside the path, mom) and is an extremely cautious, so I don’t worry much. She’s constantly checking in

[Anonymous]

Not at that age.

[Anonymous]

No. I have 2 kids and I won't have any more children. I am not the Duggars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope, never. I have a child that might elope, so, I'm always nearby and watching at all times.

Wait, what?

[Anonymous]

A five year old was abducted from a playground in NJ on September 16th and hasn't been seen since with her mother sitting in a car nearby (but not within eyesight).