How far do you let your 1st to 3rd grader walk w/o adult to a friend's house?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PSA: please don't send your 1st-3rd graders to neighbors' houses without asking the neighbors first. A family is doing this in my neighborhood and it drives me nuts. I think the parent just wants some free time and tells the kids to walk to a friend's house. At first I thought some parents were okay with it but now I realize all the parents in our area are annoyed with them for it.

Why does this bother you? When they come knocking, just let your kid out to go play together. Ride bikes, sidewalk chalk, basketball, even "gasp" use their imagination and wander outside. No one is asking you to babysit the child but my guess is you can't let go of watching YOUR child's every move and you are judging the other mom for doing so.

I wouldn't allow my 1st grader to play outside alone so I would have to drop everything and go with him or have the child in my home. I do not allow my 1st grader to wander alone. I am not that poster but I agree its rude. Parent should call or text the other parent and ask if it is ok. Or, better, if they want the kids to play offer to host and supervise. And, if you do send the child, teach them the parent has a right to say no without explanation and next time follow up with the parent to make sure they can invite themselves over. If you are sending your child to another house without having a standing agreement, yes, you are looking for free babysitting. I've had parents get really annoyed at me for saying no. We are usually doing homework, eating or something else and I am not wanting to entertain your kid while mine does what they need to do.

Why would it be free babysitting? My 1st grader is absolutely old enough to play in the yard or in the house with a friend without me having to entertain or really even supervise anyone.

I feel SO bad for kids whose parents are constantly hovering over them.

Its not hovering to supervise a 6 year old. Its neglectful not to. Bad things do happen, though you may want to pretend they do not. It is free babysitting. You are not asking the kids to your house, you are sending your kid over to someone else house to play there and be fed.

It's neglectful not to supervise two six year olds playing in our backyard or in the house? GMAFB. Your poor children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 8 yo knocks regularly on the door on one friend, unannounced. This kid comes to our house unannounced just as much. If either are busy they return home. Sometimes they play for 10 minutes. Yesterday it was 3 hours. I think it's wonderful to have a friend so close and I love not having to coordinate play dates anymore.

+1. If you don't want the kid there, just say "we can't right now". NBD. I've done this once or twice. I also love that we don't have to "schedule" a playdate, and kids can just be kids, roaming the neighborhood, looking for someone to play with. Everything else in their lives are so scheduled. I'm happy to have this one thing not be scheduled so much. It gives the kids skills to seek out playmates, things to do, without parents scheduling it for them.

This. I can't imagine living in a neighborhood where I have to coordinate/text with a parent living three doors down just so our kids can play together.

Me too! My neighborhood is filled with kids going from house to house, shooting hoops in each others driveways, riding bikes, knocking on doors to see if Larla wants to come out and play, etc.

I love it! It is GOOD for kids to figure things out themselves and not be so overscheduled and regimented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 8 yo knocks regularly on the door on one friend, unannounced. This kid comes to our house unannounced just as much. If either are busy they return home. Sometimes they play for 10 minutes. Yesterday it was 3 hours. I think it's wonderful to have a friend so close and I love not having to coordinate play dates anymore.

+1. If you don't want the kid there, just say "we can't right now". NBD. I've done this once or twice. I also love that we don't have to "schedule" a playdate, and kids can just be kids, roaming the neighborhood, looking for someone to play with. Everything else in their lives are so scheduled. I'm happy to have this one thing not be scheduled so much. It gives the kids skills to seek out playmates, things to do, without parents scheduling it for them.

This. I can't imagine living in a neighborhood where I have to coordinate/text with a parent living three doors down just so our kids can play together.

Me too! My neighborhood is filled with kids going from house to house, shooting hoops in each others driveways, riding bikes, knocking on doors to see if Larla wants to come out and play, etc.

I love it! It is GOOD for kids to figure things out themselves and not be so overscheduled and regimented.

OK- do tell...where are these neighborhoods?! My current one is soo not like that and I'd love to find one that is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6 year old/1st grader. Does not walk or go anywhere without an adult except to the house next door. If he is outside, we are there supervising.

Wow, this is really crazy to me!

You ever supervise outside in the back yard?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PSA: please don't send your 1st-3rd graders to neighbors' houses without asking the neighbors first. A family is doing this in my neighborhood and it drives me nuts. I think the parent just wants some free time and tells the kids to walk to a friend's house. At first I thought some parents were okay with it but now I realize all the parents in our area are annoyed with them for it.

PSA-this is normal behavior for elementary age kids. Did you grow up in another country?

[Anonymous]

We had one kid like that in our neighborhood. Knocking on doors all the time, ringing bells etc. If we say no, he starts asking questions why the kid is not coming out, what is he doing..I am done with my homework etc. If we refuse, he comes back after 20 mins. If we don't open, he keeps on ringing bells/knocking doors/shouting my kids name from outside. Next time when my kids go out, he would give them a hard time.
I am so glad this is all over...
Even though I am used to kids knocking on doors, I am not used to this kind of behavior. It was annoying!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6 year old/1st grader. Does not walk or go anywhere without an adult except to the house next door. If he is outside, we are there supervising.

Wow, this is really crazy to me!

You ever supervise outside in the back yard?!

Of course not! As long as I'm easily accessible in the house, why would my kid need me out there if they're just running around or playing on the swingset?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:6 year old/1st grader. Does not walk or go anywhere without an adult except to the house next door. If he is outside, we are there supervising.

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6 year old/1st grader. Does not walk or go anywhere without an adult except to the house next door. If he is outside, we are there supervising.

Wow, this is really crazy to me!

You ever supervise outside in the back yard?!

Of course. We cannot see him given how the house is set up.

[Anonymous]

Some of you are absolutely smothering your poor kids. There is no reason to sit and stare at a 6 yo playing in a backyard! Holy shit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are absolutely smothering your poor kids. There is no reason to sit and stare at a 6 yo playing in a backyard! Holy shit.

Here is an idea. Instead of staring, play with them.

[Anonymous]

Only within our tiny street.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately there is a known child sex offender on our block so I do not let my kids roam anywhere out of my sight. Just don't feel comfortable. They'll have plenty of time to roam freely when they are older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are absolutely smothering your poor kids. There is no reason to sit and stare at a 6 yo playing in a backyard! Holy shit.

Here is an idea. Instead of staring, play with them.

Here's an idea. Get off their backs and let them play with kids their own age. You know, use their imagination, critical thinking skills, not ask Mommy to do/play/hover over them.

[Anonymous]

My neighborhood is pretty full of kids - elementary aged- hat roam, scooter and bike ride without constant adult supervision. Normally one or two adults will organize them- let the other parents know where they are in relation to their own home and kids add and subtract into the group as their parents allow. I should note it is one street with two cul de sacs and not a through street. We do not have sidewalks but the only traffic is from other parents who know that our street is fairly full of children. My kids are 5,7 and 9 and they have been allowed to play outside regularly since they were 5 without constant supervision. Furthest neighbors house is a half mile away on a straight shot so it's easy to see all of them until dusk.