What age to go to the park alone?

[Anonymous]

We live across the street from a large park with playground. It’s not a huge street. What age would you be comfortable letting your kid go play in the playground without your presence (say while you’re cooking or a sibling is napping)?

[Anonymous]

Probably 9, maybe 8.

[Anonymous]

Alone, I wouldn’t. If they have a buddy, nine or 10 depending on their maturity.

[Anonymous]

I started allowing this at 9. So that lasted all of 2 months before COVID hit.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the kid, but I would definitely start with going with a friend or sibling. I'd allow that probably at 7/8. Then I'd probably advance to meeting a friend there. Alone-alone - 8/9 depending on the kid.

[Anonymous]

My kids have to travel 2 blocks and cross two small streets to get to the playground. I let them go alone as of 9. I think small kids crossing streets alone is better than them crossing streets with other kids because they may distract each other with their engrossing tales of their latest pokemon adventure.

[Anonymous]

50?

[Anonymous]

If they don't have to cross a busy street, and if they are a responsible kid, I'd say 9. I would have them wear a watch and ask them to come back home to check in at an appointed time - perhaps after 30 minutes the first few times. As you build trust and become more comfortable, you can increase the check-in time to 45 min or 1 hour.

I've considered this very question for my own kid who is 8. We live about 1 block from a big park but it's a dense part of the city and he'd have to cross 2 busy streets (at an intersection) to get to the park. Plus the park has a soccer field, track and b-ball court and attracts a large swath of the community, not just families. In other words, there are always adults at the park playing soccer, exercising or just relaxing in the area. I think my child would need to be closer to 10 and go with a friend before I'd feel comfortable in my situation - and even then I would definitely require periodic check-ins.

[Anonymous]

8 or 9, depending on the kid. Make sure the kid knows to tell concerned parents at the park that he lives really close and mom is home. I’ve found many concerned parents of the toddler and preschool crowd don’t understand that kids go to the park alone at some point.

[Anonymous]

Agree around 9 - 4th grade - can you see the park?

[Anonymous]

I would let DS go to the park by our house, with a friend, solo now. He is 8. I would not let him go to the school to play on the playground solo with a friend. It is 4 blocks further away and that distance makes me a bit more worried if he gets hurt and needs help. the other park is 2 blocks from our house, close enough by that I would think his friend could get to us or get someone who could get to us quickly enough.

I think we will aim for an inexpensive watch with texting or cell service for when we get to the point that he is going places solo. I know that I went solo a ton as a kid without such technology and I realize now how much of a leap of faith that was for my parents.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the maturity of my kid. Do they have the inner strength to leave if they get uncomfortable, even if that means walking away from an adult who is talking to them? Do they lose track of time or will they be checking their watch and leave to get home at our agreed upon time? Will they know which strangers are okay to interact with and which aren't? Do they have internal warning bells that go off?

Could be 7, could be 11.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the child, how big the park is, and how many roads they have to cross. We had a small park next to our apartment complex (no road crossings necessary, basically only neighborhood kids went there, maybe 7 people there total on average), and I let my kids go there together at age 8 and 5 (5 year old went with 8 year old, 8yo could go alone). I knew most of the kids and their parents who went and if something happened I could be there in 30 seconds.

[Anonymous]

In your case I would let them go at maybe age 7 if it was a small park with just a few other people there. If they can hear you shout at them to come home and if you can be there quickly if they need you, they can be pretty young.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alone, I wouldn’t. If they have a buddy, nine or 10 depending on their maturity.

This.