Reply to gut check -- age to go to park alone with friend

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm really curious what you all are imagining might happen to your eight-year-old on her way to/from the park or while she was there. I don't mean this to sound snide -- is she not good at looking both ways when crossing the street? takes dumb risks at the playground? can't be trusted to stay where she's supposed to be? Help me understand the threat model.[/quote]

Kids get injured at playgrounds all the time. An 8 year companion may not know to get help, may be embarrassed or ashamed if they caused the injury, just freak out. My 8 year DS is waiting for his letter from Hogworths — they are not yet rational beings. Many kids this age take to jumping from roots to see if they can fly, etc.

Maybe if they both have phones and know how to use them — before there would have been a nearby pay phone to call 911. Now it’s BYOP. But the limits of rational thought should give you pause. And the crime of opportunity by a passing predator — its uncommon to see 8 year olds unattended and if they make a regular occurrence that may attract unwanted attention [/quote]

+1 I agree she’s too young in my opinion. I’m the mom who walked my 8 year old to school in 3rd when the other moms didn’t. Guess what? I saved one kid from multiple cars backing out driveways, another who had an unleashed dog coming toward him, a girl who fell off her bike on the ride to school and was just sitting sobbing with a bloody knee on the sidewalk. None had phones or watches. They are ok most of the time when everything goes according to plan but they can’t foresee danger appropriately and also can’t react to injuries in a lot of cases at that age. There is a big developmental leap difference between an 8 year old and a 10 year old. 
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What do you think would have happened if you hadn't been there? [/quote]

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