Anonymous wrote:You absolutely never leave your ten year old with people you don't know. Really know.
Sorry, but what's the matter with you people?
I don't "Really know" more than 10-30 people on this planet, my closest family and friends.
Yet we leave our kids with teachers, coaches, youth group leaders, boy scout leaders, girl scout leaders, friends' parents, on their own to get places in town, etc.
Don't teach your kid to be paranoid and fearful, teach them to use common sense and be independent and confident in themselves. The odds of something going wrong are very small, but if they feel in any way uncomfortable they need an exit plan. That applies to all situations. Then let them go, because they can't live in your shadow their whole lives or in your line of sight until they are 18 and suddenly no longer "kids"
Sleepovers are fine. So are a variety of other independent experiences. But I am probably way too "free range" (hate that phrase, my kids are not farm animals) for this board.