This is pretty timely for me actually. We just started letting our almost 9 and 7 year old ride around our block by themselves. It happened kind of spontaneously in that we finished a loop with DH and I and the baby in the stroller and the older boys on their bikes. The baby was cranky and we were going in and they asked if they could go around again by themselves.
I said sure without even thinking twice. They took off and DH looked at me and was like, "Is that ok?" I said I had no idea but it seemed ok. Ha. Parenting at its finest.
Post by spunkarella on Aug 19, 2014 19:12:16 GMT -5
I don't have kids and don't live in the wealthiest county in the country, but the rest of that fits my neighborhood.
I see 7 to 12 year old kids riding bikes alone all the time and I think wow, how nice that our neighborhood is safe enough for that. I basically trust the parents' judgment and pat myself on the back for picking such a friendly, safe neighborhood to live in. I understand my logic doesn't really hold up.
Post by ilikedonuts on Aug 19, 2014 20:09:11 GMT -5
B
My mom would totally do A now too. And she used to kick us out at 8am and tell us not to come home until it was dark. This was starting at like age 8 and she would send my 7 and 4 year old brothers me with!
Post by imojoebunny on Aug 19, 2014 20:27:08 GMT -5
B) My DD is 8 and looks 6. Someone just ask me last weekend if she and her 5 year old brother were twins. My point: No one can really say how old the kids are.
DD and her 9 year old friend are perfectly capable of going around the block together, and taking my 5 year old with them. They have a walkie talkie with them to call me if they need me. The block has no crossings and they are well versed in driveway checking. By 9, many kids in my town ride bikes, usually in groups, but not always, to school.
Post by AlpineSlide on Aug 19, 2014 21:04:47 GMT -5
b I basically live in Mayberry and 2 of my nephews (12 and 9yo) ride bikes all over town. As do many other children. No one cares/everyone knows everyone/all look out for each other.
Post by turtlegirl on Aug 19, 2014 21:12:38 GMT -5
B. I would literally not think twice about it.
And the last neighborhood we lived in wasn't that "nice" and kind of high traffic. But I was still always happy to see kids out playing, riding bikes, etc. I thought it was better than them all playing video games or watching TV all evening long.
Post by Jalapeñomel on Aug 19, 2014 21:17:10 GMT -5
(Don't tell anyone but I'd let my kid ride his bike alone when he is old enough in my neighborhood, and it's definitely not a rich, fancy neighborhood).
B. My neighborhood is very safe, but absolutely not "rich," and I see kids younger than 8-9 out with their friends with no adult supervision all the time. By neighborhood I mean rural roads with 3-4 houses each mile, so definitely little supervision around here
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
Post by winecheery on Aug 19, 2014 21:59:47 GMT -5
All I have to say in this thread is that your baby is cute bunnybean, and *I* am a stranger who would steal her. So. I get your mom's perspective. lol
ok, ok, I think given the setting you describe, I vote "b". I grew up in the safest most family friendly suburban area EVER and we (and by we I mean virtually every kid in the entire town) roamed about freely, by bike or by foot, and this was in the days before cell phones and therefore instant knowledge of your kid's whereabouts. I'm uptight, but I feel like, this is a common sense thing. Obviously bad things can happen anywhere, but the odds are significantly lower in such a neighborhood as you describe.
Kids here ride alone at about five i would say. Most of them have walkie talkies it seems. I am frequently the only parent at the park, and there are five year olds on up. We live on a military base though, it is insanely safe.
This morning I was walking my dog and saw two young boys. My guess is brothers (they were both dressed in orthodox Jewish attire). Younger boy looked about 3 and older boy looked about7- 8.
They walked up the street and past me. No adults in sight. Should I have been concerned about lack of supervision? I sort of shrugged bc older boy was holding younger boys hand and talking to him. But I was a little nervous about the younger boy.
I'm more worried about the cars backing out of driveways than anything!
I have noticed the kids in my neighborhood are crazy respectful and aware of driveways. I tried to wave a little girl to let her know that I could see her and she could cross safely before I pulled out. She was not having it. We had a stand down and she made me back out first, lol.
Post by chickens987 on Aug 20, 2014 6:02:44 GMT -5
Depends...is he wearing a helmet?
I see three girls walking to school when I drive to DC. They're probably 8-10, and in a group. My biggest concern is that they don't seem too concerned with walking safely, rather than the idea that they would be kidnapped or something...
Post by penguingrrl on Aug 20, 2014 6:41:59 GMT -5
B. I am just about ready to start letting my oldest walk a few places by herself (she'll be 7 on the 30th) and am feeling things out to let her and her sister walk home from school alone sometimes this year. By a year from now I hope she'll be able to take a bike ride around the block without me hovering.
Definitely b. my not quite 6 year old is allowed to go 10 houses down in either direction from us. The way our house sits I can't see him one way. He's not allowed to take the one year old, but he is allowed to take the 3 year old if I'm also outside. He's a rule follower and there are a bunch of friends between here and there. Probably around seven I'll let him go to friends alone. The only street crossing would be within site.
I let all of them play in the front yard alone though. Just for long enough to sweep the kitchen, but it doesn't seem like a problem to me.