Need advice about 6 yr old playing outside alone.?

Question

Do you think it's too soon to allow my 6 yr old son outside alone. My son has been "acting out" all day. I know he is bored. His dad has gone to work and I have just come home from work. I thought I would allow him outside so i can unwind a little. We live in an apartment community mixed in with a retirement community. I may be going over the top here. But I always check the s*x Offender websites, so i can at least know what is going on around me. I am on the top level of the apartment and would of course tell him to stay where I can see him. I wish we had a fenced in yard, but we don't. Do you think 6 is too young? What age did you allow your children to do the same?

Answer 1

I think six is a little young, esp since if he was to get into trouble he couldn't exactly 'run' home.  

Why not take him to a park and take a good book with you!

Answer 2

i think its too young if u need to unwind also i would say just go out and lounge with him for a little bit take a blanket and lay out in the grass with him u dont need to be running around and if ur on the top level being able to see him doesnt matter u are not going to be able to get to him fast enough if something does happen. its good u check the s*x offenders tho but living in a n appartment and all i dont really think its a good idea  

Answer 3

my three year old sister goes outside on her own and plays as long as they know to tell you whats going on and to stay i sight and if anything should happen yell as loud as you can so u can hear them i dont see a problem with it!!!! just make sure u check on him which i know u will

Answer 4

We don't live in a similar situation so I can't advise - but I imagine there are other people in the apartment community with kids playing outside? Or I'll bet one of the retired community members would love to watch your little boy. It would be ideal if you could make friends with another mother or older person who could watch him for you, and maybe you could watch that person's child sometimes, too.  

Answer 5

First of all I commend you on checking the s*x offender websites, good for you.  However, I do think that six years old is too young to play outside alone, maybe if you lived on the lower level and kept the door and window open to watch him, Maybe, but when I lived in apartments, my daughters were 5 and 7 and I let them go out front together, but I sat on the patio and we were on the lower level.  Now they are 9 & 7 and I live in a house and I  let them go out front but, there are lots of other families in the neighborhood and between the other parents and myself and my hubby we take turns watching them....  you can never be too safe when it comes to kids!!  good luck!!

Answer 6

I used to live in a 2-story apt building as well up until recently.  My daughter (4-5 at the time) was allowed to play outside without me if other kids were outside as well.  However, the apt building was on the end of a dead-end street and had its own playground as well.

Answer 7

I wouldn't, but he's your kid and you know his maturity level better than us.  Why can't you grab a chair and sit outside with him for an hour?  I do that with my kids and we live in a house in a safe neighborhood!

Answer 8

Are there any other children outside that he plays with on a regular basis?  If so then there it would be okay for him to go outside by himself to play with them.  I wouldn't however allow him to outside by himself.

Answer 9

not all paedophiles  are on the register. Only those that have been charged. He is 6 which is way too young to be out by himself. Take a book and a chair and go down. I understand you are tired and need a break so have a relax outside while keeping an eye on your child

Answer 10

It's different for every family and every situation. I was allowed outside by myself at like 4 or 5, but only in our fenced in back yard with my brother. When I was about 8, we moved out of state and lived in a townhouse and I wasn't allowed outside anymore (not till we got a dog anyway).

Do you have a porch? Can you keep a window or french door open so you can hear him if you need to? Are there other kids he can play with? Could you take him to a nearby park and tote along your laptop and/or some books and do what you need to do so he can play outside?

It's all up to you. We don't know exactly where you live. I'd be more inclined to worry about him getting hit by a car or trying to climb a tree and fall out and break a bone or something. Just poke your head out every few minutes to check on him. Tell him to scream and run home if  a stranger comes near him. I'm sure he'll be ok.

Answer 11

I think 6 is a little too young especially if you live in a place where so many other people live that you don't know.

I will probably let my son go outside VERY early, but that's because I live in the country, know my neighbors and have a fenced in yard.

Why don't you and your son go outside together; play with him so he gets pooped, and then while he does inside playing, you can unwind.

OR

Get a book, or magazine, or laptop or whatever it is you are going to do to unwind and take that outside-- let him play, but you can still be near him.  

Answer 12

Do NOT leave a 6 year old alone!  Go outside with him.  If he's acting out, he needs physical exercise.  Take him for a walk or go for a bike/trike ride with him.  Play a game of tag in the yard.  Six is WAY too young to leave alone.  How old are you, by the way??????

Answer 13

I don't let my daughter play alone in the front yard, but do in our fenced backyard. She's 8 1/2. In this day and age.... I just can't do it.

Answer 14

If you do not have your own fenced back yard it is not safe at 6 yrs old in my opinion. Why not go sit outside with him and read a book or unwind out there. Better safe than sorry.