When is it safe to leave out children unsupervised?

Question

There's been a lot of controversy about the McCann's leaving their children alone.

The ONLY positive thing that came out of their nightmare, is that it's made some of us more aware of the dangers of leaving children unattended.

At what age do you think a child is safe to be left unsupervised, and when do we start allowing them to venture outdoors on their own?

What are your own parental experiences?

Answer 1

Depends on how long and what the children are like.  For just popping up the shops for 10 mins then 8 is the youngest I'd say to leave them at home.  From 10/11 they can start walking to school and be left at home for half an hour.  From 12/13 they can be left at home for a couple of hours and go to the shops on their own.  From 14/15 can be left alone at home during the day until about 9/10pm.  After that age you have to let go!!!

Answer 2

My kids are aged 4 and 7 and never play out alone. I live on an estate and the road outside my house has a lot cars passing by throughout the day. There is also a playground over the road but it's always full of teenagers smoking weed so it's off limits for the kids. I will have to allow them more freedom as they get older, but I will be strict with them because of the area we live in.

Answer 3

Sixteen is about right but it really depends upon the maturity of the children . I am sure there are many children older than 16 who parents would not wish to leave at home alone. On holiday I believe it is particularly important that you keep tabs on your children for it is a very different environment and there could be many sexual predators around.

Answer 4

I think it depends on the child, and how mature they are (obv not if they are too young) but a certain ten year old could be loads more mature than another ten year old. If you trust your kids and believe they are mature enough then let them out, if not make them play in the garden where you can keep more of an eye on them. It also depends on the parent, whether they enforce the dangers of strangers or not with their kids, some adults dont tend to bother because they see it as 'oh it wouldn't happen to us' when it does! it happens to anyone!

Answer 5

Kids should be allowed to play out. They should be given boundaries.  At first given tasks like going to the corner shop to get a pint of milk at six or 7, and then progressively given more and more trust as it is earnt.  It will depend on the child the area and the parent.

I remember I was allowed to walk a third of a mile to school on my own at 8 and that seems about right.

We used to be allowed to play out when we were young, but not todays kids.  This is because we are more paranoid- the world is not a more dangerous place, far from it.

Child in our time showed that parents are getting ever more protective of kids, and they need to be allowed to play more.

Kids should not be left *in* unsupervised though.

Mrs GC gives an excellent, intelligent, common sense answer (which numpty gave her thumbs down?)

Answer 6

i would say they could be left home alone at the age of 11 or 12. to play outside i would probably say about 9, but just check on them every once in a while to make sure they are still ok

Answer 7

when there 31

Answer 8

Well, as soon as they are old enough to be left alone they start having wild parties so I would say never!!! LOL

Seriously Scobil has it right.  16 is legal.

Answer 9

there is a fine line here i think. clearly children should be looked after but these days you have parents who mollycuddle there children and wrap them up in bubble wrap not letting them out of there sight. i do not agree with this but do understand these parents only want to keep there children safe. what the macanns done was wrong in my opinion. they should not have left there children alone. i think children need to be given a bit of freedom. i would let my child out to play alone around 7 years providing i knew where they were, who they were with and i would check on them every so often. i would also ask them to check in every now and then. children should be aloud this freedom and not couped up indoors playing computer games, watching tv and eating junk food.

Answer 10

When they reach 18, ..

.

.

.look after them until then..

treat them like they should be "children" use your common sense....

Answer 11

Young children - babies, toddlers should never be left. 9 or 10 should be allowed to venture out but not too far. All lot depends on the maturity of the child and where your live. Do you feel safe walking around your neighbourhood? xx

Answer 12

That would depend where ya live

Answer 13

My two and a half year old is running in and out of the house into our back garden which is totally enclosed.  I check on him every five mins or so - or if he goes quiet which means he's doing something he shouldn't!!

Answer 14

To be honest my 7 year old is only venturing outside because a school friend has moved in round the corner and everytime she goes out, my heart is up my mouth, (because of traffic)

My son has played out front since he was 4 but never ventured far, there are rules with my kids how far to go and they are always to come in and let me know where they are going.. be it to, the shop, or into a friends house..

I think it really depends on where u live and how much trust u have in your kids, not to venture off...

Answer 15

Legally when they are 16 , but certainly not 3 children 4 and under !!  even if they were only a few mins away

Children are curious and get into all sorts of things as they have no sense of danger . It is the responsibility of their parents to make sure this doesn't happen , never mind leave them open to attack by intruders

Answer 16

Anytime is good, as long as you chain them to a lamp post or something.

Answer 17

It is NEVER safe to leave children unsupervised and alone. No matter how old they are, anything could happen.  I never left my two kids.  In the U.S. leaving children, especially the ages of the McCann children unsupervised, is a crime. Parents have gone to jail for it.

If the child is carefully watched by a responsible adult, then letting them outside is fine, but to leave them alone depends upon the age and maturity of the child.  Some can be left, others can't. You just never know.

Answer 18

My mother was always careful about stuff like this. Just because they think they are old enough, does not mean that it's time not check up on them. I am twenty and My mother still calls me to check up on me. I was reading a comment above mine that said never. You have to learn how to let go at some time, but not too fast. if your children play outside check on them constantly with out letting them know you are checking on them. Go outside with them for a while just in case there is something suspicious, when it's clear you can go inside and check on them from a window. You wouldnt want anything bad happened to your children.

Wow I just edited...  sorry guys too early for me

Answer 19

A friend used to let her seven year old walk to school on her own at seven, while she walked her younger kids to school shortly after.  

I would do the same, it's important to give children freedom so the develop the life skills they need.  Too many kids are kept locked up, and then have no idea of safty when they are given too much freedom all at once.  

Then again I suppose, strictly speaking, even though my friends daughter was under the impression she had freedom, she was not unsupervised.  

Incidentally some idiot reported my friend.  The social services were on her side, but it just shows what paranoid thickos are out there.

My own child is not due to be out in the open air (fingers crossed) until next March.

Answer 20

never

dont consider it

if you do

then BAD mother of the year

Worst infact

that is bad

NONONONONONONONON!!!

NEVER!

Answer 21

We are getting ever more paranoid of the world outside, but it is safer than when we were kids, we just feel more insecure.

Experts say that kids should be allowed freedom so their development doesn't get harmed.  Mrs GC and Captain Jack speak a lot of sense, look to when you were kids rather than following the crowd, as too many people think abductions and the like are on the increase and act irrationally.

Answer 22

I walked part way to school by myself age 6 and by age 7 was allowed out and about by myself with friends. I have never allowed my 6 year old out by herself, such is the pity.

Answer 23

it is never safe to leave children unsupervised despite what the maccanns and th man with the pink shirt may say

Answer 24

I have 3 grown up kids, so obviolsly they are free to roam.My youngest are 12 and 10.The 10 year old can venture 50 meters and the 12 year old can go 25 meters further.We have *not to go past points*After 6 o'clock,they can only be outside my house on the green ,i can see them from where i am in the house.

I like in a small,safe village,but there is always a possibility that something could happen.

It was only last year i stopped sitting outside watching them.On dark nights i still do now.

Answer 25

I have personally found 3 missing children all aged about 3 or 4 in supermarkets. At least they were not missing when I found them as the "parents" were not even aware they had lost them !! What does that tell you ?

Answer 26

I have a 9 and 4 year old. they are only allowed outside with an adult. If I am busy they can sit on the porch with the curtain open where I can watch them. If I have to go next door to the neighbors they go with.

Answer 27

How old were you when you were first left to play outside unsupervised?

Today is no more dangerous for children than it was years ago

It's just that nowadays we just think it because we are more aware of paedophiles and other sexual predators

My son will enjoy the same freedom I did when I was a kid