Quote:
Originally Posted by Ashartus
I walked 1 km each way by myself when I was 5, including crossing a relatively busy street. I think my mom used to follow me discretely for the first few weeks. But at my kids' before school care I get in trouble if I don't physically bring them inside and make sure the workers know they are there, apparently they can't be unsupervised for even a moment until grade 3.
I think legally they're supposed to be something like 10 before you leave them home alone for extended periods of time. Regarding that article about kids playing alone in the backyard in Winnipeg, I think that's insane, my 5 year old has played outside by herself lots of times and if she's lucky I'll look out the window every now and then. But I suspect if Child Services knew half the things I let my kids do they'd be knocking on my door, and they're way more supervised than I ever was.
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We often allow our 6year old and 4 year old play in the front yard. They have boundaries which are one house up and one house down the street, rules that they are not permitted on the road. If a toy falls on the street they need to get an adult to supervise retrieval.
We live on a crescent, traffic is minimal, but I think it is good for kids to be outside and visible to the neighbourhood, that way the people on the street get to know them and if at some point they are getting in to trouble or get hurt, the neighbourhood will know whos kids they are and if something isn't quite right about a situation (strangers in vans etc.).
I trust my kids, and believe that it is important to teach independence early. I am definitely not in the camp of bubble wrap the kids, put them on the couch to watch TV and feed them junk food until they are too fat to move.