by Tracy Lynn Smith

Created on: November 11, 2009   Last Updated: November 13, 2009

Determining at what age children should be allowed to go play in the street, really has nothing to do with a child's age. As a mother of two boys, I was amazed when a parent came over to the house and asked me why their kids came over to her house without me. She was a teacher and thinks the kids need full supervision, so if it was OK she would take the kids to her fenced in yard so they could play together. Trying not to laugh, I said that is was OK for the boys to go over there. The boys did ask and tell me they were going to go see if the boy over there could play. I also asked what age her son was, he was six but tall. I explained that my kids are short but they are eight and eleven. The lady seems amazed by the ages and asked if I thought it was safe for them to play outside while I was inside. Now we live on a cul-de-sac with no traffic. Two doors down lives a retired minister. There is another retired minister behind me and a church on the end of the street. Plus I could see all the way to her house from my window, although I don't bother to watch them all the time though it. I simply replied "they play outside all the time." That was the first and last time they were able to play with the child down the street.

I can understand her concerns over her child. However playing outside can be safe depending on how mature, street smart, and trusting the children are. My children are very dependable. They do their chores with almost no complaints, they like to argue between the two of them. I haven't even done my own laundry in over a year. Now we live on a street surrounded by little traffic and well trusted people. I could see how if you were on a busy street and surrounded by strangers to be much more concerned.

Today is a little more unsafe then it was fifty years ago, but people are also more scared now then they were before. People tend to stick to themselves and don't get to know their neighbors. Fifty years ago almost all your neighbors knew who you were and you knew that if you did something wrong someone would call Mom and Dad. Now it almost everyone for themselves type of a world. Then again kids had more responsibility back then too. Many of today's kids don't even know what chores are or how to keep their room clean.

It almost as bad as the rule of what age can a child be left home alone? Well I don't know either, how behaved and trustworthy is your child? As for my children who are eight and eleven it is perfectly fine for them to go play outside in the street as long as they tell me where they are going.

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