Do Your Children Play Outside Unsupervised?
Safety or peer pressure? An Overheardian initiates debate:
I saw this article in Sunday’s Dallas Morning News encouraging parents to let their kids go out and play and it made me pause and think. If it were not for the feeling that I would be shunned by other parents in the neighborhood, I probably would let my elementary school kids go out and play without any adult supervision. I would love to hear the thoughts of fellow PC bloggers on this subject.
8 Comments to “Do Your Children Play Outside Unsupervised?”
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Loved that article! Feeling comfortable letting my children play outside unsupervised in our neighbohood is one of my favorite things about living in the Park Cities. We moved here when my kids were 6 & 4. Once they were old enough that I didn’t worry about them running into the street or going anywhere with a stranger, they earned the freedom of going out to play without Mom tagging along. The older neighborhood kids have always been really good about playing with the younger kids, and will help them cross the street, etc. My kids are now 12 & 10, and they grew up learning to watch out for and help the new little kids on the block.
Our children have such busy schedules with adults hovering over them at every turn, and playing outside unsupervised gives them some freedom and independence to make their own decisions and just be kids. I love living in a neighborhood where every playdate doesn’t have to be scheduled.
I let my kids play outside, go to the Village by themselves or play at the park or nearby school. They are smart, alert and carry cell phones. I love that they can play outside where they go out of their way to greet the neighbor who has Parkinson’s but still manages to walk her dog every day. Dang. it sounds like Mayberry.
I feel bad for the Overheardian that lets her neighbors dictate how she lives her life. Who cares what they think? That’s the problem with some in this neighborhood -they are paralyzed by fear of someone else’s perception of them. Live by your own compass and do the right thing. Live your life, not someone else’s.
Right on, Scrubs. So true, so true. I usually find favor with those in this community who follow a different path and try to make sure my kids know it is okay to be different. Be a non-conformist. Mix it up a little. I am always sad when those people move away. As for the kids, if they can’t play outside in this neighborhood, then they can’t play outside at all.
I’m allowed to go play outside by myself.
MC, are you allowed out with or without a leash?
Just to set the record straight, my two oldest children are probably just at the age I might consider letting them play outside independently. Since I don’t see any elementary age children playing outside on my block (only middleschool boys), I really hadn’t given it much thought until the DMN article. Why aren’t there more kids outside? Is it overscheduling or paranoia? Perhaps I’ll start a trend.
Overheardian, I think you just live on the wrong street. My kids (7 & 9) and the other 15 or so elementary-aged kids on the block are always playing outside unsupervised. In fact, these guys ride their bikes up to school on their own, visit friends around the corner on their own, etc. As Jen said above… it’s one of the best aspects of living in the Park Cities.