Each child needs to be judged separately. If your child understands not going with strangers. My daughter has had my phone number and my name and address drilled into her head. But my biggest concern is always cars. People don’t drive safely, not even through neighborhoods where there are kids playing. I let my kids out in the yard if it’s fenced in and it’s not a busy street. But I still keep a close eye on them out the window or something to make sure they don’t go out the gate. there is nothing wrong with being over protective it means you care. Some parents don’t care and they just send em out the door without a second thought. You can never really worry too much. That is our job!

Like I said though, each child really has to be assessed individually. you know your child, you know what they are capable of. And you also know your neighborhood Do what makes you comfortable.

Good Luck
Tonya

If you live in a safe neighborhood, and there are other kids around, relax. Everyday, millions of kids go outside to play by themselves or with their friends. And do you know what ends up happening to them? Usually nothing. 99.99999% of them come home tired, after playing and enjoying themselves, with nothing worse than the normal scrapes, cuts, and bruises that come from playing outside with other kids. If you want to wait a while before letting her run amok, or if you want to supervise, or keep an eye on them, that is fine. But you are going to have to cut the apron strings sooner or later. Otherwise you are depriving your kid of one of the best things about growing up. Getting to play outside. We don’t need any more couch potatoes. And the Dora will be just fine without your daughter there to help her find whatever cutesy thing Boots has currently lost for a few hours. Get her outside to develop her gross and fine motor skills, and let her work on her social skills with the other kids.

I don’t have personal experience with this, but if i were a parent today I probably would not let me kids go out without supervision. Maybe by the time they’re in late mid elementary school (around the age of 8), and only with a group at that.

You don’t have to be butting into their playtime and hovering over them, but keeping an eye on your kid when they’re that young, well I think it’s best for the child. You know, it gives it a sort of balance where your there in case, but you’re letting them have their space and have fun.

And just make sure your child is with a group and knows what to do in case of an emergency like the ones we so often hear about now a days.

Well, that’s all I have. Hope it was somewhat helpful ^-^’

my girls are 8.5, 6.5, & 4

it doesn’t matter if your neighborhood is safe or not. A pervert will take a rich kid who lives in the best neighborhood, he doesn’t care!

edit: You women are seriously ridiculous with the thumbs down. You guys are so silly and have no clue that each child and situation is different.
Does anyone know how large 200 acres is? With a house in the middle? An 1800′s farm house with panoramic windows and no blinds? With only one road in, the road that comes from my brothers who has about 50 acres of his own?
Have any of you actually read stastics on kidnappings now vs. 30+ years ago. They have gone way way down. With the media and communication being so easy you would think this sort of stuff just started happening but realistically it is much safer to be a child now.