playing in the backyard - age

At what age would you allow your child to play in the backyard without your supervision?

Re: playing in the backyard - age

I let my 4 and 5 year old play out there but I am always checking on them.

Re: playing in the backyard - age

I think around age 8 with constant supervision. My oldest is 4 and no way would I let her in the yard without me. She would be too scared to go outside by herself now anyways.

Message edited 7/20/2014 11:41:24 PM.

Re: playing in the backyard - age

My 4 & almost 5 year old are always in the yard playing. I'm in & out especially around dinner time. The back if our house allows full sight of them & that's where I'm usually if they are out. Our gates are fully locked & no way of them getting out

Re: playing in the backyard - age

This is the first summer we're letting our DD in the yard by herself. She will be 6 in September. I keep an eye on her from inside the house and check in with her every few minutes to make sure she's okay.

Re: playing in the backyard - age

When it's just my 5 year old I am in and out. Mostly out, but I work from home so may run in to check an email or even get snacks, etc. My windows in the backyard do see the majority of the backyard and I make sure I can see him at all times.

If my 3 yr old is also out with my 5 yr old then I am mostly out, but again have run inside a moment to get something or go to the bathroom.

I think it also depends on the backyard. We are in a cultasac with a fence, but I have a pool as well. The pool has a fence just around it itself and I make sure it is locked too. I always keep my eyes on them though and they play away from the pool. Obviously if we are at the pool playing and the fence is open I have them in my site at all times. Also, if I lived on a busy street with no fence I wouldn't be in and out either.

Re: playing in the backyard - age

My 3 & 5 year old boys play outside in our full fenced/gated yard -
I'm usually in the kitchen cooking dinner and the kitchen windowns/doors lead to the deck and give full view of the yard - so I'm in and out ..........
but I let them play out there alone.

BUT, I don't have a pool yet. Once that pool goes in, all bets are off. I'm getting high locks on the doors so they can't get outside as well as the obvioius full fence/locked gate around the pool. I'm paranoid about one thing ........drowning.

Re: playing in the backyard - age

My DD is 4 and although I'd probably let her play out there alone for a bit- with my checking on her often- she won't do it. She is soooo not independent and wants me or DH with her almost every second.

My backyard is fenced and we keep the gates locked.
We have a pool, but that is also fenced and locked and I'm a psycho about checking the fence and lock on it.

So maybe in a few years, when she is more independent, I'd let her play out there alone for a bit.

Re: playing in the backyard - age

Message edited 7/21/2014 1:25:23 PM.

playing in the backyard - age

DS will be 3 in Sept. He will just walk outside and start playing if we forget to latch the screen door lock. That said, I normally stay outside with him, but will ocassionally walk into the kitchen for something/to start dinner. But once he sees me go in, he usually follows.
My kitchen faces the backyard.

Re: playing in the backyard - age

My yard is fully fenced so my 5 year old can go out by herself but we are always checking on her.

Re: playing in the backyard - age

My kids are 4.5 and almost 8. They are in the bank rayed all the time. I go in and out. We were only partially fenced but by the end of today we will be fully fenced in.

Re: playing in the backyard - age

In my old house I would let my 2 & 4 yr old play in the backyard while I prepped dinner in the kitchen (small backyard, fenced in, right off the kitchen). I would check on them every few minutes (although, they are not quiet- so I can tell they are okay).

If my weirdo neighbors are outside, then they aren't allowed out by themselves at all.

We are now in a new house with a 6' high PVC fence around a HUGE yard- but my kitchen is at the front of the house. I'll let them play outside while I'm in and out when I bbq, or sitting in the back room with floor to ceiling windows looking to the backyard, but I wouldn't let them out there while I cooked a meal in the kitchen.

If we had a pool, all bets are off and they wouldn't be allowed out by themselves at all.

playing in the backyard - age

Ok sounds like I'm not doing anything wrong haha. Nowadays I don't know what's allowed anymore. Ds is 4.5 and goes outside alone or with the dog all the time while I cook dinner. I check on him every few minutes but still feel so nervous!

playing in the backyard - age

My DD is almost 5 and she has been in the fenced in backyard by herself this spring/summer. I check on her and can see her from the den and the kitchen.