Playing Out

There has been something very sad on the news today. A little girl in Wales has gone missing. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-19800140

As a parent my thoughts go to the family. I can't even begin to think about how they must be feeling right now.

I have many friends from around the country and the world on my Facebook page. And one thing this has started is a discussion on what age should you be letting your child out to play on there own and until what time of night?

The family is being judged somewhat unfairly by many who say she should never had been allowed out playing at that time. Others don't see what the issue is. It's a rural village where everyone felt safe. Why shouldn't she be allowed to play out with her friends.

We live in a fairly rural area. In a quiet little village. I do occasionally let my 7yr old out to play on her own (out of the garden). We live 3 doors down from her school I let her walk to school on her own. I let her go to the playgrounds at weekends. I worry the whole time she's out of my sight.

The truth is I don't have to let her do this but I choose to let her. Why? Well because I feel she needs to learn trust responsibility and a sense of freedom.

When I was 7 I lived in a village bigger than this one. I was allowed to play from the top of the close (where we lived but you couldn't see the road from our house). To the bottom of the close. Which my mum could defiantly not see from our house. It was great. I could ride my bike, roller skate call for friends. It gave me freedom and independence and on many occasions I played out there with my younger brother. We were taught stranger danger and we felt safe. I'm guessing my parents felt it was safe as well as they let us out there.

These days kids are suffering with health issues like obesity and rickets because they are cooped up indoors in cotton wool all day long because we are too scared of the dangers out there. If your lucky enough to live in an area where you feel you can let your child play out. Then why shouldn't you. Statistically they are at no more risk than we were when we were children. It's just we know the dangers now.

I must admit though I do have rules for my daughter when she's playing out. Every 15 minutes she has to come back and check in with me then she is allowed out another 15 minutes if she's late then she's not allowed back out. It's the same rules we use when camping. If we have to go find her. She's not allowed back out. She's also not allowed in anyone's tent or at home house and none of her friends are allowed in ours. This way everyone can see where they are and what they are upto.

At the end of the day who are we to criticise someone else's parenting technique. We all bring our kids up the best we can. I see where my friends are coming from with there comments but someone could also say they are not preparing their children for the big bad world. I'm sure the parents of this little girl are beating them selves up enough over this, without all the added judgement.

I really hope they find her safe and well.