How Old?

This was back in the 90s but my mom didn't let me ride my bike infront of the house alone until I was about 8. At 9 we moved to a new house and I was able to ride my bike with 2 friends to the park (I think 3 blocks away). At 10 I was able to cross the busy street for ice cream with at least 3 or more friends. Then when I was 11 I was able to ride my bike to the library by myself (about 4 blocks away). From 4th to 6th grade I couldn't even stand all the way at the corner for the bus. My mom could only see me if I stood 2 houses in. It's what ever you're comfortable with. My mom was more comfortable with groups and not being alone.

I have a 12yr old and twin 8yr olds. My 12 yr old can go to the park or ride her bike around the blocks by us, but I do prefer she is with at least one more person. My 8yr olds can go to the park with my 12yr old, or with the 13yr old across the street, but not by themselves.

We live maybe a 20min walk from my oldest middle school, and we still carpool to and from school, unless a group of kids walk or ride bikes to school. We live in a safe neighborhood, but anyone can drive down the streets.

I have a very mature & overly responsible/friendly 9 1/2 yr old, yet I still won't let her do anything like that until she's atleast 12. It's not that I don't trust HER--it's the NEIGHBORHOOD I don't trust. Good luck!

Depends on a lot more factors than age--neighborhood, maturity, responsibility, cluelessness...LOL
That's why my 7 yo is not gonna do that stuff alone even though we live in a nice area. I DO let him walk to his buddies house which is about 10 houses away--I watch him until the other kid's mom can see him.

For me, even though all the info you've given sounds beyond wonderfully safe... the deciding factor would be that while she is at the playground, you cannot see her. She would be alone. If some stranger drove through, you wouldn't know. But they would see her alone. It only takes 5 seconds...
Or what if she fell off the swing and got hurt? You wouldn't know. In that exact same situation, if she had a sibling or friend with her, that could call for you or come and get you... that would swing the balance to letting it be okay for short park visits. Alone, I'd say no.

We too live in a very safe neighborhood: closed end neighborhood.. no thru street, gated entrance off the main road..(3 miles off the interstate out in the middle of nowhere EXCEPT for the interstate being there). We know every person in our neighborhood. BUT, if my youngest (now 9) wants to ride her bike around the block... I want her brother to go too... if she were to fall and get hurt, or she were to get injured somehow, (woods on 3 sides of the neighborhood, and have seen wild hogs, deer, foxes and even bobcats wandering around a few times in the 4 years we've been here, plus stray dogs and of course snakes) and she were to get bitten, or whatever else... I want a second person available to go for help.

I agree- the first concern should be the neighborhood you're in. If it's a safe, family-friendly neighborhood where you know lots of people, it should be safe to let them out on their own a little earlier. Your child's personality definitely plays a major role as well. If you trust your kid at home alone, and you can trust that they are responsible enough to watch the clock, behave properly without supervision, and follow rules like not talking to strangers, etc, then they may be okay to go outside by themselves to the park or wherever. I would personally really suggest giving them a cell phone to use so you can contact them at any moment, they can contact you, or they can call the police if necessary. Good luck & God bless!

I think you are trying to give your 7 year too much responsibility. If you aren't accompanying her on her journey to the park then she shouldn't be allowed to go. Her boundaries should be from one tree to the next or from corner to corner.

Not to be mean, but it isn't 1950 anymore. Even "safe" neighborhoods have bad guys. That actually would be where they can lurk, where people think they are safe. If you let her go w/ other neighbor hood kids, I'd make sure there were some older teenagers who you are sure you can trust, that you would feel comfortable babysitting, going along with the younger kids. It is hard sometimes for me to let my almost 8 year old walk to my neighbors, just next door, on the road. So, yeah, I would not feel right letting my kids go where I can not see them away from our property...

I don't allow my 12 year old daughter to go to the park alone. She can go with friends, but not alone. I do let her ride her bike around our subdivision, but I think at the park they are so distracted they may not notice if someone were approaching them. It may be over cautious, but it is better than something happening.

I believe it depends on the area not just the age. like my oldest is 8.5 and there's no way I'd let her go off on her own on my street people drive way too fast down it. Now in a yr or two they can walk to school by them selves but there's always a couple dozen kids and parents that walk to school as well.

I have a very responsible and mature 7 1/2 year old girl and a 3 1/2 year old boy and I live in a neighborhood that I would call "safe", but I will not allow my kids to even play outside unsupervised. I just don't feel it is "safe" anywhere...anymore. Call me overprotective, but when it comes to my children, their safety is my #1 priority.

I don't believe it is age, like the others say there are a lot of factors to factor in. With my childern I take note how they are at the store with us together and how when they see a friend they go to talk to and I keep on shopping not letting them know I am watching or paying attention to the things they are doing. When we go to the park I encourage them to go play with a friend that is a good distants away, watching how they interact with others, seeing how they react to strangers etc. Use your mother instinct and it will be good.

My daughter is 7, and going into 2nd grade. This summer I have let her go to the end of the block which is about 6 houses down. That is as far as I feel comfortable. But I do let her play outside by herself mostly when the airconditioning is off and I can hear her. Hope this helps, you know what your daughter can handle do what your gut is telling you.

I'm not sure i think its a preference to the parents but this is what i say i have a going to be 10 year old in a week and we don't even let her ride her bike to her friends house 3 streets away. So it doesn't matter if you know everyone around you well its the ones you don't know and those that are strangers. My 10 year old 7 year old and 5 year old know alot about stranger danger and i still don't feel comfy letting them play outside with out a fence. We moved from sterling heights to shelby township 5 years ago and I don't feel confortable. even if we lived in our old neighborhood i wouldn't feel comfy doing it so its a parents opinion i guess

My personal thoughts is that I wont let my son do stuff without supervision for a while. I am too fearful that something might happen. Especially with all the child abduction cases nowadays and it seems like age doesn't matter, because older kids are getting taken also. I may sound overprotective, but I cant take any chances. (My view might change as my son gets older, he is only 2 right now).

I think it depends on your child and how responsible she seems. I would not let my 7 year old daughter go by herself but I might let her go with her brother who is 11. I tend to think there is safety in numbers. I have to admit though that when my son wanted to walk to school this past year, I said no. We live in a small town but there are still crazies. Maybe I read too many mystery books but bad things happen everywhere. It is a tough situation but i am a better safe than sorry person. Maybe you could let her go and then secretly follow her just to be sure she makes good choices. Good luck.