Out Side Freedoms

Why don't you organize a block/neighborhood party? You still have time this summer and you could get some other parents to help so the burden isn't all on you. We did a very simple one where we put out a flyer on everyone's door, got permission from the city to "close" the street and invited everyone to "bring a dish to share and meet the neighbors. This way you could meet the neighbors and your daughter could meet the kids.

Not sure what your neighborhood make-up is, but you can get some simple arts and crafts for the younger kids (we had a bike decorating contest with streamers etc). One of our neighbors had a sound system and did the music. It has since grown into a HUGE annual event. Your fire department will bring a truck for the kids (for free) and they will also open a hydrant. sometimes you can get the dept of sanitation to bring a dumpster for free, so you don't even have a mess to clean up.

My perspective on 2 things in your post:
1. the predator that lives 5 houses down isn't as scary as the one that isn't registered and you don't know where he lives. Or as scary as the one who hasn't been caught yet, but will be registered predator in 5 more years.

2. "some parents on the street that drink" - I'm not sure what you mean. I drink. Most of my friends drink. Some of my friends don't drink, but I don't hold that against them ;-) I'm a really responsible parent, as are my friends who both do and don't drink. At the block parties now there is a margarita machine for the adults and a snow cone machine for the kids. No one gets wasted or drinks irresponsibly - so I'm not sure why that would be a problem. If you exclude you or your daughter being friends with anyone who ever drinks responsibly, you will have a very very very short list of people to be friends with. If they drink to the point of being drunk in front of the kids that is another issue.

Having said that - I live in Chicago, pretty near to downtown. My 9 year old does not go outside without me. Ever. Under any circumstance. At all. Not even to get the mail. And I wouldn't ever be confused with being overprotective. To me that is just good sense.

I'll say this with all due sincerity...you're lucky to know who the predator is, what he looks like, where he lives, what he's been accused of, how long ago the arrest was made, etc. This is waaay more information than 99.9% of us have. Most of us don't know who the predators in our neighborhoods/families/churches are because they haven't been caught yet. We don't know who to warn our children against, theres no name, no face, no description of the kind of car they may drive.....we just give a generic "beware of strangers, people who follow you home, big white econo vans"

A good friend of mine lived in a neighborhood with a convicted sex offender and her, and all the neighbors, educated the kids on the 'boogey man" and warned them up and down about the bad person who lived in the house. The kids age 8 and up- happily roam the neighborhood in packs. It can be done, and it can be done without a lot of fear. She was thankful to know who the predator was.

Personally, I'd hesitate a bit too. But at the same time, better the enemy you know then the one you don't.

You can also use this example to see if it would help you? It's a way to get to know all the kids and moms on the block.
http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=17236

Given your description of the neighborhood, no I probably wouldn't let her just be walking around the neighborhood on her own looking for kids to play with, but certainly if she knows a friend or two (and I've met them) I would let her play outside with them without me hovering. You just have to set the rules such as where she is allowed to go and not go, what time to be home and that they must stay together as a group. Obviously you should talk to her about the dangers and what to do in case something happens. You might want to also get a set of walkie talkies or a cell phone for her to carry so that you can reach her when you want to check in. You can get a really cheap pre-paid one for her to only carry on these such occasions if you prefer that she not have her own cell phone all the time.

The other option ( this is what my sister did) is to establish your house as the "cool house" in the neighborhood. They have the fun backyard and the fridge stocked with popsicles and juice boxes. My sister has an open door policy as far as kids coming over to play when they are home. Some would find it annoying to always have kids around, but my sister always knows where her kids are and knows all the kids they hang around with. Have your daughter invite one or two girls over and just let your house become the neighborhood hangout :-)!

Good luck,
K.

II am the same way I have a 7 year old that does not leave my sight. I someone is there when he gets on the bus, off the bus in yard playing I walk him to friends houses, stay at the park. I pretend I do not know him so he gets his space but I can see him at all times and I hang out with my younger 2. With a predator 5 doors down OM gosh yes I do not blame you and I would educate her on his/her face what they did and if she sees them come and get me RIGHT AWAY!!!! Do not wait, have this talk NOW!!!

Good luck and do not let anyone force you to "risk" your child’s safety if you are not ready / it really is safe in your eyes.

My son again is 7 and I still have him in a 5 point harness car seat that is good to 65 lbs and I get comments too, but I know he is the safest and as long as it does not bother him, I do not care. He is safe and he knows I love him so we are good.

Good luck

I guess, I am right with you. I still live in the neighborhood I grew up in. The neighborhood has gone way down hill. All of the older people have either died or gone to nursing homes or retire homes. Their children put the homes up for rent. The majority of the renters are not of the best sort. I used to roam the neighborhood alone with no fears as a kid, but I am afraid to walk around the block now as an adult. We to have had several flyiers sent around the neighborhood over the last few years. I am afraid to let my children out of my site for even a minute. Our house was broken into about 2 years ago and about 10 years ago my sister had a scare 3 different times with men trying to pick her and a friend up. I know just how you feel. My kids stay home. We attend a good church and my kids attend a christian school at our church. They have plenty of activity around the church and school to keep them busy enough. Thankfully though, we also don't have any kids living near enough for mine to even ask to play with others in the neighborhood. School should start soon and she will be with friends at school and making new friends. She is probably just bored being home for the summer. Maybe you could make arrangements for her to visit a friend she already has for the day with plenty of parental supervision.

Having parents on the street that drink? That wouldn't bother me unless they have a bad problem and drive while drunk. Now, the predator living 5 houses down...I would have a problem with that! Teach your daughter what houses are safe and to stay clear from the house with the sex offender. She's old enough to understand. Why don't you go out in your front yard while she's out there playing? If she wants to go to a friends house walk her there and tell her to call so you can pick her up. You can do this until you feel comfortable.