Hands up...who doesn't let their kids out to play?

[ummmm]

After reading the 'were people healthier' thread, who keeps their kids in the house?

If you do keep them in, why?

[supersaint]

Kid need to go out and play you will be doing them no favours by keeping them in as they will not be street wise and i dont mean causing trouble

[daffy654]

My girls went out to play all the time when they were young, my son (14) can't because he has Aspergers syndrome, he does go to the gym 5 nights a week with his dad though and goes trekking and plays footie in the park (also with his dad) when the weather is decent.

[ummmm]

Some kids don't even know how to cross the road.

[daffy654]

My son couldn't cross the road on his own until he started high school, he has no sense of danger and finds it very difficult to judge the speed and distance of oncoming cars. He is also very suggestible and easily taken advantage of so he can't be allowed out without adult supervision. He freaks out in crowds and will literally run from sudden loud noises.

[tonyav]

Myself or the Mrs never kept our 3 kids in, but we did like to know where they were going though.

[tinkerbell23]

I was out from dawn till dusk- didnt even wany to come
In for dinner!! Sometimes i got it handed out to me in a tub LOL xx

[mrs_overall]

Youngest Junior O (12) leaves the house around 9am at weekends and only reappears for meals.
Luckily we live in a small, safe town.
(well, if you discount the murder we had on Wednesday)

[ummmm]

Mine go out.

Son 2 likes to stay home more than son 1 but they both go out. Where are all these children that play computer games all day?

Daffy...although I know you'd love your son to be able to go out and play. His condition doesn't allow it.

Different from parents who keep kids in because they fear about the boogie man.

[Mamyalynne]

In the eighties my two were out for hours on end, luckily they were street and road wise and had lots of green areas to play.

Daffy, I could be reading about two of my Grandsons in your responses, both are autistic and though each are affected differently, road awareness and the lack of awareness of danger is quite frightening. However both get lots of fresh air and adventure though supervision is needed, takes more effort but the rewards are immense. The eldest has his own Blog about his travels and explorations and celebrates his autism not the other way round.

[slinky.kate]

between the ages of 10/15,i was wary about letting him out,didnt want him in the wrong crowd with drink and drugs,i live in the city so i got him enrolled in clubs,bb's,swimming club,judo,karate,disco dancing,football etc.and i made sure he was in some activity,a lot of his pals went as well,i would take him and collect him where ever he was.but that all stopped when he got interested in girls,he is 25 now and not a bit of trouble,he said he liked the clubs he went to and still talks about them.

[Traci66]

I hA two of the grandkids again this weekend and we have had loads of fun, coats on, wells on and out splashing in puddles in the rain, then in for hot chocolate and story time. No tv or computer games when they are here with me, unless it's a film that I have taped specifically for them, I do allow them on the iPad, but just for half an hour each. My own children never watched tv, the youngest, now 26, only watches if it is something of interest to her, she would much rather be out walking the dog or doing something in the fresh air.

[Traci66]

^^^ had. Wellies.

[cathfromsaron]

always out here, my grandson and neighbours children are!

[B00]

Mine (7) plays out on the backstreet along with 2 other little girls who live next door and next door but one. They are always watched by one of us mums, but more often than not they're in one another's house. They all know they've to stay within the 3 houses area on the street.

[sherrardk]

Boy #1 is allowed to go out and about and he is allowed to catch the bus to town with his friends to go swimming, mooching about, etc. Boy #2 and girl go out very locally (this bit of the estate) but boy #2 is a complete space cadet when it comes to paying attention, etc (and his hearing is rubbish so he wouldn't hear a car coming). Girl is too young to go out on her own yet. Boy #2 and girl are allowed around the shop together and boy #2 is allowed to go on his own.

[petal54]

oh to be young & carefree again,just been talking re this ,after countryfile,our youngest was ok once we moved to a village.

[pretty_snowdrop]

My kids are 7 and 4. They play out in the garden but not in the street. They are desperate to play on the street on their bikes, and i have said they can when the weather gets better.

[NOX]

No, all of my kids have been allowed to play out, learn to use public transport and otherwise grow up knowing how to be streetwise. In my opinion it's very dqangerous to overprotect kids makes 'em sitting ducks when they finally do escape.