It Takes a Village
May 02 2011 Forgive me as I veer into one of those “back in my day” posts for a moment.
Back in my day, I was playing outdoors by myself when I was 5, in our large open yard. I’d sit in the grass, watch the clouds, or swing on my metal swingset while my parents went about their own thing. It wasn’t unusual to ride my bike around our village or walk some houses down to see my friend. Because we all knew it was safe. I’d get checked on sporadically, but they let me be for the most part, finally calling me in for dinner after a full day spent in the sun, my mother’s voice ringing for me through the neighborhood.
This was almost 30 years ago, though. Things were different. The area I grew up in was different. Country-like, woods, a lot of nature. It seemed close-knit and closed off from all the problems that come from living someplace larger and busier. Which, while it isn’t a large city we live in now, it’s still a city nonetheless with everything that comes with it.
My oldest son is 7 years old. I’m just beginning to feel comfortable letting him play by himself in the front section of our yard. Where I can award him the semblance of privacy while still keeping an ever watchful eye on him.
I do not want him out of my eyesight.
I trust him. It’s not him I don’t trust. My son knows right from wrong and what he should or should not do. He’s a good kid, a great kid, a safe kid. But there are bad people out there. This is not back in my day or the setting I grew up in. It’s a lot different when I’m on the other side.
So I’m asking you, at what age do you think it’s appropriate to allow a child outside alone? To ride his bike around the neighborhood, if my son rode a bike which is another story? Am I too restricting with my 7 year old? Or should I set him completely free and just buy him a bus pass and send him off with a good luck, kid?
















