Can Kids Play by Themselves at the Park?

Babies are powerless. Children are only powerless if we never EMPOWER them. We do this by giving them gradual tastes of independence. By giving them as much trust as they are ready to hold.

@Lenore- Personally I don't think children should be playing foursquare. Twitter is bad enough (rimshot please)!

Why do you think there are more sickos today than when you were a child? Especially when the statistical evidence says things are now SAFER?

Our generation--and every generation before it--managed to survive letting children by children. Look back at the course of human history: Do you REALLY think things are so incredibly different now that children can only survive if treated like china dolls?

Even worse, have you considered the possibility that by reacting so radically to an imagined threat, you're doing REAL damage to your child? Chance of being abducted by a stranger is less than one in a million (literally), but the chance of suffering serious health problems or early death due to inactivity is 1 in 3.

I'll play the odds. My children will go out, be active, learn life skills, AND BE SAFER THAN YOURS!

I don't think the author means to literally leave your child unsupervised in a park. I think what she is trying to say is that we should have less adult lead play for children. If we take our children to the park and entertain them for the 2 hours we are there they will never learn to imagine and create their own rules of play which is very important for a young child. People need to chill out thinking the author is saying to leave your 3 year old in the park while you go to the movies. Seriously people that is totally inappropriately. However taking your child to the park and taking a back seat to their play is much for creative for them and relaxing for you.

What are you yelling at and what are you so damned afraid of?

Pat you sound EXACTLY like the alarmist that this story is talking about. Did you even read it?

Ok Firsts of all turn your caps off you are not a 10 yo (OMG i AM SOO ANGRY). Have you ever stooped to think that perhaps there are more sick people out there now than say 20-30 years ago because they now grow up in front of the computer all day with no social interaction? just saying, the best way to become a healthy part of society is to get out and learn how to be.

YES YES YES. They need to play. They need to go to the parks. All of that. That doesn't mean you don't check on them. Drive by. How about adults go to the park and meet their friends there too.

Also, foursquare is an playground game with four boxes and a ball (not a just a computer site). Maybe we've been on our computer so long we forgot about the playground games.

Common sense is so rare. It must be practices to bring it back into our lives.

My mother and Father put us near a park and would let us play. Yes it was on a Military Base but you know what, when we moved from there we would STILL go to parks my parents would sit and do other things while My Sisters and I played and wandered off. They would be inside when My sisters and I were playing in the street with our friends. I agree with the writer in this case that being outside is important. Also being inside on the computer unsupervised is likely to be MORE dangerous than playing outside alone. We live in a strange world and yes there are bad people. But weren't there bad people before? We wonder why our kids are fat and obese and only look at diet, why not shove them outside with a ball and tell them to play? Also there are ways to prevent bad things from happening. Remember Stranger Danger? Telling kids that no matter what don't talk to strangers, and to scream for help if they need to? I don't think the writer means to just leave them there and go on your merry way. But means for you to leave them there and not helicopter around them.

Get over it

that is crazy i dont think you should leave your kids i think there is alot of sick people out there that will take them

Granted, I live in a small town of about 1,500 people and wouldn't do this in a big city, but I allowed my sons to walk to school, the stores and post office at age 5. They knew the rules and what to do in case of emergency. I too grew up here and was allowed to go anywhere in town, since age 5. Note: No one had cell phones either, like young kids today! There are Not anymore kidnappings or murders then there was 50 years ago, it's just broadcast more now. Kids can't fear everything around them... they need to have some freedom and be able to mature at their own pace, without being babied. Yes, use caution and good sense, but let the kids learn responsibilities, without being TOO sheltered. The majority of the time my sons had another friend walking with them. They took a watch and knew what time to be home. But as far as having an Adult hovering over them all the time... NO. And they are Happy well-adjusted Adults now. Thankful that I let them learn, explore and play on their own, like a Normal childhood should be!

The world is not full of perverts. You just think that because it's all you hear - day in, day out. The milk carton was a great idea, but at the same time it allowed you to think, every day, about that pedophile out there lurking around the corner, waiting to pounce on your kid the second you turn your head. Thanks a lot, Lifetime Television and sexual predator websites. The tragic truth is that there are awful people who do awful things, but they aren't in the majority. The important thing is to teach your children how to identify situations where they should be bold and situations where they should high-tail it outta there. My son is now 24 - he managed to survive childhood - playing in the outside alone (gasp!), taking the subway (no?!?), hanging with his friends at the community pool (okay - take away my "Mom card"). He was taught self-reliance and what appropriate adult behavior was. I never taught my son to fear strangers. I taught him to know that a stranger who asks you to come with them, or who gives you something without asking your parents, or who wants to keep a secret is someone to get away from - and if you can't to kick up such a storm they will run away. That's survival behavior in the world. So smother your kids in a protective layer of bubble wrap before you send them out into the big bad world and then wonder why, when they grow up, they can't do or think for themselves and are afraid all the time. You'll be so proud.

Quit yelling.

My son and I were late for a club canoe camping trip. I drove in as far as I could, loaded the gear and my son in the canoe, and said, "I'll see you at the campsite." I then drove to the park headquarters, parked the car, and hiked back into the campsite. He had not only paddled in on his own, but he had the tent up and was ready to start fixing supper. Oh yeah; I was met on the hike in by the daughters of one of the other club members, and they were younger than my son. Trust your kids; they're capable of more than you can believe.

You need to lay off the caps. You can get your point accross just fine without HUGE letters.

I spent hours as a child outside playing, all my friends did. we were in better health than the children are now. All that worrying is going overboard. As far as worrying about deranged people, they could break into your house or be soliciting your child on the internet. Most of these parents were allowed these liberties as a child and now deny their own the pleasure of independence. As far as issues for molestation, those are often made by a "safe" family member or friend. How do I know? Been there. Lighten up, let kids be kids not couch potatoes.

I agree that children should be supervised,not only for their own safety, but for the safety of other children. Not only can a stranger come swipe a kid with no trace,but kids also act differently without parent supervision. Case in point: had my 2 year old daughter at a playground,and an unsupervised 6-7 year old boy pushed her into the playground equipment and made her bust her chin open. Parents need to watch their kids to make sure they dont bully other children also. There are many reasons to be with your kids at playgrounds and such also,like bonding with your kids. I don;t know about the rest of your readers,but i play with my daughter. And I dont know what age the writer thinks is an acceptable age to leave by themselves.

Pat is unbalanced.

Spoken like a true recluse/whacko. You are exactly the type of person who should absolutely stay indoors and never be around my children. I hope you practice what you preach. As far as this article goes, I rarely find someone I agree with in the media, but you ma'am have hit the nail on the head. Since when did being a kid become so dangerous? With the inventions of cell phones and gpa's and the like, kids are more safe now then they ever were when I was growing up. If I was gonna be late or was in trouble, nobody at my house found out til I got back home. I have four children, and I'll be dam@@ if they are going to grow up scared of their own shadow like the media would have them do. Kudos on such a well written and no-nonsense article.