Letting kids play outside unsupervised

How far do you let your LOs roam outside unsupervised?
What kind of environment do you live in? How old are your LOs?
Where you allowed to play outisde unsupervised when you were a child?


My LOs are 5 1/2 and 3 1/2. We live out in the middle of nowhere. Our house is in the middle of an acre or 2 of open area surrounded by woods. We let our kids run around outside as they please. They are allowed to go anywhere they want to on the property, as long as they don't go very far into the woods.
We check on the kids periodically, and when we don't hear them anymore.

I was allowed to roam and play pretty much wherever I wanted to when I was a kid. We lived out in the middle of nowhere too, except I grew up on a large farm in the middle of the woods.

I was allowed to do whatever, but that was a very different time  

My daughter has never played outside unsupervised. She's 12 now. I'm a paranoid protective mom though.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Mrs. Reynolds:</b>" I was allowed to do whatever, but that was a very different time   My daughter has never played outside unsupervised. She's 12 now. I'm a paranoid protective mom though."</blockquote>




Shes 12 and you won't let her go outside alone?

Quoting Mrs. Reynolds:" I was allowed to do whatever, but that was a very different time   My daughter has never played outside unsupervised. She's 12 now. I'm a paranoid protective mom though."

Do you live in an urban environment?

If we lived in a more populated area, I probably wouldn't let my kids play outside like they do.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Minion:</b>" How far do you let your LOs roam outside unsupervised? What kind of environment do you live in? How old ... [snip!] ... to when I was a kid. We lived out in the middle of nowhere too, except I grew up on a large farm in the middle of the woods."</blockquote>




I'd worry about snakes...
I saw our nabor let their kid who was my sons age (early 2) rude his trike down the street! I need to be right next to my son when were outside. Whether its the road or a bushy area with possible snakes, I'm cautious

The 51/2 old, maybe in a fenced area.. but very dou tfull. I was allowed to roam around and do as I pleased, but heck no. Not my 3.5 year old.

I can't at this house. There is a pool in the back yard and we have a lot of rattle snakes and scorpions. So I just don't feel safe.

I live in NYC so him going outside without me is out. But there's a fenced-in backyard that only the owner has access to and I let him play out there with her daughter alone because her mother and I can see them out our kitchen windows.

I lived in a suburb growing up and I was allowed in my backyard alone from when I could walk alone. It was also fenced in.

I live in an apartment, so there isn't really anywhere for DD to play when she's older. When shes 3 or 4 I'll let her play outside in my moms back yard by herself. It's fenced in.

the only place ill let cameron play outside alone is at my dads because he has a privacy fence around his entire yard... and even then im either in the kitchen where i can peak out the window, or in the back room where the sliding glass door/desk is so i can sort of supervise him

Quoting Mandy Schlatterer:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Minion:</b>" How far do you let your LOs roam outside unsupervised? ... [snip!] ... I need to be right next to my son when were outside. Whether its the road or a bushy area with possible snakes, I'm cautious"

Yeah I worry about snakes in warm weather. When it's time for snakes to be out the kids are not allowed in the woods or by the barn, where's there's a lot of places for them to hide.

I live in an apartment in the suburbs. She clearly is not allowed to play outside alone. At the park I am the mom watching my daughter play and not the one sitting in the car on the phone. When we have a house she will be allowed to play in the backyard if I am in the kitchen and still able to watch her. I am overly cautious with my daughter and get lots of "she should be in a bubble comments" but I don't care. I could never forgive myself if something happened. My husband was allowed to roam on their land as young as he can remember. One time he got lost in the woods and only found his way home because he followed his dog. This was one of his earliest memories and he was about 3.

I let my almost 4 year old play on our porch in our fenced in back yard unsupervised sometimes. but I can still see him so idk if that counts? lol. normally he sits and plays with chalk while I get dinner started.

Quoting Black Dynamite:" I let my almost 4 year old play on our porch in our fenced in back yard unsupervised sometimes. but ... [snip!] ... but I can still see him so idk if that counts? lol. normally he sits and plays with chalk while I get dinner started."

I'd say that counts.  

I went everywhere as a kid. We lived in the country (in Alberta so no need to worry about dangerous small animals and snakes, just bears and cougars but they usually weren't in the area). Went out when the sun came up, came back in at night or when I was hungry. Was walking down the road (on a trike path on the our property) to my cousins when I was 4.

I let both my kids (3 and 5) play outside in my yard unattended. We live in town now, but it's a small community and my area is very quiet. They are only allowed alone in the backyard which has a 5 foot wood fence with gates with key locks. I can always hear them though, so I know what they are doing.