At what age should kids be able to play alone outdoors?

Polls

28th April 2021

A STUDY into children’s play has shown that your parents were allowed to play alone outdoors two years earlier than you.

The British Children’s Play Survey found that children now are nearly 11 years old before their parents let them out alone. However, the parents say they were playing alone outside before the age of nine.

“In the largest study of play in Britain, we can clearly see that there is a trend to be protective and to provide less freedom for our children now than in previous generations,” said the University of Reading’s Professor Helen Dodd, who led the study.

She said the “complex” reasons for the change include worries over “stranger danger and the increase in traffic in the neighbourhoods where children live and play”. Children in Scotland are allowed out alone at an earlier age, and were also found to play more, although levels of adventurous play, such as climbing trees or riding a bike fast downhill, were about the same across the UK.

Experts say that adventurous play helps children learn to judge risks and can help to reduce anxiety. The report adds that some playgrounds aren’t challenging enough for kids.

Dr Dan O’Hare, from the British Psychological Society, said: “The findings of this survey highlight the urgent need to prioritise play for our children, and the importance of all children and young people having access to free, high quality, and local opportunities for play.”

What do you think?

At what age should kids be able to play alone outdoors?

50 Comments

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jedorjok21 · 4 years ago

I think eight is a sensible age to start allowing your kids to play outside by themselves. 5 is definitely to young, but 12 is too old so somewhere in between

jedorjok21 · 4 years ago

* #first to comment

sherni · 4 years ago

Firsttocomment

ellabeegee · 4 years ago

I don’t know, I think the earlier a kid can become independent safely, the better

scarlet10 · 4 years ago

KIDS NEED FREEDOME

s00114008 · 4 years ago

Cool

milkpuddin · 4 years ago

first to leave comment!!!!!

minja8 · 4 years ago

It's also a more dangerous now so at least 10

123emperor · 4 years ago

Yay first to comment 😀

123emperor · 4 years ago

Anything below age 11 is not that suitable as you could get kidnapped on sketchy streets or you could get lost. It is best to play on your own at the age of 11 when you start secondary school as you’ll be walking to school on your own anyway so it doesn’t matter too much.

lego04 · 4 years ago

It depends where you are

cr1cket1 · 4 years ago

It depends how confident you are!

cr1cket1 · 4 years ago

but i am saying from age 11

ivansp2011 · 4 years ago

I believe from age 8 as children become more careful and can hand;e themselves

abhi01 · 4 years ago

First to comment.
They should be allowed at whatever able there parents say, they are your best guide.

weirdcat · 4 years ago

I live in a quiet neighborhood with only a few roads, so I would say that if they stay relatively close to home it should be from age six.

weirdcat · 4 years ago

But it depends where you live.

marioace · 4 years ago

I feel like 10 is the right age cus our parents were able to at 10.

panda89 · 4 years ago

i would say roughly 9 years but it depends how safe minded the child is and where you live. if u live in a v busy part of a big city probably a bit older than 9 and if u lives in a quite village a bit younger than 9 and anywhere else somewhere in the middle

squish123 · 4 years ago

We need some restrictions but not as many. I think it would be crazy to go out on your own when you are a baby. Sometimes it will vary by how responsible the person is.

squish123 · 4 years ago

Most of you say 10 so far but I say 9 as we need to learn how to be responsible like our parents.

katkid10 · 4 years ago

I think that 10 is a suitable age - maybe 11 at a push - because 9 I believe is too young and they don't always cross roads safely. Although, some people will just permanently stare at their phone while crossing the roads.

#16th to comment

opalstar · 4 years ago

I think ten, because I hope by then you have enough wits!

opalstar · 4 years ago

I think ten, I hope you have enough wits by then!

owlgebra · 4 years ago

It depends how far away the place one would play at is from the adult's supervision.

zizzizoo · 4 years ago

If garden or neighbour 5 but like a mile away 11

ginny09876 · 3 years ago

I think that really it depends on how responsible the child is and how much the parent wants there child to explore. But I think the most reasonable age is 8 because 5 is too young and 12 is too old.

ridulfa · 3 years ago

as long as your child knows its way around, and is playing in a good area, anything from the age of 8 up is good

mcgeorge1 · 3 years ago

i think 11 or 10 is a good age to begin leaving on your own as you are young enough to have fun and old enough to be responsible as you do it

piggy9876 · 3 years ago

FREEDOM

freya2909 · 3 years ago

i said 10 because some of my friends come to the park with me after school on Friday and they r ten

lemonrey · 3 years ago

I think that kids should have to understand the safety first before they are unsupervised so I think it should be 10.

weirdcat · 3 years ago

I'm 9 And can walk around much of my neighborhood alone.

historygal · 3 years ago

I think it matters about how responsible the child is

goldkitty1 · 3 years ago

I think that it is sensible to allow kids to play outside IF they are sensible.

poodles · 3 years ago

From Year 6 [11 years old] as they will soon be moving too secondary school and they will have to be much more independant. Playing alone with their friends unsupervised helps them to become more independant.

marthajja · 3 years ago

I think 10 is a suitable age too play alone outside because I am aloud to walk to school in year five.

sadiepinki · 3 years ago

I think children should be encouraged to play outdoors from a young age. But you should also put into consideration the safety of the children so adults should let the different children out at diffirent ages depending on their personality!

ebazgo · 3 years ago

𝟟 𝕓𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕚 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕟𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕥 𝕤𝕖𝕖𝕞𝕤 𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕒 𝕚𝕟-𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕨𝕖𝕖𝕟

ebazgo · 3 years ago

7 because I like the number and it seems kinda in-between

ebazgo · 3 years ago

not appearing-

theo_gym · 3 years ago

It depend where and when. Crossing roads at night is not safe for any kids but going to a park down the street is fine from age 8+.

duckduck21 · 3 years ago

I would say 10 but it really depends weather the child is sensible or insensible

hxnestly · 3 years ago

9 or 10 is fine, as long as they have a way to contact their parent or carer

selective · 3 years ago

Parents should be responsible for their children

cutiecat · 3 years ago

I was allowed if I was in my area when I was 7

mothstar · 3 years ago

i think all kids should play outside but if they get hurt or stuck it would be easier if they were more independent.

mwhitty · 3 years ago

10 should do it

kb1. · 2 years ago

Kids shouldn't play outdoors unsupervised what if they get kidnapped ?

nessness · 2 years ago

I think 10 because when you are 10 you are more responsible and are less likely to hurt themselves