There I am, seated on the porch, typing away while my kids—ages 2, 4, and 6—engage in an imaginative game involving worms, a hose, and a toy wheelbarrow. I run out of iced tea, and since I can’t write without caffeine, I step inside, leaving my three sons to their creative play outside.
Yes, my children do play without direct supervision. My front yard is fenced, complete with a gate across the driveway. The youngest understands he can’t dash into the street. They know the rules: stay in the yard and avoid speaking to strangers. My eldest is aware that he’s responsible for his siblings, ensuring they treat one another kindly and share whatever they’re using—which is usually the hose. So, please, there’s no need to call the police; they’re perfectly safe, especially for the brief time it takes me to make tea while glancing out the window to check on them.
I strongly believe in the value of unsupervised play. I often open the back door and let them roam freely, as I did when I was a child. My grandmother used to send us outside, allowing us to explore as long as we could manage. When I turned 7, I was permitted to visit the park across the street, provided she stayed on the porch. At that age, I was there with my 5-year-old sister, entrusted to ensure her safety.
Today, my almost 7-year-old and nearly 5-year-old wouldn’t be allowed to go to the park alone, but I’m not overly concerned. They frequently visit the park with me or other parents, which means they’re effectively unsupervised anyway. They’ve learned not to throw sand or climb too high on play structures, and they know to avoid leaving the park or venturing into the bushes near the road. They’re just fine.
What I do worry about are the well-meaning individuals who might see children playing alone and feel compelled to intervene. They may think, “Oh no! A child alone must be in danger!” and then approach my kids, who might be scared by an unfamiliar adult talking to them—something I’ve cautioned them against. This well-intentioned intervention could lead to the police being called, and by that time, my kids would likely be too shaken to explain the idea of “free-range kids” to the officers. I would then receive a call from social services, who, by the way, have far more pressing matters to attend to than interfering with my sons’ imaginative play.
So, please, let them be. They’re safe and perfectly capable of handling themselves. After all, the oldest is nearly 7. They have far more important things to focus on than dealing with your concerns or answering questions from the police.
They’re kids, and their job is to play, so move along.
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In summary, allowing children to play unsupervised is not only safe but also beneficial for their development. As parents, we should trust in their ability to explore and learn while ensuring they understand the boundaries in place.