Let my 10 year old walk to the park?

[djheater]

My girls are beautiful blonde children. The kind you read about in depressing new stories.
pic1
pic2

The 10 year old is totally resigned to the idea that they're never allowed to go into the front yard without a parent, but she does ask occasionally (she just discovered a firend in the neighborhood, and is always checking if she is out). She's very self-deprecating and shy, and doesn't think I'd ever allow her to walk to the park by herself.

I live a couple blocks from this park and was thinking about letting her walk there with her 6 year old sister (pic2) to raise her self-esteem and reward her good behavior. Would you?

I've recently become convinced that 1) parents are sheltering and overprotective 2) the world is not really any more dangerous than it was when we were kids (70s-80s) it's only the media coverage of exceedingly rare violence that's increased.

Thoughts?

~edit

Regarding the pictures.
I think it's nice you're all so concerned for the well being of my children.
I've posted all the information in this thread beofre in different contexts and never caught such hell for it. Perhaps accomanying the pictures and neighborhood info and providing you the context of endangerment has affected your answers? Anyway, I did not post my address, just the general neighborhood, which numerous people here already knew.
I don't believe there's any significant danger in doing so.

For reference and discussion here are some links to consider:
Mom lets 9-year-old take subway home alone
Last Child in the Woods

 

[rasczak]

not alone

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: rasczak
not alone

Why?

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: rasczak
not alone

Why?

The whole point to working hard is to live in a decent neighborhood. If you do then let her go. I see kids in our neighborhood all the time by themselves......because it is a GOOD neighborhood. That is the whole point to not living in the damned city.

 

[Captante]

I allow my 10 y/o daughter to play outside with her friends & to walk home from her school (approx 1/2 mile from my house with a group of other children her age) but I wouldn't allow her to make the same walk by herself & I certainly wouldn't ever leave her in charge of a 6 year old.

 

[funkymatt]

you just posted pics of your children and an address on a public forum, yet you're still wondering about this.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Captante
I allow my 10 y/o daughter to play outside with her friends & to walk home from her school which (approx 1/2 mile from my house with a group of other children her age) but I wouldn't allow her to make the same walk by herself & I certainly wouldn't ever leave her in charge of a 6 year old in addition to herself.

Why? - have a reason.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: funkymatt
you just posted pics of your children and an address on a public forum, yet you're still wondering about this.

Are you threatening us?

 

[nageov3t]

I'd let them walk to the park and then secretly follow them from a block behind 😉

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: djheater

I've recently become convinced that 1) parents are sheltering and overprotective 2) the world is not really any more dangerous than it was when we were kids (70s-80s) it's only the media coverage of exceedingly rare violence that's increased.

Thoughts?

I agree. I think I started going to the park by myself around that age. I had to ask permisson and had to be back by certain times but I could go. By 12 or 13 I didn't have to ask, I just said I'm going out and I'll be back by dinner time.

 

[Wheezer]

according to the Illinios Sex Offender List you got 27 or so people you should take into consideration before letting her do this on her own....just food for thought.

 

[frostedflakes]

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: funkymatt
you just posted pics of your children and an address on a public forum, yet you're still wondering about this.

Are you threatening us?

Lol, he wasn't threatening you man. Just pointing out the hypocrisy of giving any predators that may happen to be browsing ATOT information that could easily allow them to track down your daughters, yet being worried about letting them walk a few blocks to the park in what is probably a pretty safe neighborhood.

 

[Wheezer]

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: funkymatt
you just posted pics of your children and an address on a public forum, yet you're still wondering about this.

Are you threatening us?

LOL....so you personally know everyone here and who they are?

your ignorance is astounding.....not only does everyone here registered and non-registered know where you live and what park you want to send your kid to on her own....now everyone knows what she looks like.....there is no "us" that could be threatened...only her.....your not gonna get raped by some depraved individual......think about it.....is giving her that freedom worth it just to prove to a bunch of no names of some stupid forum that you are not intimidated by threats that you do not see....that you don't want to be over protective of her?

think about it.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Wheezer
according to the Illinios Sex Offender List you got 27 or so people you should take into consideration before letting her do this on her own....just food for thought.

I peruse that every 6 months or so. I understand and can certainly relate to the fears about those people (and I use that term lightly). The truth is that those guys don't prey on random children, and the criterion for conviction has become so broad that a ehll of a lot of retards end up no there that are no real danger. I'm not saying there aren't some scary fvckers in my city (the 2nd largest in illinois, btw) but I've come to feel that's not a reason for stopping my children from going to the park.

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: Captante
I allow my 10 y/o daughter to play outside with her friends & to walk home from her school which (approx 1/2 mile from my house with a group of other children her age) but I wouldn't allow her to make the same walk by herself & I certainly wouldn't ever leave her in charge of a 6 year old in addition to herself.

Why? - have a reason.

Because although random violence against kids is rare it does happen & when it does it happens to kids out by themselves ... it may be that I'm a bit paranoid but if thats the case so be it.

As for allowing a 10y/o to look after a 6/yo for any more then a few minutes in the back yard, all I can say is that its a very bad idea & if somthing did happen to one/both of them you could likely expect serious legal ramifications.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Wheezer

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: funkymatt
you just posted pics of your children and an address on a public forum, yet you're still wondering about this.

Are you threatening us?

LOL....so you personally know everyone here and who they are?

your ignorance is astounding.....not only does everyone here registered and non-registered know where you live and what park you want to send your kid to on her own....now everyone knows what she looks like.....there is no "us" that could be threatened...only her.....your not gonna get raped by some depraved individual......think about it.....is giving her that freedom worth it just to prove to a bunch of no names of some stupid forum that you are not intimidated by threats that you do not see....that you don't want to be over protective of her?

think about it.

Think about what? Your rambling is incoherent. My admittedly sarcastic point was that you are arguing a priori (and you continue to do so). You are approcahing this from the perspective that it is absolutely, unalterably, DANGEROUS to let my child walk to the park AND to have the audacity to show their pictures on line. I'm asking that you back that up with data.

Why is it dangerous? Tell me so I know!

 

[DainBramaged]

Let me preface by saying that only the parent can make this decision. However, I'd let them go together, but not alone. And I'd make sure they know what to do if any shit were to go down. All done in tactful language.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Captante

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: Captante
I allow my 10 y/o daughter to play outside with her friends & to walk home from her school which (approx 1/2 mile from my house with a group of other children her age) but I wouldn't allow her to make the same walk by herself & I certainly wouldn't ever leave her in charge of a 6 year old in addition to herself.

Why? - have a reason.

Because although random violence against kids is rare it does happen & when it does it happens to kids out by themselves ... it may be that I'm a bit paranoid but if thats the case so be it.

As for allowing a 10y/o to look after a 6/yo for any more then a few minutes in the back yard, all I can say is that its a very bad idea & if somthing did happen to one/both of them you could likely expect serious legal ramifications.

I would send both of them together so that they would not be alone.
Disregarding the legal implications (which I believe is arguable, you can't reasonably anticipate kidnappings) most of the world EXPECTS female children over 7 to look after younger siblings. This would seem to indicate a universal propensity of children over that age to command basic supervisory roles. I'd have to look for the data of course, all I'm trying to say is that a 10 year old can probably ni most circumstances walk a 6 year old to the park and back. Granted, I know my 6 year old and she's not a crazy run-in-the-street type. I wouldn't expect my 10 year old to walk my 7 year old nephew to the park. He's CRAZY.

 

[Wheezer]

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: Wheezer

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: funkymatt
you just posted pics of your children and an address on a public forum, yet you're still wondering about this.

Are you threatening us?

LOL....so you personally know everyone here and who they are?

your ignorance is astounding.....not only does everyone here registered and non-registered know where you live and what park you want to send your kid to on her own....now everyone knows what she looks like.....there is no "us" that could be threatened...only her.....your not gonna get raped by some depraved individual......think about it.....is giving her that freedom worth it just to prove to a bunch of no names of some stupid forum that you are not intimidated by threats that you do not see....that you don't want to be over protective of her?

think about it.

Think about what? Your rambling is incoherent. My admittedly sarcastic point was that you are arguing a priori (and you continue to do so). You are approcahing this from the perspective that it is absolutely, unalterably, DANGEROUS to let my child walk to the park AND to have the audacity to show their pictures on line. I'm asking that you back that up with data.

Why is it dangerous? Tell me so I know!

Listen you came here seeking opinions...you got them, the mere fact you are on some internet forum seeking affirmation to back you up should tell you something.

tells me you're on the fence or you're trying to prove something to someone...yourself or your wife who thinks it's a bad idea.

If it is so ok to do it and we are all wrong....do it.....it's your kid not mine you are risking...hell you are 2 states away from me...wtf do I care if your kid becomes some statistic?

just do us all a favor...if she comes up missing.....don't come back here cry bitching about it.....I'll be the first one to point you back to this thread.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: DainBramaged
Let me preface by saying that only the parent can make this decision. However, I'd let them go together, but not alone. And I'd make sure they know what to do if any shit were to go down. All done in tactful language.

They have both been trained to kick the fvck out of any stangers that touch them and scream as loud as they can for as long as they can. And I mean actually trained.

 

[uhohs]

Originally posted by: djheater
Why is it dangerous? Tell me so I know!

o.o

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Wheezer

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: Wheezer

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: funkymatt
you just posted pics of your children and an address on a public forum, yet you're still wondering about this.

Are you threatening us?

LOL....so you personally know everyone here and who they are?

your ignorance is astounding.....not only does everyone here registered and non-registered know where you live and what park you want to send your kid to on her own....now everyone knows what she looks like.....there is no "us" that could be threatened...only her.....your not gonna get raped by some depraved individual......think about it.....is giving her that freedom worth it just to prove to a bunch of no names of some stupid forum that you are not intimidated by threats that you do not see....that you don't want to be over protective of her?

think about it.

Think about what? Your rambling is incoherent. My admittedly sarcastic point was that you are arguing a priori (and you continue to do so). You are approcahing this from the perspective that it is absolutely, unalterably, DANGEROUS to let my child walk to the park AND to have the audacity to show their pictures on line. I'm asking that you back that up with data.

Why is it dangerous? Tell me so I know!

Listen you came here seeking opinions...you got them, the mere fact you are on some internet forum seeking affirmation to back you up should tell you something.

tells me you're on the fence or you're trying to prove something to someone...yourself or your wife who thinks it's a bad idea.

If it is so ok to do it and we are all wrong....do it.....it's your kid not mine you are risking...hell you are 2 states away from me...wtf do I care if your kid becomes some statistic?

just do us all a favor...if she comes up missing.....don't come back here cry bitching about it.....I'll be the first one to point you back to this thread.

So what. You're absolved of all responsibility now? Feel better?

 

[uhohs]

in all seriousness though, don't do it, there's too many messed up people out there. i wouldn't take the chance.

 

[frostedflakes]

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: Wheezer

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: funkymatt
you just posted pics of your children and an address on a public forum, yet you're still wondering about this.

Are you threatening us?

LOL....so you personally know everyone here and who they are?

your ignorance is astounding.....not only does everyone here registered and non-registered know where you live and what park you want to send your kid to on her own....now everyone knows what she looks like.....there is no "us" that could be threatened...only her.....your not gonna get raped by some depraved individual......think about it.....is giving her that freedom worth it just to prove to a bunch of no names of some stupid forum that you are not intimidated by threats that you do not see....that you don't want to be over protective of her?

think about it.

Think about what? Your rambling is incoherent. My admittedly sarcastic point was that you are arguing a priori (and you continue to do so). You are approcahing this from the perspective that it is absolutely, unalterably, DANGEROUS to let my child walk to the park AND to have the audacity to show their pictures on line. I'm asking that you back that up with data.

Why is it dangerous? Tell me so I know!

I tend to agree that people are too overprotective these days. But what I don't understand is why you felt the need to post your address and daughters' pictures on ATOT. What purpose could that possibly serve? We don't need to know what your daughters look like to offer opinions on your dilemma. I mean letting them go the park together, nothing wrong with that IMO. Kids need to get out and do stuff, get dirty, get scraped up, etc. -- I don't think they should be cooped up inside or in the back yard all the time. But posting their pictures online is increasing the risk (albeit probably very small, but still) of something happening for no good reason. It seems to me like you're just trying to prove something, like you're saying "hey look at me, I'm so not overprotective that I'm willing to post pictures of my young girls on an internet message board."

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: uhohs

Originally posted by: djheater
Why is it dangerous? Tell me so I know!

o.o

Don't be a 'tard. I'm asking for clarification. For sound, rational reasons. I'm a parent, I OF COURSE understand the fear and anxiety that comes from letting your children 'go'. I don't need fear mongering, or a restatement of the cultural maxim that any one under 18 is fundamentally incapable of being responsible in any capacity.

EXPLAIN YOUR POSITION!