My daughter is nearly 4, and I won't be letting her play out alone. My main concern is not the fear of strangers or traffic, although, I see this is a pertinent reason for some mothers. My main problem is the children and their parents themselves.
90% of children that my daughter has contact with are rude, lack manners and their parents are just the same. Parents no longer wish to take responsibility for their child's manners or politeness.
My daughter knows how to take turns, say excuse me and act in a way that is appropriate to her age and ability. Older children push past, take her turn, and act in a way that their parents should be ashamed of. When approached, their answer? kids are kids...
Yes, they are but they also need to know how to act in this society, and if they haven't been taught the basics, how the hell are nice parents expected to let their nice children loose on these 'kids'.

Lynn Hennessy, Ashford, Kent, UK

I live in a pleasant area of Durham where it is relatively safe and my sons have enjoyed freedom to go to the park, walk to school and play with their friends unsupervised from around age 11. This was more or less dictated by them, if they felt confident to do this/ had the road sense etc to deal with a bit of freedom. I may have done differently if I felt the area unsafe.

One issue which I found, was that a small minority of local people did not like to see children playing near their homes, even when there was a green field of park nearby. Local residents were even successful in having swings & roundabout removed at a park near their home because children disturbed them! I think that a lot of people feel under pressure to keep their children indoors because neighbours/locals are not happy to hear the children playing. I have even had complaints of children being noisy in their own garden, disturbing someone who wanted to sunbathe! Do we actually like children in the UK?

Heather, Durham, UK

Parents NOT letting kids out until they are 14? I think some of them are telling mega porkies.
Drive around a "normal" estate and they roam the streets in packs.
Please don't go all holy and concerned, it seems some parents can't remember how many they have, never mind where they are.
The juxtaposition of this story against the supposed "hoodie" generation just does not fit, or are hoodies either stunted adults or always someone elses kids?

Ken Wyatt, Todmorden, UK

Dont underestimate the damage an overly restrictive upbringing can do. It almost makes me cry to read this, thinking about my childhood. I was painfully lonely for years as a child because my parents wanted to 'protect' me. I ended up isolated, incapable and with no self confidence. Its very destructive to a persons development and very painful to miss out on the normal everyday things that most people take for granted.

Amanda , Lancashire, UK

Is it any wonder that parents are afraid to let their children out unsupervised? The world is NOT as safe as it was when I was a child in the 1950s. At the age of 9, I was catching a train to school every day - but in the company of many other children, and we would walk from the station to the school in groups - safety in numbers. Throughout my school life, up to 1962, I don't remember anyone who arrived at school by car - we either walked or used public transport - so we got used to being out on our own. The number of child abductions to-day may be small, but that's precious little comfort if your child is one of them. And there are other dangers. I wouldn't let young children ride bikes alone on to-day's roads, for a start.

Jenny Lane, Corsham, UK

Those abductions are a nightmare for every parent, however small the chance it happens.

But the dangers that come from the traffic are a real reason for keeping the kids at home for much longer these days.

When I grew up there was one single car owner in the whole street. Other cars would pass occasionally. We had loads of room to play.

Now the whole street is full of cars. There is nowhere to play anymore. Only a few reserved areas. These can be reached only under adult supervision, because of the dense and dangerous traffic.

Sitz Dikstr, Sneek, Netherlands

When i was a kid it wasn't abduction but road safety that meant I wasn't allowed out. They were scared of me running into a road or whatever.

James, Liverpool,

Surely this kind of advice contradicts the widely understood premise that if you leave your child at home alone unsupervised during the day under the age of 14, you are liable to prosecution if something should happen. How then are we supposed to feel confident allowing them out in the wide world unsupervised under 14 years of age?

Sarah, Farnham, Surrey

I believe parents are totally at fault, parent now believe their children can do no wrong!
I regularly have neighbours children coming into my garden to run around when I am out working, as my garden is larger than theirs.


When they are caught and I complain to their parents (who are medical professional) I have been total as I don’t use may garden that often why cant they! As neighbours can no longer reprimand children with out abuse from the children or their parents it means I would never now look out for their children. Is all very said and it’s the poor children that suffer!

fiona , edinburgh,

What planet do these pollsters live on?Around here the council had to be called in to clear the street of rampaging kids trashing peoples property?So much for worried parents!

jjones, wolverhanpton,

Surely the main reason is not the fear of abduction but the the rise in street crime, particularly of the violent sort? Parents are unwilling to risk that their children will be mugged at knife point for their mobile phones or iPods, or suffer bullying and intimidation by older kids.

Aaron, Oxford, UK