As of early last year, my family and I live in the exact same area that I grew up in. Like, my parent's house is now a brisk four-minute walk away.
Despite the niggling thought that the decision to move from Dublin's city centre (which I LOVED) out to what is essentially 'The Shticks' of Rush, may have been made while I was pregnant and hormonal, I am quite aware that safety during our kids childhoods was our primary reason to move.
We wanted them to have the same freedom to play that we'd both had growing up - we wanted to be able to let them out on the road; we wanted them to attend local schools where we'd still know some of the staff so that we could have a decent enough relationship with our children's educators; and we wanted to live in a community whereby somebody might see our kids stuck for a lift home or a fiver, or even a telling off and would know 'That's Sharyn and Alan's kid, I'll call them'.
And we achieved all of that with our move - we have great neighbours, we have parenting support, we have pre-schools and primary schools lined up and we have tonnes of space for them to roam in. Except.. I haven't quite gotten into the letting Jacob roam out on the road bit yet.
I dunno, he's four and a bit, and I just think he's too young yet. He knows the rules of the road so he won't run out in front of any cars, I know that. He knows which house is ours, so it isn't like he wouldn't find his way home. There are loads of other kids out on the road of all ages playing - some as young as three with older brothers and sisters - but I just can't bring myself to let him loose with them yet.
That's not to say that I keep him indoors all day - we have a big back garden and so he and his sister potter away with toys and sand pits out there most days. We have play dates at home and in other people's houses regularly, he has pre-school and plenty of friends so I'm not worried that he's lonely or anything.
I want him to have confidence and be independent as he grows up so.. how old does he have to be before I set him free?
What age did your kids start playing outside unattended? Let me know at Sharyn.Hayden@HerFamily.ie
