Children thrive while playing outside, and it is a joy to witness as a parent. As kids go through different developmental stages, they grow more confident and crave independence. Suddenly, you may find they want to play outside unsupervised.
While it is far safer not to allow your young children to play unsupervised, circumstances constantly change. For example, you may leave them with a caregiver who lets them play alone, or your kids could sometimes fend for themselves at day care or school. Perhaps your children have simply become old enough to play outside. Regardless, you want them to be responsible, self-reliant and safe, and equipping them with vital skills is essential.
Many favorite outdoor activities and sports include balls, bats, scooters, skateboards, bicycles or tricycles. Teaching your children to play safely when they engage in these activities is essential for minimizing accidents.
Important safety tips for playing with outdoor toys and tools include the following:
When considering allowing your children to play outside unsupervised, it should be in an environment familiar to you. Inspect the area first to ensure it’s free of hazards like sharp objects, uneven surfaces, bodies of water or busy roads.
Equip your kids with these tips for playground safety:
Safety around strangers is possibly any parent’s greatest concern. Many children are naturally curious and social, and you must go beyond teaching them not to talk to strangers to keep them safe. Children learn from modeled behavior and often see their parents talking to strangers, so it’s vital to address this issue appropriately.
An excellent way to juggle this is by teaching your kids about “tricky people.” Tricky people can be strangers or people your kids know. You can teach your children to identify them with the following simple tips:
Thankfully, you can give your child some tools to combat these scenarios.
Children can have exceptional instincts and learn to recognize them in a trusting, open environment. If your child tells you they feel uncomfortable, scared or worried, validate those emotions if they come from a reasonable place. Where appropriate, let them know you trust their judgment.
Teach your kids that it is wrong for anyone to tell them to keep a secret from mom and dad. Let them know that you value the truth and will always respect them for sharing — especially if something bad has happened. This combats tactics were dangerous people make children keep secrets by telling them their parents would be mad if they knew.
Let your children know who they can go to for help or what they can do in an emergency. They can learn to run or shout for help if anyone attempts to make them go somewhere without permission, tries to hurt them, or wants to make them do something bad or dangerous.
Explore these frequently asked questions to learn at what age kids can play outside alone and what the benefits of unsupervised play are.
Your child’s safety always comes first, but where appropriate, it is also healthy to allow unsupervised play. This can help children become more independent, confident and aware, and playing outside boosts these skills and provides a sense of wonder regarding the natural world.
The age at which kids can play outside alone depends on a combination of several factors. If your child is playing at home and you have a fenced yard, then around 5 to 6 years old can be an appropriate age for unsupervised play. If your yard is not secured, it is better to wait until your child is around 8 years old.
In unfamiliar environments, it is always best to supervise your child and wait until they are much older before they play alone.
The right age for unsupervised play also depends on your child’s level of situational awareness, resilience, communication skills and confidence. Always trust your parental instincts to discern what is best for your child.
Free play and unsupervised play are fundamentally different, though there can be some overlap between them. Free play is when children do not have structure to their playtime. This lets kids use their imaginations, engage in activities they like and play independently — all of which can happen while supervised.
Safety is always the priority, even if this means constantly supervising your kids. However, it is also beneficial to sometimes loosen the reins when appropriate. When your kids are old enough and if the environment is safe, playing freely outside is an excellent way for them to boost physical, cognitive and emotional development.
Jack Shaw
Author