POLL: Is it OK to Leave Younger Kids Alone at the Park?

Katie Ryan O'Connor (Editor) April 12, 2012 at 01:07 pm

As a parent myself, I say definitely on the 9-year-old. The 6-year-old is what makes me nervous. As a pair, I'd say it would depend entirely on a.) if I could trust the 9yo to truly look out for their younger sibling and b.) how many familiar mom faces I saw at the local park. I'd think nothing of another mom if she asked me to keep an eye out while she ran an errand or two with those ages -- the youngest could be in 1st grade at 6.

Katie Ryan O'Connor (Editor) April 12, 2012 at 01:12 pm

And another interesting poll question would be "Did YOUR parents leave you alone at the park when you were that age?" In the 70s? Most definitely.

Krista Madsen (Editor) April 12, 2012 at 01:13 pm

This brings up the controversy with the NYC mom a few years back who encouraged leaving "Free Range Kids" by themselves at the park and let her 9 (?) year old ride the subway alone. I say yes, within reason! She obviously didn't mean for two hours, as this PA guy did. It is a shame these days that parents have to feel so paranoid. I often don't even think it's any real danger they are afraid of but the judgment of others.

Ryan Buncher (Editor) April 12, 2012 at 01:13 pm

As the parent of an 8-year-old, it would make me uncomfortable. I freely admit that I am a tad overprotective. Though it really does depend on the maturity of the child and the park itself. I've driven by Scott Park (the one in the original story), but I don't know that area well enough to say if it is safe.

Krista Madsen (Editor) April 12, 2012 at 01:15 pm

Yes!!! I don't even remember seeing anybody's parents for HOURS on end, until dusk when we all went home for dinner after roaming every corner of our neighborhood. We all survived.

Renea Henry April 12, 2012 at 01:40 pm

I think leaving a 9 yo 'in charge' of a 6 yo old would leave them more vulnerable than if they were alone. I'd be concerned they felt more confident than they should about their safety. Not just strangers, I think of the tragic accounts of older siblings trying 'rescue' younger ones from all kinds of hazards.

Lizzie Hedrick April 12, 2012 at 01:48 pm

I think it has more to do with the neighborhood, the proximity of the park to your house, whether there are other adults around...I think it has less to do with the kids themselves than their surroundings.

Lizzie Hedrick April 12, 2012 at 01:51 pm

I agree here that most 9-y-os are too young to babysit. I was asked to babysit for a 5 y-o when I was 9 and the kid got a cactus needle in her finger.

Walden Macnair April 12, 2012 at 01:52 pm

I've got to tell you that if I was at the park and saw a six year old and a nine year old without a parent, I'd definitely call the police. At six I don't even remember being left in the house alone and you're asking about a park! Really, get serious, that's just too dangerous.
If you don't believe me look at the list of sexual preditors that are registered in your neighborhood. http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/nsor/

Lizzie Hedrick April 12, 2012 at 01:52 pm

@Krista: explains a lot. (Kidding :-). My parents let me walk home through the woods alone all the time in the 90's. Then again, neighbors did call child services a few times.

Jennifer April 12, 2012 at 02:18 pm

I would leave my kids in a Larchmont park at those ages. My kids were mature and we went out until the lights went on and then went home to wash up for dinner. Yes - there were scraped knees, maybe even a sprain or broken bone - but that's all prat of growing up - your parent is not going to catch you if you fall off your bike - no matter how ridiculously overprotective they are.

Nancy Danahy April 12, 2012 at 04:18 pm

What hazards, if any, exist in the park? How large/crowded is it? What kind of people use the park? Is there a dedicated play area for children? Those would all be my concerns before I could judge this father.
I grew up in NYC until 1960, and then in the suburbs. My mother let us out to play without supervision in both locations, but with limitations on the area we could roam. Specific streets were our boundaries. However, I wouldn't even let my then-nine-year old walk six blocks home alone from school in Manhattan in the '90s. Different times...more possible trouble/predators.

Liz Giegerich (Editor) April 12, 2012 at 05:37 pm

A 48-year-old man allegedly assaulted two teenagers, 14 and 16, in a park in Peekskill last week, during daylight. After writing up that blotter story I would say no kids in the park alone. http://patch.com/A-svpF

Patrice E. Athanasidy April 12, 2012 at 08:39 pm

In the 70s, we did much more without parental supervision, but I also grew up in the city. We traveled as a large group, not just a couple of children. Nowadays, it is a tough call about ages and responsibility and safety. I would be uncomfortable. Of course, if you ask a parent to keep an eye, then you are not really leaving them alone.

Sue April 13, 2012 at 02:18 am

It is not safe to leave two children this age alone in a park. Nor is it safe to expect other adults to supervise your children. I don't care how good you think the neighborhood is. If you need to run an errand you bring your kids with you, it's that simple. I can't believe anyone could think it is ok to do this.

Rex Rexmano April 13, 2012 at 11:16 am

I hate to use the word "delusional" but some of you parents are nothing but ostriches with your collective heads in the sand. Wake up and see the world today for what it is. Those days of safety in neighborhood parks have come and gone. There are sick and predatory minds all around. Leaving a 12 year-old alone in a city park is nothing short of irresponsible, bad and absolutely poor parenting. Some crimes against minors are preventable when adults (parents) use their heads and good judgement. What are you folks thinking!!

Rica Mendes April 13, 2012 at 12:44 pm

It also depends on where you live. There is a park not far from my home, where I can call out my window and my kids can hear me, in a small and quiet cul-de-sac. It's not busy, very quiet, etc. I was letting my kids go down together a few years ago when they were about the same age as in this story. But would I do the same in a busy, city park? No. Would I do it anywhere but an area that not only I but the kids knew backwards and forwards? No. Would I do it in a town I didn't know very well? No.

Marcos Mess April 13, 2012 at 12:50 pm

For me it always comes down to..... WHY would you take the chance and not be where you kids are? Why would you leave your children unattended anywhere? If you take chances with your kids, especially now a days, you are asking for trouble. Don't you read the papers? What do you think these things only happen to other peoples kids? If you use poor judgement on what seems to be "safe" to you you obviously use poor judgement in the handling of your kids and perhaps need intervention of CPS to make sure you aren't doing other things that can harm your kids.
I have been in the corner store with my son when he was 7 or 8 and in the other isle when a guy came up to him and started say stuff to him because he assumed he was there alone. Thankfully I overheard what was going on and was there. It all comes down to maybe nothing will every happen when you leave them...but then again.... maybe something will. WHY take a chance with the child God gave you to protect and raise?

Valerie Parkhurst April 13, 2012 at 01:09 pm

Maturity level has nothing to do with it..look at it this way, there is a valid reason sex offenders are restricted from parks and areas where children congregate. (Its their feeding grounds) You dont pit a 40 or 60lb. child against a 200lb sex offender. Its a no win and when an adult sees a child who may not be supervised or is straying too far from their safety net? Its incumbant on you as the adult to intercede and find the responsible person for that child or at the very least keep a watchful eye on that vulnerable child..Remember it takes a "village" these days to watch all of our children, way too many freaks and bad guys out there! Offenders are Opportunist, Its what they do and how they function..

lynn April 14, 2012 at 01:22 pm

I would never leave my kids anywhere even in my own yard I am out there with them. I would never chance anything as one parent stated especially my 8 and 5 yr old. You never know who or what is lurking and I too grew up in the city. I played outside but there were always adults I knew outside who watched over all us neighborhood kids but I was not 8 left alone or at a park non the less. I am always the parent left watching the kids while the adults hang out chit chatting and that's fine with me. I want to assure my children are coming home with me and no one is bothering them. Call me crazy but it's called protecting your children. They are young and innocent and prey. There was a show a while ago where they set up surveillance on children whose parents sad no way would my child go with a stranger and all but 1 child ran. Says a lot.

lynn April 14, 2012 at 01:26 pm

Hello. Thank you. I'm shocked reading these comments. Makes no difference where you live kids are prey period. I would definitely use the word delusional. Wake up people! These are your children.

mason April 14, 2012 at 05:08 pm

yesterday, my ex wife asked if i could pick up our daughter from school, went to pick her up didnt find her.. called her mom ! she said ohh yeah she usually waits at the public park next to school!!! i freaked out, i just dont feel its safe to leave ur kids at a park were teachers are not around to call u if something happened, especially when we have child predators all over. (60's 70's 80's etc) we werent aware as much as today. please let me know if i over reacted