People really worry about the wrong things..
My brother used to take me to the park a block away when I was 3 and he was 8 to run around and get ice cream. In a huge city of several million.
Every kid is different obviously, and some kids need round the clock care and are not very aware of their surroundings.
I really have to wonder about my upstairs neighbours though, a family of four in a two bedroom apartment. They run around in their bedroom, how much less hyperactive would they be if they got a bit of fresh air over jumping in place over my bedroom. Keep in mind that I live next door to a church, nobody is going to kidnap them with that kind of constant traffic of families next door. The space in front of the complex is also enough to play.
It does depend on their age. What age were you thinking of when you wrote this?
the world was very different when you where 3 though.
Mine are 6 and 9. I have seen younger left at the park when I have been there , often they see other parents and then just think they will babysit their kids, not sure why.
I'd say that 6 and 9 is quite big to be on their own. In the little place where we are, most 7+ are out on their own, playing in the nearby playgrounds. Sometimes their little brothers or sisters in tow. What I find absolutely wonderful here in CH is that I feel that I can offer the same childhood I had (where we were allowed to run wild and explore fields, etc.) to my kids. No way I'd do that in the UK though
Yes, it's a lot safer now.
Playgrounds are safer (equipment)
Cycling is safer.
Schools are safer.
Youth groups are safer.
Boarding schools are safer.
The BBC is safer.
I admit there are more cars on the roads but there are now lower speed limits in places where children frequent.
My eldest walked to Kindergarten alone when he was four.
That's standard here. He played outside at that age too.
We do live in a quiet road.
The only cars breaking the speed limit seem to be those belonging to parents taking their children 300m to school despite being told to let their children walk.
I will tell my 6 year old this tonight when she tries to get me to feed her. Why do anything yourself when you have servants, I mean parents!
Neither of mine would be OK with that, on a serious note. And in London I think your 4 year old wouldn't be safe doing that. Isn't 4 young for Kindergarten? Thought that was 5
That's true, I was living in a country at war.
Hurry up ! He must be on action in the evening of 6th December as on the 6th December he has to return to the woods up north
Do you not have some LOUD Music (CD, records, BluRay, or whatever) around. When Mrs D. one floor up played piano lousily, Mum put some records with music of Harry Belafonte onto the records player. The same was done with other too loud folks. It always worked
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMigXnXMhQ4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqrfDho4Ucg
you also might succeed with STARS AND STRIPES (SOUSA) played loudly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GctKXtOIvTU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55y9sofx_II