How To Decide When Your Child Is Ready To Play Outside - By: ArticleSubmit Auto

Children develop at different rates, both physically and mentally and it can be difficult to decide when your child is ready to play with their friends without your supervision. You may feel that they should never be let out of your sight, simply because you have done this all their lives and cannot imagine things being any other way.

There is also the area in which you live and deciding if it is a safe environment, what other kids are outside, will they be playing near moving cars or near a busy road? With regards going into other houses, be sure that you trust the occupants of the houses you are allowing your child into and be strict with the houses they are not allowed into. Be aware of the neighbour's perceived wishes. If they are an elderly person or a person with no children, they may well be house proud and may not appreciate your child dragging their muddy shoes along the new white carpet!

There is another important factor also and that is the parents mentality in finally loosening their grip of the child they watched constantly for the past 5 or 6 years. If parents are not ready, maybe it is an indicator of the readiness of the child. Maybe this is a warning to the parents that the child is still a little too young and is not ready?

There are many factors to consider when deciding if your child is ready. The following points pertain to the child's psychology only and not to the environment in which they will be playing:

1.Their level of maturity - would they be capable of abiding by the rules you set?

2.What rules have been set? Have they been told never to talk to strangers and certainly never to go with them? Have they been taught the Safe Cross Code? Have they been taught to ask/tell you before going into a neighbours house?

3.Do they play nicely or are they inclined to take other kids toys, slap others or even bully others?

These are issues needing attention, before the child can be trusted to play unsupervised.

The opinion of a mother of 2 would be that they should be at least 5 years of age and should be generally an obedient child who has common sense. They should be taught to watch out for traffic, never go near the main road and boundaries around ones house should be set. For example, they should not be allowed to walk beyond a certain landmark or they should only be allowed into the houses whose occupants you know well. If rules are broken, the child should be grounded the next day and taught that rules are there to be adhered to.

It's a hard decision for responsible parents to take but it is one that must be made eventually, following consideration of all factors. It is the first of many such decisions parents must take as their child grows up and the apron strings need to be loosened further over time.

About the Author

Noelle Leahy is proprietor of Snug Baby Shop, a leading Online Retailer of Baby and Children's Accessories in the UK. The best selling products are Childrens Waterproofs.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/ArticleSubmit-Auto/95152

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