As others have said , it depends how you feel!
If the neighbourhood is safe etc , its a good idea to check up on him every so often for piece of mind.
Brave though , i dont want to think of when my girls go out on there own! I wasnt even allowed on a train to go to the next town until i was 16
I think ill let my girls out when there 13! Maybe older

Wow thanks for all your replies tbh i never ventured further than the ttc before apart from when i went in the just for a laugh section when i first joined, its nice to actually chat to people with kids similar ages as my 2 when i'm on B and B all i seem to be thinking about is ttc not the 2 gorgeous kids i've already but sometimes it is nice to have a break from them, i hope that doesn't sound bad?

Course it doesnt! Its nice to have that much needed 'me' time
otherwise i think we may very well go insane!

Yes your right there i would go insane especially when its the school hols, they are driving me round the bend lol x

callum is 8 and he plays outside with his friend but we live in a very safe neighbour hood there not many cars round are area to, i think it just depend on where abouts u live and if u feel its save round your area, we are lucky cause we live in a new build area so we all know each other, just make sure he knows the rules and he tell u where he is at all time and that hes not to play in the road, and if anyone in a car talks to him not to go off with them, hope that helps

In my point of view, it dose not matter much what the friends thinks. Im concentrated on taking care of my son and daughter and i do each step slowly. I never take decitions based on the opinions of other children, but just in my own opinion.
If the street where the children plays are very secure, you may start giving him some permissions, carefully. But just if its a very secure area. Otherwise don't do it. As i said before, the opinion of the friends of your son does not matter.

my neice is 4 and she plays out on the street infront of her house but shes not allowed go past a certain limit. its a small community and all the kids are around the same age. I know when i was 5 i was allowed play out with my friends...

Its hard to say how safe my area is, it is on the edge of a council estate which does have its rough parts but he wouldn't be going near the rough parts, my street is very quiet mainly elderly neighbours and my sisters street round the corner isn't too bad again mainly elderly but does have a few kids my sons age so that is where he wants to play, he is sensible enough that he knows not to play on road etc but when they are distracted by friends etc who knows what he'll do, the other worrying thing is i don't think it matters how nice your neighbourhood is you could live in a very well to do village where nothing every happens but if a stranger out there wants to take a child where they live isn't going to come into it they are going to take the avaliable child i know this sounds very depressing and i know not alot of children are taken but i don't want my son to be the one that is, am i been too over protective? i'm not saying people who let there kids out don't care its just that its scary letting them go out without you, maybe i am just wrapping him up in cotton wool too much? Thanks for all your replies x

me and my neighbour both have 6yr olds and the furthest they are allowed on own is to the other 1s front door! which does cause some problems with the kids at school.

even though we both own our homes, the road/estate is still predominantly council. and most of parents let the kids out and they do what they like. 1 of the lads in sons class is 1 of 6 and his 2 younger brothers are out in the street as well - age 4 and 2! they fight, shout abuse at anyone that passes and swear like you wouldnt believe. i dont want my son doing this and he wont be out playing until i know he wont copy the rest.

i know he's not an angel and does know swear words (thanks to the woman that was living in neighbours house when she rented it). she would have doors/windows open and hurl abuse at her 2 girls and would shout and swear at her OH.

you can only do what you feels best.

Yeah its a bit like that on my estate kids out on the street still in nappies swearing etc but luckily thats the other side of the estate it sometimes makes you wonder why some people have kids x