This media statement led to an immediate increase in parents leaving their children alone during all times of the day and night. While it is common knowledge that we have latch key kids in Britain ....

Children as young as three and four are being allowed to roam away from their homes, either entirely alone, or in the company of siblings not much older than themselves and who could hardly be considered as responsible for the health and welfare of another child. 

Children have been seen playing in the middle of busy streets, going round and round,  with small scooters, bikes, skateboards and other such toys of which they have little control.

Children have been seen playing football across a busy T junction not only during the day, but also during the dark evenings.

Children as young as seven and eight have been seen "hitching a ride" on the back of the Council Recycling Lorry.

Children are often seen coming out of school in the dark hours, with no lights, no reflective jackets and doing "wheelies" as they ride in the center of the road towards oncoming traffic.

It should be said that children do need to play, but children are not born with traffic sense.  They do not have nine lives.  Britain's residential roads and streets are not playgrounds.  They are busy with deliveries, services, and private vehicles of all sizes and shapes.

So are some parents "putting their children in danger" as in the above situations and is it against the law?

All points of view welcomed..

SheilaGBR

When I was young, I'd go off on my bike (on the road) age 11 and not return until the next day, with just a phone call (never followed up) to say I was with a friend and staying at her house and would be back the next afternoon.  No way would I allow my children to just take off like that!

Is it because roads are busier, or dangers more emphasised?  Is it because children are ferried around in cars more these days so we aren't used to seeing them out and about, and when they are they are riding bicycles on the pavement, nearly hitting toddlers?  Is it because I grew up in the north and now live in the south?  I was left home alone from a young age (about 7-8 I think, so my mum could do the weekly grocery shop in peace), which again, I wouldn't do with my children.

I guess it's circumstance as well as how you were brought up - while I was left alone, I knew then that I could call on a neighbour for help.  My neighbours all work some weekends so I couldn't rely on them to help if my son needed to go to hospital - not that I should anyway!  But if you are used to seeing children look after themselves, used to being left alone as a child or even used to unspokenly relying on neighbours then it wouldn't seem such a big deal.

Hugs!
Terri