What age did you let your kids play in the backyard without an adult outside?

We started allowing that as soon as we moved to our current home. We did some child proofing of the back yard before we even moved in. When the weather is halfway decent I just open the garden doors for them to run outside and back in as they please. The back yard is like an extention of our living room.

We moved here when the kids were 2.5 and 4 years old. The only reason we didn't let them play like that in the old back yard was that it couldn't be child proofed as easily.

I think that if a couple of 9 year olds can't even play in their own back yard without an adult hovering over them, there is either something very wrong with the back yard (are there vats of chemical waste out there?) or the adult seriously needs to get a grip and cut the apron string already. I seriously doubt this has anything to do with the 9 year olds, except for possibly a far too sheltered upbringing.

1 but our black lab was always right there to take care of her, and we lived in the country. So, the most harmful thing around were the snakes and the alligators. Our dog wouldn't let them near our daughter.

Usually once the kids can walk & talk, with out assistance. This can range anywhere from ages 2-25.

The area i lived in as a child was two things. Very wealthy, a lot of young wealthy (now older and wealthy) couples starting a life with kids, me and my sister have a lot of friends. Second, very easy picking for kidnappers looking for ransom. My back yard was right next to a river. None of us were allowed to play in the back yard alone until we were too old to want to play outside

i think the main thing is to have an adult nearby or watching from a window. you dont need to have constant sight of the child but you need to know what they are doing. letting a 4 year old out without any supervision is dumb.