6 is a little young to have the kids walking around the neighborhood alone, imho. Were they with older kids perhaps? My DD is 9 and I allow her to walk/bike/etc around our subdivision without supervision and so does everyone else in the subdivision. I would not have allowed her to do that at 6 though.

I think you should have a conversation with the friend's parent(s) and simply ask that when your child is over there, that she not be allowed outside unattended. She should respect your wishes and probably will with no arguments. One of my DD's friends asked me not to allow her daughter on our trampoline because she didn't think it was safe. Although I dont agree with her, I respected her wishes, much to her daughter's unhappiness.

I know it all depends on where you live, but around here kindergartners walk to school all the time....my kids did.
If you have taught your children the basics of "look both ways before crossing" and to give strangers a wide berth....I don't think there is any harm in kids being within a block of home without a baby sitter.
But...at the same time...I would never let my kids play at anyone's house that didn't share my standards. I remember once when my 5 year old told me about being at his friends and the friend going through his mother's purse and getting matches and lighting them.
I said....Tommy will play at your house from now on!
Linda C

I had a situation like that before. Our situation was more clear though. One of my sd's had a friend invite them to go to a public place with them. They were 11 at the time. I assumed that they would be with the adults. Found out from sd later that they were dropped off with her friend and then picked up at the public place and left unsupervised the whole time!!

To me that was too young! We never confronted the family because clearly to them it was fine. We just decided that from then on sd would only be allowed to play with that friend at our home. And we stuck to that. SD's friend did eventually ask sd why she could never come to her home and sd told her that it was because we were upset about them being left without adults that one time.

So you really have 2 options. Not confront the parents and just have the friend play at your home only. Or simply ask the parents in a non-threatening way. Say "dd said that they were outside crossing streets and a car honked at them...." See what the response is and go from there.

Well, they do say that children under the age of 10 should not cross the road without an adult, because they don't have the depth perception and judgement to do so safely.

Not to say that I didn't when I was younger and survived, but my parents also used to smoke in the house with us too.

Sometimes I think we may be overprotective now, but we also know a lot more too.

It's a fine line and hard to know where to draw it sometimes but I guess if nothing else, follow your gut.

Keep in mind also the story as it comes from kids can also be a little distorted.

Not sure who says that kids under 10 don't have depth perception....ever watch a little league game? Granted that sense will be come better developed, but kids sure can see a ball coming and swing at it or catch it.
They have soccer leagues for preschoolers now.
Kids don't get hit by a car because they are making a planned street crossing but because they dart out between 2 cars to chase a ball or because they are riding their bike thoughtlessly.
Linda C

I am sort of confused. Was she walking to her friend's house and crossed the street and someone honked at her? Or was she outside playing at her friend's house, crossed the street and someone honked? Was her friend with her or was she alone?

Frankly, I think what your DD told you is too vague to act on. You have absolutely no idea if the person in the truck was actually honking at her (and not someone else he may know or another car) or even why he/she did that. You seem to be implying that her friend's parents were negligent but I am not understanding how from your OP.

Anyhow, I also have a six year old. She is allowed to play outside in front or back with a friend or her sister while I am in the house. She is also allowed to ride her bike up and down our street. My rule is I must be able to come outside, look left or right and see you. Also, I am almost always in the kitchen (near the window) or in the den (near the window) to check every few minutes. She is never allowed to cross the street.

I would not expect at this age that a parent has to sit outside to watch them.

You need to ask your daughter more questions about the situation if you're so concerned. Who was with them? What were they doing crossing the road? etc.

Maybe the mother was walking around the neighbourhood with them and someone she knows honked at them.