Question for the biggest group I know: how do you keep your kids safe when out and about?

My 5year olds school is walking distance - about 15minutes walking but I let my kids use their scooter (other child is 3) so it's even quicker like 10mins or less. Sometimes my 5year old goes so fast he's way up ahead. I've told him so many times to look back and stop if mummy is too far and he's very good at doing that. However, my absolute worst nightmare is having my kids taken, so we don't do this regularly. Some friends around me think I'm too protective which is how I've allowed them to use their scooters because i felt like I was being over protective. My question is how do you keep them safe from being taken and at the same time give them that bit of freedom that being on a scooter gives? Or in any other situation. Sometimes my kids like to run to school so their a little bit ahead. I felt a bit of security knowing that the road is filled with people taking their kids to school but I recently read a post that someone tried to abduct their child right in front of them in a shopping centre nearby. So my fears have been reintroduced and I don't want to take them by scooter to school or even by foot knowing that they like to run ahead. Please help

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It’s a really hard thing because we need them to be safe but we have to give them freedom too. You don’t have to do scooters if it feels bad. Or the rule can be no scooters until you can learn to stay near me.

I don't have the answers to your questions but, likewise I share all of your fears. My eldest has always beena runner & nothing seems to register with her. No matter how many times I reinforce the rules &/or, tell her about potential dangers (such as moving cars) nothing phases her. Near my daughters school there's a few rough people & I'm overly cautious in case they were to take her for whatever reason. Its difficult because, I don't want my children to grow up being afraid of everything (like I was). At the same time I want them to be street smart & have a lot of awareness of the dangers. When I've got my youngest with me, she's in the pushchair so I find it harder to navigate the school run since if my eldest was to 'run off' too far ahead, I cannot run after her🤷🏼‍♀️

I generally have a rule of if you can’t see me you’ve gone too far or to stop at a certain lamp post. Also our route to school we have a lot of families that are walking at the same time so I’m more concerned about the main road and her stopping before she gets to it. My daughter’s friend had a woman try and take her in town however her mum was standing right next to her at the time. This person clearly had a lot of mental issues.

I wouldn't let them on scooters. Not at 3 and 5. I'd let them run if I knew i could keep up with them

I tell my daughter (7) to stop at each road they are only little roads but it stops her going to far ahead and keeps her road safety up people think I’m over protective but I’ll rather that then a hospital trip or worse if no roads could also go by lampposts etc

My son (3) rides his balance bike to school. We taught him to stop at every road at a set point on the path so he’s far enough away from the road. He knows to stop at set points along the way to wait for me,he knows where the corners are and where to stand so I can still see him. He knows to listen for me and if I shout “stop” he must stop immediately. There’s not many people walking to school by me, most drive, but it’s a main road. I do get those fears but I have to just allow him and trust him to do what Iv said and stay safe. I have to trust if others see him being taken they will intervene until I’m there. We can’t keep them wrapped up. Tell them why, road safety, bad people taking them.

He can have freedom in your garden 😂 id tell him he can go as far as 5 Mississippi and when he gets to the 5th one he’s staying still. Have you considered getting a dog ? X

I’ve got a scooter coming for my son this Christmas but I wouldn’t use it with him while I’m out I don’t think he can use it in our yard but if I ever did it would be at a park where I can see him at all times not like on a main street not at this age anyhow it’s not necessary for me until he’s older

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