Called the police

[Fuschia]

Thd little girl was hit by a delivery van in an estate ... Having just gone outside that minute

Thd little boy I was worried about was not confined to the little playground but scooting around all over an estate which has plenty of traffic

Anyway

I was worried

Having got some advice from a social worker friend I called the police who were very worried and came right away

I find it odd sometimes that people here don't seem able sometimes to see what's in front of their eyes and harp back to the days of our childhoods ...

In London in 2011 it is not generally considered safe for a 4 year old child to be out playing, alone and I don't really think anybody here would let their 4 yo go out alone or be surprised if the police called round to see them if they did?!

[Otta]

Why do you post these threads then, if you don't want anyone to comment (unless it's a comment to agree with you)?

That isn't meant to be nasty, but it is something I notice in The Family Room quite a bit.

On the surface, a kid of 4 shouldn't be out alone, and you probably did do the right thing, as it's better to be safe than sorry.

I do suspect though, that the kid is well known on the estate, and has lot of people looking out for him.

[Fuschia]

I posted I suppose because I had such a bad feeling about it. Because my children are a similar age i can't help worrying if something doesn't seem right. I have had the same bad feeling seeing a man pulling a woman down the street by her hair. I am haunted by that little girl

In Birmingham who starved to death snd had been stealing food left out for the birds.

Don't you think sometimes in

Our big cities everybody is too busy, too preoccupied, too embarrassed to do

Or say anything even when something quite wrong is going on.

[Otta]

I've never lived on an estate like that, but when I've visited friends on thm, I've always had the impression that people know each other, and look out for each other.

Of course, that might just be wishful thinking.

[Fuschia]

I'm sure a lot of them do, just like I try to be a good neighbour in my road

Isn't going to protect a small child from cars, accidents or the rare but terrifying premeditated violence

I think we might have to agree to disagree

[Otta]

Not disagreeing. As I said, you probably did the right thing.

[toast]

edited to not tempt fate!

[Sally81]

For what it is worth Fuscia I really think you did the right thing and I can't believe that anyone would disagree! The idea of a four year old playing out alone feels very odd, regardless of whether or not he is known by locals etc. It's just ridiculous and has also preyed on my mind since reading this. I have a four year old nephew who lives on a culdesac (not in London) and having asked my sister, his mum, if she'd be happy to allow him to play with older kids, yet essentially on his own, outside, the answer was a definite no. As she pointed out, it is easy for your own kid to slip away from you unnoticed if you are distracted for a moment, so even if this boy did know those around him, anything could still happen to him. They are not responsible for him and he is certainly not old enough to be aware of how to be safe when alone.

We are all so terrified to get involved sometimes - far too busy with our own lives and I think it is no bad thing to take notice and do what you did. If there is no problem and the boy simply gets taken home, it may just make his parents question how sensible they are being. If there is a problem, then just maybe you have highlighted it.