2 y.o. alone outside house

mea_k

what is legal age ofleaving child unatended in housing estate? 2 year old contantly in front Of The house. All toys etc. Half the time parents are indoors and kid is left to roam around with other kids. Today kid had disappeared and father hadn't a clue where he was. I was coming in at 20 km/h and he lost his **** at me.
I was going the legal km/h . Felt bit shaken up.. Feel like I shouldn't have been shouted at and threatened just because you don't look after your child. Never mind at 7pm in dark. . And kid is 2!!!

RHJ

It is completely unacceptable for a 2 year old or indeed any young child to be left out on their own unsupervised especially now the evenings are getting dark you did absolutely nothing wrong you are simply trying to go about your business as usual

Please do report this issue

The following link contains all the details you should need.

https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/report-a-concern/

kippy

mea_k wrote: »

what is legal age ofleaving child unatended in housing estate? 2 year old contantly in front Of The house. All toys etc. Half the time parents are indoors and kid is left to roam around with other kids. Today kid had disappeared and father hadn't a clue where he was. I was coming in at 20 km/h and he lost his **** at me.
I was going the legal km/h . Felt bit shaken up.. Feel like I shouldn't have been shouted at and threatened just because you don't look after your child. Never mind at 7pm in dark. . And kid is 2!!!

Totally unacceptable behaviour from the parents which should be reported on although your own actions leave a bit to be desired. 20kph in a housing estate with kids is far from an appropriate speed especially when you are aware there are two year olds roaming free.

MarkR

RHJ wrote: »

It is completely unacceptable for a 2 year old or indeed any young child to be left out on their own unsupervised especially now the evenings are getting dark you did absolutely nothing wrong you are simply trying to go about your business as usual

Please do report this issue

The following link contains all the details you should need.

https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/report-a-concern/

I've a two year old. Report them. Start taking notes of specifics. Times, dates, if the child had proper clothes on for weather.

RHJ

kippy wrote: »

mea_k wrote: »

what is legal age ofleaving child unatended in housing estate? 2 year old contantly in front Of The house. All toys etc. Half the time parents are indoors and kid is left to roam around with other kids. Today kid had disappeared and father hadn't a clue where he was. I was coming in at 20 km/h and he lost his **** at me.
I was going the legal km/h . Felt bit shaken up.. Feel like I shouldn't have been shouted at and threatened just because you don't look after your child. Never mind at 7pm in dark. . And kid is 2!!!

Totally unacceptable behaviour from the parents which should be reported on although your own actions leave a bit to be desired. 20kph in a housing estate with kids is far from an appropriate speed especially when you are aware there are two year olds roaming free.

I don't see a problem with the speed they were going for anyone who is still used to miles an hour 20 kph is approximately 12.4 miles per hour or about the same speed as your average cyclist.

MagicThree18

kippy wrote: »

Totally unacceptable behaviour from the parents which should be reported on although your own actions leave a bit to be desired. 20kph in a housing estate with kids is far from an appropriate speed especially when you are aware there are two year olds roaming free.

You have absolutely no idea of the layout, lighting, or number of parked cars in that development. In my own estate, 20 is too fast because of all of the above. My home place, where I've just come from, has fantastic visibility and all cars are parked within everyone's gate. I'm an experienced driver and take the appropriate measures when entering a built up area. Don't be so quick to judge someone without the full facts.

kippy

MagicThree18 wrote: »

You have absolutely no idea of the layout, lighting, or number of parked cars in that development. In my own estate, 20 is too fast because of all of the above. My home place, where I've just come from, has fantastic visibility and all cars are parked within everyone's gate. I'm an experienced driver and take the appropriate measures when entering a built up area. Don't be so quick to judge someone without the full facts.

I am basing my comment on what the OP has stated.

The issue here is the unsupervised child. I was merely stating that 20kph in an estate where you know there are unsupervised two year olds roaming is a bit on the fast side and yes I appreciate there are other variables at play.

The legal limit is not a target as they say.

mea_k

it's not target however no children where outside at this hour. Hence I asked is it normal and is there any laws regarding this.
And I defenatley wasn't expectations ng 2 year old to be outside at this point. To be fair guy was frantic looking for him. But like why would go on attack mode on me if child at this point could be anywhere in first place. Should you got be looking after children and why would you have him outside? I have 2 year old myself and not once I have left him play near road... This is bonkers. Maybe I'm just way too strict regards playing and playing in back yard. I just don't understand why use front yard for all toys and as play area that's not gated and you can't be arsed looking after him.

Cork Lass

Please tell me he found the child.

mea_k

Yes found child safe and sound. Side gate of-house 4 door up.

bobbyss

mea_k wrote:

what is legal age ofleaving child unatended in housing estate? 2 year old contantly in front Of The house. All toys etc. Half the time parents are indoors and kid is left to roam around with other kids. Today kid had disappeared and father hadn't a clue where he was. I was coming in at 20 km/h and he lost his **** at me. I was going the legal km/h . Felt bit shaken up.. Feel like I shouldn't have been shouted at and threatened just because you don't look after your child. Never mind at 7pm in dark. . And kid is 2!!!

Did you challenge this person? Did you ask him why he was shouting and threatening you? Did you ask him why his child was running around unsupervised in the dusk?
I would report. Chances are he will know it was you.

Cork Lass

mea_k wrote: »

Yes found child safe and sound. Side gate of-house 4 door up.

Thank god for that, it sounds like they were lucky this time. Personally I would report it as it’s neglect. Parenting is hard and every parent is capable of losing focus at some point but incidents like this are dangerous and they won’t always be lucky. That child is at risk.

dr.fuzzenstein

bobbyss wrote: »

Did you challenge this person? Did you ask him why he was shouting and threatening you? Did you ask him why his child was running around unsupervised in the dusk?
I would report. Chances are he will know it was you.

Absolutely and hope he got a good crap his pants fright whn he lost his child and another when the knock comes on the door for at least a stern talking to.
He is an irresponsible twat and no one should feel any shame calling him on it.
Too many arseholes in Ireland get away with too much because they know that if they huff and puff and wave their arms about, the other side will back down.
Only serves them right when they find themselves metaphorically sitting on their arse and that bluster doesn't work.

Pawwed Rig

My 4 and half year old is fairly responsible in that I can trust him not to run out on the road. He has still never been out of the house without an adult.

You neighbour is neglecting the child.

TCM

kippy wrote:

Totally unacceptable behaviour from the parents which should be reported on although your own actions leave a bit to be desired. 20kph in a housing estate with kids is far from an appropriate speed especially when you are aware there are two year olds roaming free.

Drivers speed is absolutely acceptable. Ridiculous to suggest otherwise.

MarkR

Ok. Children can also let themselves out. My two year old has figured out doors and keys. If the child is regularly left unattended (to be honest, I'd say more than once) then I'd be making a call.

If this it a one off, I can see why the guy may have been frantic.

iamwhoiam

MarkR wrote: »

Ok. Children can also let themselves out. My two year old has figured out doors and keys. If the child is regularly left unattended (to be honest, I'd say more than once) then I'd be making a call.

If this it a one off, I can see why the guy may have been frantic.

I am not pointing a finger or being judgmental but if my two year old had figured out locks and keys I would be making sure I was one step ahead of her
A high bolt or another solution would be my priority .
Personally I wouldn't leave a two year old downstairs on her own never mind in the garden

MarkR

My keys are no longer left in the door. :-) If he starts watching lockpicking videos on youtube, i'll have to make other arrangements.

doolox

Anyone stating that 20kph is fast is not on this planet. 20 kph is about 12mph in old units. A speed that a bike can easily do. Most estates now have 30kph limits and even these are regularly exceeded by official cars and vans and professional drivers such as delivery vans and taxis.

A 2 yr old loose on the road is a very rare and notable event for its scarcity. You cannot expect drivers to drive as if a 2 yr old is loose on the road is a normal thing. Most housing developments have unfenced access to dual carriageways and motorways. Do you expect 20kph limits to be imposed on them in the unlikely event of a toddler gaining access to these roads?

30 kph is a very safe and sensible speed in which a motorist can react easily and quickly to the hazard presented by a 2 yr old on the road.

As for the access to doors a parent must balance the need to get out of a house in the event of a fire with the need to keep a toddler safe from going out into a busy street. The old maxim of constant, line of sight adult supervision applies with all toddlers.

uck51js9zml2yt

We used the door chain. He could turn the knob at 2!

gerrybbadd

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

My 4 and half year old is fairly responsible in that I can trust him not to run out on the road. He has still never been out of the house without an adult.

You neighbour is neglecting the child.

100% this.

I have a 4 and a half-year-old too, never been out without an adult. His brother will be 3 in December, Jesus, just the thoughts of either of them being out unsupervised.

This is definitely neglect. I see it going on in my own estate too, with some kids specifically walking out in front of cars to stop them etc.

seamus

MarkR wrote: »

If this it a one off, I can see why the guy may have been frantic.

When I were a lad, it was fairly routine for kids under four to be let roam free in the front garden with something tied around the front gate to keep it locked. Of course, every kid at one stage or another figured out how to climb over and cause a panic when the parents realised.

The fact that the father came out when the kid was out of sight means he wasn't totally unsupervised. So if, as above, this was a one off and isn't something that happens every day, then I'd let it go.

Caranica

We have a similar issue in our development with a child of a similar age. Child is only supervised when Dad is home and mother gets off the sofa. Our development is a funny shape with with 8 sets of corners and lots of slopes (and this kid loves taking their ride on toys into the road so slopes very dangerous) and that child is going to be seriously hurt or worse one of these days. Countless neighbours have raised it with the parents but it's going to take an accident to change things.

MarkR

Two year old found keys. Put in lock. Turned key, and correctly lifted handle.

May have to get a pin unlock...

Mutant z

Its the height of irresponsibility by that childs parents theres no other way about it anything could have happened to the child in that situation.

mloc123

gerrybbadd wrote: »

100% this.

I have a 4 and a half-year-old too, never been out without an adult. His brother will be 3 in December, Jesus, just the thoughts of either of them being out unsupervised.

This is definitely neglect. I see it going on in my own estate too, with some kids specifically walking out in front of cars to stop them etc.

I am paranoid about our 3yr old being in the back garden which is fully walled in alone without keeping an eye on him.

A 2yr old, alone.. outside with access to a road. Makes my stomach sick.