How do I know my child is ready to leave the house on their own?

Kids crave more independence as they get older, and school holidays are a prime time for them to want to explore this more. ( Supplied: Pexels/KoolShooters )

By the time children are around 12 years old, many will begin to ask if they can go out to the local park, playground or shops to spend time with their friends without adult supervision.

This may happen more often during the school holiday period. They might say:

All of my friends are going. Can I hang out with them?

When a child first asks this question, it can be difficult for parents to judge whether their child is ready. Parents might want experts to give them a specific age recommendation, but children develop at their own pace and readiness varies.

This means there is no single right age when children are ready to spend time with friends, out of the house, unsupervised.

As the parent of three children, I've faced this situation myself.

So how do you know when it's okay to let your child go out on their own?

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