What would you do?

% or 6 is way to young to be out at 9pm Nanna. I had to be in bed by 8.30 (lights out at 9) when I was 12. So many parenst don't seem to care these days. Yet if something happens they immediately get all steamed up. You aren't old fashioned. You have a sense of responsibility.

Did Rie tell you that? A lady at the garage told us yesterday about it. I did allow my son to play outside up until about 8:30pm when he was younger, but we did live in a gated area and there was always at least one adult watching out for the children anyway. When we found out there was a child abuser living in that area we started a vigil with the children and made sure there was at least two of us outside with the children at any one time. I certainly wouldn't have allowed him to have stayed out after 9pm, I still don't really want him out on his own after 9pm, even though at 16 I think he is big enough to do it.

I wouldn't let little kids play outside unless an adult was with them and then I wouldn't let them go far from the house. Some people don't seem to care though, until something happens to their child/ren and then it's always someone elses fault, even though it was them that weren't looking after them.

I really do not understand how any parent can be that unaware of where their young children are. My oldest is 9 and he is not allowed to go any further away from the house than the dumpster in the alley to take out the trash without me. And NOT after dark. Call me over protective, but I would be devastated if something were to happen to either of my kids. I live in the city though. When we were living out in the country he was allowed out in the yard (which was rather large) by himself, but not after dark.

I will never let my kids play outside during that hour. It was so dangerous to allowed them playing without the supervision of their parents or guardian. And besides it ws too dark. Along the way there was incident happened. Better to keep them inside the house and wait for another day to play. Have a nice day!

That is definitely really scary.(i think so anyway)i would tell those kids to go home. i am 13 by the way and in would stay inside at 9 p.m if there was an attempted abduction, but you said "some of these children are around 5-6" if they were surounded by some older kids like 13+ then they should be okay. i still think their parents should keep an eye on them.

That's terrible! I cannot believe that the police would let that many days go by without checking the neighborhood for clues. Scary! You would think they would have promptly jumped on it to try and apprehend the person. I totally agree with you: kids should be in their house at that time of night, and not allowed to roam the neighborhood or play in the streets. And kids that little definitely should be in before dark. Makes you wonder what their parents are thinking doesn't it?!. And you know, neighborhood gossip travels fast usually, so it would seem reasonable to think that other parents would have heard before Friday about a possible abduction, and that they would beef up their own security with their kids by at least attempting to keep them safe.

Hi Nannacroc No I certainly wouldn't actually my Children where always in before Dark, or if they where at a Friends and it was dark for when they where to come home I would pick them up or the other Mum would bring them home I just do not understand Parents today leaving the Children and not caring I hope they will find the Person that tried to abduct the Child, what does it take for Parents to realize that the Children are not safe out any more and more so in the Dark

Personally I dont allow even my teens out late at night, they have never been allowed to do that. When it started getting dark it was time to be inside. They always said I was too protective but now that they are older they seem to grasp why. There are nutty people out there! I cant imagine letting a young child out to play in the dark now days, it isnt like it was when I was growing up that is for sure. To know that there is a sicko out there somewhere and close by, my kids wouldnt be outside in the daytime alone! I dont allow even my 17 year old out and about as you just never know what can happen.

As a mom i am very over protective to my child i want him to be in my sight anytime, i never let him play outside with his own. Maybe the MOM in your story have something to do inside their house so that she never knew that his children is already outside playing., or maybe it happens accidentally and they never mean it. SO TO ALL MOMs out there you should be more responsible to your children so that the accident should not be happened again.

These 5 or 6 years old children should be in the house before 9 o'clock. When I was younger and that age we had to be in the house by 7 and was in bed by 8. Once in awhile in the summer and if there was an old child who could watch us we would be able to stay out until 8 but we could not stay out if it was dark.

I totally agree that children at that age should be inside by nine o'clock or even by seven. Or at least when it starts getting dark. I can't believe that parents still allow their children to be out that late that young. My parents when I was that age, my parents made me and my brother to come in at 6 or 7 o'clock. If there was someone out there that were trying to abduct children I would keep a close eye on my children and make sure they were in by dark.

If you are old fashioned, than I must be old fashioned too...I totally agree with you 100%. Kids should be in bed by that hour not running around outside. Parents need to be so much careful now a days. I watch CNN every day and the stories out there makes my skin crawl. I swear sometimes I think everybody has lost their mind. How can anyone hurt an inoccent child. It's better to be careful than sorry. PS: I hope and pray for that missing child is found safe. :[ Have a blessed weekend and happy mylotting Olivia~