Age to Play Outside

I would probably let them play for short periods of time if not for the pool. You said the pool has a kiddie gate which is probably good for when you're outside with them but I'd be concerned about them possibly trying to climb over it. I just think of my two, ages 1 and 3, they can easily climb over most gates when they really want to.

I can see letting the five year old to play by himself ONLY if the pool truly is secure. I would not trust a 5 year old to keep an eye out for the little one even if you are passively nearby. No five year old has the maturity to babysit under any circumstance.

Mine all go out by themselves in a similar arrangement but no pool. They are 8, 4.5 and 2.5 and they all play together and take care of each other. If one falls they cry and I hear. Sometimes the younger one climbs up on the picnic table and can't get down, then the older ones will come and have me help.

My kids are 9 and 5.
Like you, we have a totally fenced in yard and it is a 'safe' neighborhood.
My kids play outside by themselves. I can see and hear them.
They also have good quality walkie-talkies that they take out with them.
My eldest, my daughter, is like a little Mommy over her brother.

Your kids are younger though. To have to mind each other.

Even with my kids... they have had accidents. Falling down etc.
Outside.

Or I am sitting outside too on a chaise lounge. Reading. And they are playing out there.
They tell me what they are doing and where in the yard they are going.

IF you are not sure, then don't do it.
Listen to your gut.

I definitely think your 5.5 year old is old enough to play in the fenced in back yard. But how tall is the fence around the pool? I would want to make sure it's tall and that my child cannot climb over, even if he/she were to push something up to the fence to stand on. As long as the pool is safely fenced/gated, I think the 5.5 would be fine. As for the 2.5, I think at this point it depends on how much you can rely on the 5.5 to watch him/her. I would at least try the 2.5 out there for maybe shorter periods of time.

I understand the goal of your question is revolving around playing 'alone' but why don't you just go outside and play too? Or, set up a place where you can see the entire area while they both play and you relax and read? I understand where you are coming from, I just have a fear that the one small area that you really can't see would be the problem. I don't just wrry about creepy people but also situations like if she fell in that non-visible area how would you know she needed you? That is my thought process. Enjoy a little sunshine yourself I say :o) And happy Monday!

I started letting my daughter play outside by herself when she was about 2.5 - BUT our yard was fully visible from the window, fully fenced with no way for her to get out (TALL fence) and no pool.
You obviously know your kids and your house best... personally I would never let my daughter play by herself in a yard with a pool, not even if it's fenced. Unless the fence is 6 ft high I would always worry about her climbing in...

My 5-1/2 year old has been playing outside by himself since he was 4. Only outside the pool (It has 4 foot high chain link fencing). Our property is not fenced - DS has never had any tendency to run towards a road (even when he was a little toddler).

I think your 5.5 yo can play alone for a little while. I wouldn't leave the younger one or both alone. Just be sure to double check the pool fence, I have found mine left open. (hubby forgot to close it).

My husband is in the military and they actually have regulations on this. If you live on post and get caught BREAKING any of these regulations, you can get a massive fine. :) Anyway, here's what they have to say.

"Newborn through age 3" - not allowed out of direct adult supervision
"Pre-Schooler through Kindergarten" - Can play outside unattended in designated safe area with immediate access (visual sight or hearing distance) to adult supervision.

They have regs for what you can allow your kids to do going all the way up through the end of high school.

The 5.5 year old would be fine as long as it's not for long but not the 2.5 year old. I just recently let my 7 year old and 4 year old play outside alone in our fenced in yard. We establish rules: No talking to anyone that stops to chat and if they do run in the house, no leaving the fenced in area, answer when I call for you, come right in and find me if one of you gets hurt

It's worked fine for us so far and I usually peek out to see them every few minutes or if I can't I call to them. Plus we have a bigger dog so people tend to be a little afraid of him since he'll bark and I usually check when he does.

Keep in mind that in only a few seconds a little one can get into a lot of trouble. If your kid is a climber you'll be surprised at how high and how quickly he can climb if properly motivated. So the whole fence/pool thing is a non-started right there.

I remember my son at about age 4 getting in to our car when I stepped in to the house to get the cordless phone. It literally took me 20 seconds to get the phone and come back outside. In that time period he climbed in to the backseat of the car and closed the door. As I searched frantically for him, and got more and more agitated as time went by, he thought I was mad and actually hid from me. By time we found him a few mintues later he could have easily drown or had been out of oxygen long enough to cause severe brain damage had he ended up in our or a neighbor's pool. He's too precious to you isn't he?