[Gayle]

Don't think you should apologise. You're right to be protective about your children - I'd battle anyone if I thought either of mine were likely to come to harm.

I do worry though about how they might be missing out. Just up the road from me there are a few families and they have very young kids (younger than mine I think) and they let them play out on the pavement and around the area until quite late. It won't be long before my two start asking why they aren't allowed to play out like that but the simple fact is I'd rather have them where I can see them.