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What is the deal with small children playing in the street?

Granted this has been in Army housing areas, but the last few places we've lived, I've found otherwise responsible parents placing "Kids Playing" triangles in the road and allowing toddlers to ride their trikes in the street. I had one mother come up to my car and yell at me for going to fast (I was going under 10 - the speed limit was 20). While this probably wasn't the brightest reaction, I stopped and told her that the street was for cars and by letting her children PLAY in it, she was begging for them to get run over. They have ample yards for kids to play in... am I missing something that says kids should be taught to play in the street? My kids have never been allowed to ride bikes or play in the street until they were old enough to follow the rules and watch for their own traffic (my 12 year old just in the last year has been allowed to go out on his bicycle unsupervised because the street we were on tended to be a racetrack if the police weren't actively giving tickets. I didn't think to include this... the parents are out watching them while they do this, but it's usually been 2 or 3 moms and that number plus of kids. Apparently you can BUY these crazy signs. I am always amazed at stupidity. They're not busy main thoroughfares, but it's not a quiet culdesac either. The places I've seen them are normal residential streets, the speed limit is always between 10 and 20 mph on post.

Public Comments

1. Because they are being worthless parents. Why would any sane, responsible parent let their kid play in a road. They will be the ones boo hooing when their kids winds up injured or dead. They should be charged with neglect and child endangerment.
2. Report them! Those Mothers are just lazy and want their kids out from under their feet..they should be inside the house finger painting with them or playing in their own gardens...and "Kids playing" triangles!??? What a ridiculous concept!
3. lazy and/or irresponsible parents or just stupid
4. I think that it depends on the street. Personally, I live on a culdesac with only 8 homes on the entire street. The kids often play in the culdesac here with no problem. There is virtually no traffic and when someone does come down the street, the kids will move and let the car through. If this is a busy street that you are speaking of, that is a different story. They should never be allowed to play on a busy street or a main thoroughfare through a neighborhood.
5. Kids playing on the street is a big liability for the entire neighborhood. Don't indulge them - report to your local authorities or an HOA if you have one.
6. Yes, I don't understand this either! Why do parents think it's ok to let their kids play in the streets, even IF it is a child "safe" street? I have no idea why any parent would trust any driver to make sure they are watching for kids in the streets whil they are playing.
7. I believe that your question is very subjective, and will generate many different opinions, but here's mine: I not only allow, but encourage my children to ride there bicycles early on, and often. This includes on the road. I want them to learn not only how to ride a bike, and how to do it responsibly. I also monitor them, but also give them the freedom to go to the neighborhood playground and their friend's houses (within our neighborhood) by themselves. My oldest (10) even rides on busier roads with me to go to the grocery store (about a 4 mile ride). Of course, my 5 yr. old doesn't have these same privileges yet. I am always concerned with their well being and safety, but this also builds freedom, trust, responsibility, and a basic understanding of traffic laws that, hopefully, will carry over in a few years when it's time to learn driving. Also, cyclist of all ages are bound by the same traffic laws that automobiles, however, that doesn't mean that bicycles aren't allowed on the roads, or it would be illegal. It is always a driver's responsibility to be aware of his/her surroundings. Let's teach our children what's right and wrong and share the roads responsibly.