Birdy: Would you let your 4 and 2 YO's wander the neighborhood by themselves? It amazes me that the people 2 doors down from us let them do it every weekend afternoon. They wander from house to house trying to find someone to play with. Also keep in mind, there's a peeper/attempted rapist like a block away from them.
*pre-emptive Edit: THE OTHER WAY, SMARTYPANTSES
Yeah, no. We live on a pretty quiet street (last street on the development, no outlet straight out either end; we also have 2 policemen down the block and know most of the neighbors). They have to have at minimum the 10yr old out with them. Now I am all about giving kids independence and letting them run free at some point, but not that young.