when will my DD be able to walk to school by herself

[sarahr]

We're several years away from this, but I was wondering. The school my DD will attend starting at kindergarten is half a block away. She'll need to cross one street, that isn't very busy and has stop signs and crossing guards. How old will she be when I feel comfortable sending her by herself?

[Porcelain Interior]

No one is going to be able to tell you when you will feel comfortable. You don't, so you'll just have to wait until you do.

I live directly across the street from the school and my oldest didn't walk home from school totally alone until she was in the 4th grade. k-2 grade I would walk her home. In 3rd grade I stood on one side of the street and waited for her to come to me, so she could have a bit of autonomy and I could still feel I was keeping her safe.

My youngest is in 1st grade, and I imagine I'll do the same with her. There's just way too much going on in the street, cars, people everywhere, so I just don't feel comfortable.

I think I felt comfortable once my oldest was able to do patrol. They have to take safety classes about road safety and at that point she was entrusted (with adult supervision) to help others cross the road, so I think it was a good point to let go a bit.

[choli]

1/2 a block and cross one street with crossing guards?

I'd be comfortable at around age 6.

[sarahr]

Originally Posted by Porcelain Interior

No one is going to be able to tell you when you will feel comfortable. You don't, so you'll just have to wait until you do.

Well, my DD is only 2, so she's not in school yet and of course I don't feel comfortable with her going anywhere by herself. It was more of a general wondering about the future questions.

[sunnmama]

It would really depend on the child. My dd is 8, and would probably want me to meet her and walk her home in that situation--unless she could see me from the door watching her walk home. Right now, her bus stop is in view of our window, and she goes alone but I watch her the whole while. Most of the children have a parent accompany them to the bus stop, even though it is inside our little apt community (no streets to cross, close to all the apts).

[CarrieMF]

My kids all walked to school by themselves at age 5. They have to cross 2 roads, 1 busier than the other. There are no crossing guards or anything.

[tbone_kneegrabber]

Here I think most kids would do that in kindie. Although it depends on the kid. You could always find an older kid to be her "buddy" It seems like many younger kids around here walk with an older kid (maybe a sibling/cousin maybe a neighbor etc)

[lightheart]

1 block, and 3 houses for us. 2 roads to cross, no guards. 6yr old 1st grader and a little brother in preschool (different school) I walk him to and from school... I don't know I'm guessing maybe around 9 maybe I will let him walk by himself but the little guy will be 7-8 with big brother in with him....

I'm debating now on approaching a neighborhood boy who is 3rd grade and 9 yrs to walk with big guy of a morning on the 3 days when little guy has preschool so we can meet his bus easier... The boy down the street seems like a nice/responsible kid but we just moved here in Dec. so I really haven't gotten to really know the boy yet.. maybe, still not ready for that yet.

[eepster]

It's really not about age. It's about maturity, responibility, and hight (if they are too short the car driver can't see them and the little legs take longer too get across the street.) OTOH there are 5 yo who would be fine, OTOH there are 13 yo who get would get into trouble.

An aside about trusting an older sibling to walk a younger one home...
My older sister used this duty as an oportunity to hit me repeatedly with her book bag if I didn't walk exactly two paces behind her . I would have been safer on my own.

[Laurel]

We live less than a block from school, and ds has to cross a somewhat busy street, but there is a crosswalk and guard. The route is well-travelled, it's kind of where kids from all directions converge as they prepare to cross the street right in front of the school.

For these reasons, I do let him walk. He is in first grade. In kindergarten, I walked him to and from school. He begged that entire year to walk alone, but I would not let him. This year, I was nervous about it at first, but decided to let him. At first I insisted that he always walk with the neighbor kids. Now that it's getting toward the end of the year, I'm fine if he walks alone since there are so many other kids going to school at the same time. The route is very visible. Since he walks along a "main" thoroughfare (main for a small town), I feel comfortable that if he were approached by a stranger or something, there would be plenty of people and cars passing by to see it. Also, he is in direct view of the crossing guard just moments after he leaves the house.

And after school, of course, I would be quick to go to school to find him if he didn't come home on time.

[Kristine233]

All 3 of my kids walk to the bus stop a block away by themselves. And my youngest has done it by herself. It really wasn't when I felt comfortable, but more based on thier maturity and when they felt comfortable. I can see the bus stop from the house too. My son usually walks with my youngest and carries her backpack for her. Socially and maturity wise my 8 year old and my 6 year old are at about the same level... so it really depends on the child.