How old to walk to school alone?? - Page 2

[muldey]

I won't let my dd walk alone to the middle school and she is 11yo.Ds,8yo is bussed and always will be so that is not an issue.Dd would have to walk through some bad neighborhoods,past busy streets,and there are no walkers who go this far.I think dd is too far to be walking,about 2 miles,but the school disagrees.So my mom gives her a ride in and exh walks her home.I would have allowed her to walk to elementary school,but she was bussed with ds so it never was an issue.I walked alone starting around age 6,to the same elementary school and it was no big deal.

[frontierpsych]

I think the buddy system is pretty good for that sort of thing. I rode my bike to and from school in Kindergarten when I was 5 (This wasn't forever ago, this was the 90's) I don't know how far it was, but it was at least a few blocks. I don't think my parents have ever walked me to school. I'd walk with my siblings or friends, or on my own.
That said, I'm pretty laid back about this sort of thing, and I understand if some people are not comfortable with it. Nothing is scarier than worrying about your children's safety!

[GranoLLLy-girl]

Originally Posted by mrspineau

Personally, I wouldnt be comfortable with my child walking to school alone at any age.

I'm glad to hear this. I feel the same way. We live in a "nice" area but a lot of awful things can happen to a person at ANY age when they walk alone. Especially a child who may not be equipped to deal with certain things. And I DO NOT mean simply abduction, but what about stray dogs, or other kids who are walking and who are bigger? Again, we live in a really nice area--but that didn't stop kids from beating the living he** out of one of their classmates who was walking home alone. The reason for the beating? The kid walking alone was an easy target.
Frankly, I'm more afraid of the other kids walking home or stray dogs than I am of strangers.

[mommy2maya]

I can't limit my or my kids lives worrying about the infinite what ifs that may happen.

[Conifer]

My DS is 9 and started walking himself last year. I called for the first 2 weeks to make sure he got there (lol)! He goes to a small neighborhood school. I think 75% of the kids are considered walkers. If you go out around when school gets in or out and you will see tons of kids walking. There are no busy streets for him to cross and there are safeties when you get closer to the school. As far as I know, no one has had any issues. I know most of my neighbors which helps. The school has a different policy for kindergartners...they have to be picked up in person. The rest of the kids just get released to the playground and fend for themselves.

[Hey Mama!]

My kids walked home from school when the weather was warm, and they are 6 and 8. We live in a town with approx 5,000 people, and the school is 3 blocks up and one block over from our house.

[zinemama]

I walked 6 blocks to kindergarten by myself in a suburb of NYC. All the kids in the neighborhood did. I don't think the world is any more dangerous now than it was then, although the level of paranoia has certainly changed.

I don't see a problem with a 5yo and 7yo walking to school together.

[Cetan Luta]

I used to walk home from grade school (a few blocks) because it was a safe area. When I was in Junior High, I didn't walk home because it was through a different section of town that had fewer people walking through it and was a "seedy" part of town. I would say the overall safety of the route traveled would matter far more than the age. Walking with other kids (if they are reasonably well behaved kids anyway) would be a far safer option. People are far less likely to bother a group of kids than an individual, plus their are witnesses/other to help if a situation of any kind were to arise. If it were a safe neighborhood, I would have no qualms letting an 11 yo walk to school alone. Otherwise, trust your instincts, and your knowledge of the maturity/responsibility level of your individual child. My 9 yo for example is a bit of an innocent space cadet, and I definately wouldn't let him walk even though I might with a more responsible child of the same age.

[brownskinchinee]

I dunno...I can't see letting my dd walk to and from school alone and she's 7. And I like to think I let her be independent and all that...I don't even want my kid on the school bus! lol. If I did let her walk now, it would have to be with friends and I'd follow them the first few days just to be sure...is that bad? If we were in Trinidad sure but not here. When I was growing up I walked to and from school from 6 I think, my mom rarely had time to pick us up or drop us off...single mom.

[DCMama01]

Originally Posted by zinemama

I walked 6 blocks to kindergarten by myself in a suburb of NYC. All the kids in the neighborhood did. I don't think the world is any more dangerous now than it was then, although the level of paranoia has certainly changed.

I don't see a problem with a 5yo and 7yo walking to school together.

Ditto. Plus I started dropping my 2 yr old sister at daycare and picking her up (it was two blocks from school and 4 from home) at 8. I started riding public transit alone at that age too.

Most kids in my neighborhood were doing similar things. I still see young kids walking to school on my way to work in the mornings.

I guess its more common in major cities though???

[eepster]

I walked to kindergarten starting as an about to turn 5yo in NYC. I was always with someone, either one of my sisters, or another kindergrtener. Later when we moved to the suburbs, I also walked to grade school. I sometimes walked with my sister or a friend, but sometimes alone. There were never any problems.

[Adventuredad]

Too many factors to consider. It could be a small town with lots of problems or larger town with no problems. Traffic situation is also very subjective. It depends a lot on the child also of course.

I'll let my son walk to school next year when he turns 7 but we live in Sweden and it's only a 10 minute walk for him with almost no traffic. He could do it now but my 3.5 year old would be jealous.....

In general I think it's nice to give the kids a little extra responsibility when they have shown it can be handled.

[fairymom]

9+.

[AllisonR]

Originally Posted by mrspineau

Personally, I wouldnt be comfortable with my child walking to school alone at any age.

At any age? So how does that work out? Child is 17, can't walk to school by themself, but can drive a car? How does this "child" have the life experiences and maturity to handle situations life throws at him or her? Next day said child is off to university!

back to OP: my DS is 5 and next year starts school. DH or I will bike with him. I expect the year after - so late 6 yo, that he can bike or walk the 6 blocks with his school friends.