Going out for pizza with friends?

[kewb]

Dh thinks 10 year old ds is ready to ride his bike with a friend to the local pizzeria and have lunch. I disagree. When did you start letting your kids do this?

[greenmama]

There have been so many threads lately about when we allow our dc's to be out alone. It is a surprisingly hot topic, people have strong feelings about their opinions on stranger danger and encouraging independence. To me they are issues of where you live and the maturity of your child. Where I live is very safe and 10 year olds do walk around town alone. I expect to allow my dd to ride/walk to town at 10, but we will see.

[kathymuggle]

I would.

However, I live in a small town and the pizzeria is 3 blocks away.

Ideally, I would supply a cell phone with instructions to call when you get there, and call when you are coming home. Alternately, many pizzerias have pay phones.

Kathy

[enkmom]

I would allow it also, if the pizza place were close and they were riding together.

[ma_vie_en_rose]

I wouldn't in my area, but that is because of traffic situation around here. The closest pizzeria is a couple miles and crosses some major intersections that I would not be comfortable with a 10yo navigating knowing how poor drivers are around here.

[G8P4]

I let my 11 year old son do this....he never asked at 10 but this year he asked, it has been the thing to do with his buddies. We live close to the pizza place and in a reasonably safe neighbourhood.

[UUMom]

ne.

[lifeonearth]

I think it would depend on the maturity level of the 10 year old.

My oldest son who is now 12, i would not have hesitated to let him ride to a restraunt for lunch with friends.
My youngest, however, is 8 , and even when he turns 10, i know he wont have the maturity level to do that even with friends.

[BrodySAHD]

I personally think 10 is too young.

One of my daughters is 12, and I let her go up the street to taco bell and such with her 14 year old sister.

[kewb]

Thanks for givng me perspective. I thought I might have been being a little over-protective. Now it is a moot point since his best friend broke his femur in 4 places and will be unable to ride anywhere for at least 8 weeks. By the time he is ready to ride ds will be closer to 11 and I will feel better about it.

[Marcee]

DS1 is 12 and i am just now giving him more freedom. We live in town (small town) and everything is with in a mile of our house. I would not let my 10 year old go alone though. He could go with his big brother though.

[Marcee]

Originally Posted by kewb

Thanks for givng me perspective. I thought I might have been being a little over-protective. Now it is a moot point since his best friend broke his femur in 4 places and will be unable to ride anywhere for at least 8 weeks. By the time he is ready to ride ds will be closer to 11 and I will feel better about it.

OUCH! The poor kid.

[kewb]

Big ouch. He was swinging on a rope and fell off. It happened while on vacation visiting family.

[ashleyhaugh]

i did it, but it was to dairy queen, not a pizza place, lol

it depends on the kid, the friends, and the neighborhood though