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Just as the title says, I'm curious what age you would let your children walk to school alone? Our principal often puts a notice in the newsletter about children under 10 years needing to be accompanied by an adult. My just-turned-10-y/o niece is keen to walk by herself. My sis feels this is too young (I agree), but Miss 10 keeps harping on about Ms-Principal saying it's okay.
What has influenced your opinion on this? Distance to school? Maturity of child? Busy roads to cross? etc.
Thanks :)
I wouldn't let my DD walk to school alone and she is 11.
The only thing that influences my decision is the fact that a girl was kidnapped and never seen again less than two years ago just around the corner while she was walking to school.
We live in a small town just outside of Adelaide, a lot of the kids walk/ride to school on their own, starting around age 10.
Personally, if DS1 had a group of friends he could ride with, I'd let him ride (not walk) at age 10. If I was in the suburbs I don't think I'd be so comfortable with this, but being in a rural town it kinda minimises the risk a little and there is more of a community feel about the place, everyone looks out for each other and their kids.
I started at age 10. It was a 10 minute walk with several side streets and one main street. The main street had lights. I walked halfway home with a friend who lived nearby. I think I would have been allowed earlier if school was walking distance. We moved that year.
I was thinking 10 would be ok for DS. I will reassess at the time. His school is a 5 minute walk with no streets to cross. There are heaps of kids around our street at school times. I feel it's a very safe neighbourhood but who can tell really. It's hard to say at this point as he is 4. It would depend on him, how responsible he is, how easily distracted he is. I would also have to consider DD as it would be difficult to walk with DD and allow DS to walk on his own. If she is responsible enough, I might allow them to walk together. It's a wait & see thing.
We are inner-city suburbs and a lot of kids walk to school alone or with friends from Grade 4 - kids younger than that are sometimes with older siblings. DD1 wants to as well but I have said Grade 4 is the minimum so she will be 9. Apparently the spatial awareness isn't fully developed in their eyesight until after 8yo so they can't tell how much distance they have between them and a travelling car until that is developed so that's why 10 is recommended from my understanding.
Rural area here and a number of kids start younger than 10. There is a walking school bus though, which a number of kids join.
Is there a walking school bus option?
There's no right or wrong answer as everyone has their own opinion. We live relatively close to the school. 15 min walk tops. There is no "major" roads to cross, but one road can get busy. Kameron started walking alone this year, when he can be bothered LOL. He is 11. I would drive the other two to school. If I have something on though they have all had to walk together, which I am more comfortable in letting them do, than walking alone.
Lots of kids walk here, inner suburb, not totally sure of ages seem a range but some are not strictly on their own e.g there is a parent within 400m which is a bit of a halfway house could maybe try first? DD is 4 not yet at school and already keen to walk on her own keeps asking what age she will be allowed (we walk that way to daycare) As the roads all have crossing supervisors I have no doubt she could do it now. What age we allow will probably be dictated by what school says somewhat and how DS is, as she would need to be responsible for him too (just as I was for my siblings). If there were roads to cross without lights or no crossing supervisor then the spatial awareness thing might influence me but as I child we were just taught if you can see a car don't cross but it depends on the road as to whether that is practical or not.
My DS was biking/walking himself to school within the first week. But we live about 100m away on the same side of the street and he is a very sensible kid so I have no doubt he would end up where he was going. On the other hand, I don't think I would let DD1 walk alone when she turns 5 - she gets sidetracked just going to her bedroom lol.
See, that's the thing.. I don't agree with there being a 'blanket rule' of age 10 when there are so many factors that can influence a parent's decision, but it is what the school is promoting and it's hard to explain otherwise when a principal (who she looks up to) is saying it's fine!
nothing2lose - so scary and heartbreaking! :(
I had a 2km walk from the age of 4.5 years.
That would be DS1 in under a year! Not a chance here.
Will wait and see how he is, when older. It's a pretty child-specific thing IMHO :)
The reason they say 10and up is apparently due to their eye sight....something like that.
But that being said.....ive always judged it based on the child. Are they responsible enough,how far away is it, whats the area like ect ect
No one knows your child better than you
I live across the road from the school. DS is 5 & goes alone a fair bit. I'll watch him cross the road from the window, just so he knows I'm watching & looks properly. I'm in a tiny town & if cars come this way to drop kids off there's maybe 7 cars at most. And that's only if its raining. The whole town is close enough to walk, or out of town & on the bus.
It depends on where you live, how far you are from the school, how much traffic there is etc. I could live across from the school in the middle of Sydney & I'd be walking them! It also depends on the child & their maturity & awareness of their surroundings.
Maybe the school is saying 10 because they are finding a lot of younger children already walking alone and are concerned. I think it's actually law that children under 10 are supposed to be accompanied to cross the road.
I have a friend, who lives on the same street as our school, who has let her children walk to school for quite a while. The oldest child was 8, walking her 6 year old brother. I live one street back from the school, my oldest is almost 9 and I won't be letting him walk without an adult for a long while lol.