Children walking the streets with friends

[Astrolady]

There is no right or wrong answer here because everyone is different, but how old would your child have to be before you let he/she walk the neighbourhood streets with a friend, and in order to do so cross a busy road with no pedestrian crossing?

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I'd probably say 8-10, as long as i knew the friend well and trusted that my kids were very well behaved when it came to road rules.
It would also depend on the area we lived in.
Around here there are no footpaths (country road) and steep hills so my girls wont be walking along them as the drivers around here just don't pay attention.

[Caz_88]

Academically I think the age at which depth and speed perception as well as understanding to determine "safe" practices is 10 years old. I guess it would very much depend on the maturity and worldliness of the child, and also the city/area concerned. I have a friend with a 10yo daughter who i would not let out of my sight for a second in traffic. She is sheltered, naive and young for her age. However I have a 10yo cousin who from about 8/9 was very sensible and understanding, and at 10 I would have been happy to let walk down to the corner shop. There are just so many variables.....

[Novella]

For me DD1 is likely to older before I let her than DD2. DD1 has trouble concentrating and there is a real posibility that she would walk in front of a vehicle, DD2 is very cautious and would follow the road rules much better. The girls do play with the boys down the street but normally there mother or I will walk them or at least watch them cross the road and get to the other house. My DDs are 4 and 6 and her boys are 7 and 5.

I was thinking about 10 years old but will have to see how their road safety and concentration develop between now and then. I already have dd1 asking me when I will let her walk to school on her own. She thinks she can as she knows the way!

[Trillian]

I'm not comfortable with my 11yo DS walking the streets with his friends because I know in a group situation he is probably going to be distracted, but on his own it would be fine. But then we live out of town, so it's not something any of my kids get the opportunity to do often anyway.

[Caz_88]

Just out of interest

http://www.monash.edu.au/miri/resear...s/muarc283.pdf

[nothing2lose]

I am less worried about depth perception and road safety than stranger danger. Just over a year ago, Bung Siraboon was kidnapped not far from our house. I guess that is always at the back of my mind.
She does walk with friends but not aimlessly iykwim. It's always a short walk to a specific destination.

[Phteven]

I'm just starting to let my 8 year old walk a very short way with his brother ie after school they can walk to the park 50m down the street from their school and I meet them there. It's a small school (we all know who belongs to whom) and there are always other people doing the walk so I figure it's a safe way to let them taste a tiny bit of independence.
AFAIK 10 is the age at which depth perception is such that they can judge safety from oncoming traffic but only if they have been taught how - so a 10 year old who is used to crossing roads is ok but a 10 year old who hasn't crossed many would not have the knowledge to do so safely.

[jellybean88]

Interesting I walked to school by myself (down the street) from grade 2 rode or walked across town to school from grade 5 and by grade 9 was catching 3 busses to school but I feel things are different these days and less communal and wouldn't be that relaxed I think ill have to wait till ds is older to decide anyway

[Amity]

I let my 9.5yo sensible and practical DS walk across 2 roads (one with a crossing) and through the car park (with zebra crossings) to the local supermarket. It is, however, less than 100m from my house and he always goes with a list and cash.

He only gets it as a reward for good behavior and I wouldn't send him with his 7yo brother as it would be too much responsibility.

I let them walk around the corner to their friends' houses near their school, but only when the friends' mum will text me when they arrive.

[~clover~]

DD1 is 10 & walks to friends houses. DD2 walks to school alone (coz she's always running late). I don't let DD2 go anywhere without DD1 & they never just walk. They go to a friends house, or to the shop. I live in a tiny country town, and I'm still very cautious. Cars, trucks & strangers.

[Artechim]

I let my 5 year old son bike a few blocks ahead of me to get home. He stops at the roads and waits until there are no cars. It is a small town so if there is a car in sight he just waits until it is gone. He is a very sensible kid.

As far as wandering around with friends, I really have no idea. I wouldn't imagine it would be for another few years yet.

[Rouge]

I'm not sure. I'm not comfortable yet. LOL.

[*Efjay*]

I let my 2 older boys (10 & 8) walk down to the local park or IGA together. I would not let the 8 yr old go on his own (although he did once with DH not far behind, but he made it to the IGA before DH caught up to him).
I also would not be comfortable with them going around with friends. I can trust them together but I don't think I can once others are added to the mix. Not yet anyway.

[myturn]

Just out of interest

http://www.monash.edu.au/miri/resear...s/muarc283.pdf

This was interesing. So even older kids consider he distance the car is. But don't think about the speed the car is going. Depth perception doesn't help wih that. Reminds me to talk about "watch the car and imagine how fast it might be going" when I ame walking across the road with DSD (and nephews and any kids I might have one day....)

ive thought DSD was probably starting to be ready. She's 10. But she would have to be with her 11 yo friend. And friends mother isn't ready yet

[~Raven~]

I allow my older ones to walk (or ride) themselves to and from school, to the milkbar or to a friends house if they want. I'm not comfortable with them going it alone or wandering about with no purpose.

[BellyBelly]

Im in a country area so its different but I let my two (10.5 & 8) go to the top shop now which took me a while. At first it was with a friend down the road and his mum, then all three of them, now they go together alone sometimes. But they dont have to cross any roads, just our street. Took a bit but I am okay now, as long as they tell me when leaving and back.

[wysiwyg]

Very interesting study - it does worry me though that the impression I got from reading thread before reading study was 'best not to let children walk unsupervised before 10 due to depth perception' because after reading study that is not my taking from it at all.

When I was a child we walked about crossing roads from about seven, we were taught never to cross if can see a car. If the road was always so busy that wouldn't be possible we weren't allowed to cross it, or had to use a crossing.

I will do the same with my two, we walk everywhere now DD 3.5 will always stop at road for me at helps see if anything coming. I don't cross if car coming no matter how far as an example (I live in an inner Mel suburb complete with trams and is doable if not in hurry). Both my husband and I have been shouted at for not having my DD restrained along our busy road (and she will walk outside of me on pavement which some disagree with) but she knows not to go on the road and never has (we saw a squashed possum and she doesn't want to end up like him she tells me).

Am not concerned by stranger danger at all, cars would be my biggest worry but they worry me less than not letting them develop independence.