to let 12 year old dd walk home?

[Jw35]

My 12 year old wants to walk 2.5 miles home from her secondary school. She usually uses the public bus as I don't drive but she has to wait 25 minutes for it and it's often late.

She's a little overweight (not massively but could do with exercise). At the moment she currently does no regular exercise and I can't afford dance lessons and other things (which she would do). She refuses to cycle, her bike has hardly been used and she's outgrown it now. I'd buy her a new one but only if she would use it!

She's absolutely fine crossing roads etc. My fear is that she walks along a stretch of main road where there are no houses for some of the journey. I'm probably a bit paranoid but I worry about someone stopping and forcing her into a car!

Is that a realistic fear? Or should I give her this independence? She's happy to walk, wants to do it. She doesn't have a friend who walks home or lives in our village (unfortunately).

She's walked home once and will do so again today. I just need a bit of reassurance I'm not irresponsible? She will be 13 in September, she's year 7. Thanks

[araiba]

Is that a realistic fear? no

[peggyundercrackers]

is there many children forced into cars where you live?

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

It's good for her - make sure she has bus money just incase of heavy rain -

I used to walk 3 miles home as it was quicker than a bus - has sense to stand back if approached.

She'll be fine

[UntilTheCowsComeHome]

She's 12. She wants to walk. Why wouldn't you let her?

You say she's overweight, well the walking would do her a world of good. I'm assuming she has a phone so she can keep in touch as she's walking? Just call her if you're worried.

[waffilyversati1e]

Buy her a bike?

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

She's almost 13?
Of course she can walk home

[LagunaBubbles]

YABU. Why on earth would be irresponsible letting a near 13 year old walk home from school?

[Ameliablue]

It really depends on where you live, some places if be fine with, other places I wouldn't.

[Pinkheart5915]

At 12 I like she is old enough.
My parent use to let me walk to and home from school, at 12 we lived around 25 minutes from school.

The exercise and fresh air will do her much good.

[Pinkheart5915]

Think not like

[MissBattleaxe]

Is there a friend who walks with her? Most school routes round here are full of kids walking home. I'm sure it will be fine and a good idea weight wise.

[Kbear]

Yep let her walk. Be good for her, bound to be other kids walking that way too, even if not her friends. No one stops and grabs kids off a busy road, don't think about that, just let her be independent and get some exercise.

[MeadowHay]

Most 12yr olds go home alone, some much farther distances that that, in a variety of ways. I am sure she will be fine, and the walking will be great exercise for her. Try not to worry so much.

[treaclesoda]

My concern wouldn't be someone forcing her into a car, it would be traffic. Is there footpath the whole way, so she isn't actually walking on the road?

But generally no, I can't think of any reason why it would be irresponsible to let her walk at that age.

[StickyToffeePuddingAndCustard]

The likelihood is that for a good portion of the journey, other children from school will be walking along the route, so maybe that would reduce some of your fears? Maybe she has a friend that could walk part of the route with her?

Unless you have some specific concerns around bullying or a section of road that's in a high crime area, she should be perfectly capable of doing this.

[ivykaty44]

I would expect a year 7 to be getting themselves to and fro school by their own steam - walking or biking.

Tbh walking would do her good, both for her mind and body. Walking to and fro school should be seen as a right of passage.

Make sure you have two or three brollies, decent gloves and a bit too hideous packamac for rain cover over her coat

[MirandaWest]

I would wants there to be pavement on all the route. Apart from that i'd have no problem with it

[NotMeNotYouNotAnyone]

Yabu not to let her, at her age I got the school bus in the morning, then either got the school bus, walked or walked half way and then public bus in the afternoon

Especially now it's lighter later you're mad to discourage this

[squoosh]

She's 12. If she wants to walk home let her walk home. I'm surprised anyone would think her too young to do this.

[wonkylampshade]

I must be daft as well OP, as I'd worry about what might happen too . I grew up very near to where Susan Maxwell was snatched though, so remember that feeling like a very real danger in my own childhood.

I think for a two mile journey I'd get her a bike as it'd mean she was home quicker.

[squoosh]

Don't most 12 year olds make their own way home from school?

[deepdarkwood]

Sounds like it would be very good for her - both physically & in terms of her independence. Is there a reason (beyond the annoyance of waiting) why she doesn't want to get the bus? I'd just check in that there's no nastiness on the bus...

I wouldn't be worried at all about a stretch with no houses esp if busy road (so lots of people passing) - I'd worry slightly about traffic, or her getting cold - assuming she's a normal 12yo and won't wear a coat 😉 - but with weather getting better she should be ok. even if no-one walks all her way, at chucking out time there are bound to be a few of them.

[MrsJayy]

Other kids will be walking surely mine walked to and from secondary from 1st year

[deepdarkwood]

Be to everyone telling the op her daughter should be able to make her own way home - the op does say she already is! It's just a move from bus to walking...

[MrsJayy]

Just under that distance i meant to say