Page 11 | Would you allow a 6 year old to go out alone?

InMyShowgirlEra · 24/08/2025 20:12

MrsSkylerWhite · 24/08/2025 19:57

Or the response from parents who are concerned about their very young children?
No 5 or 6 year old should be wandering about by themselves. Isn’t that just glaringly obvious?

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As I said, in my area it's considered completely safe and the kids are a lot more switched on than in places where they are babied.

tripleginandtonic · 24/08/2025 20:11

No not in sole charge of a dog.

Barnbrack · 24/08/2025 20:11

No, surely this is a reverse?

Dartmoorcheffy · 24/08/2025 20:11

With the dog no. If a bigger off lead dog was to be aggressive your child wouldn't be able to do anything. On their own in a small village then yes I would let them play put with friends at that age wouldn't let them go out alone out of sight though

historyinthemaking · 24/08/2025 20:08

I don’t even think that’s legal?

NuovaPilbeam · 24/08/2025 20:05

No, not in charge of a dog.

My 8 (nearly 9) year old, with no dog, for a walk to corner shop to grab me some milk? I've recently realised he could manage this.

I do think there's a noticeable leap between ks1 and ks2, or more so what used to be the "middle school" age bracket - from year 4 onwards. They do grow up so much more at 9 or so.

SunshineAndFizz · 24/08/2025 20:05

Missj25 · 24/08/2025 19:55

9/10 too young to be walking to school alone, unless with others & it’s only a short distance ..

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Round here we have a 3 tier school system meaning they start middle school in year 5 (age 9 turning 10) and they all walk to school from middle school without parents. The last term of year 4 (last year of first school) they’re encouraged to practice walking to school with friends (with parents walking at a distance behind them watching).

MrsSkylerWhite · 24/08/2025 20:04

Simonjt · 24/08/2025 19:58

With the dog no, on their own where we live yes, after all children walk to school at that age on their own.

They generally don’t.

millymollymoomoo · 24/08/2025 20:03

No

which is really sad as when I was 6 me and my friends would play in the woods near our houses all day !

Pineapplewaves · 24/08/2025 20:02

No

Athreedoorwardrobe · 24/08/2025 19:58

And I forgot to put that it also depends on the dog. This was a small elderly daschund.
And I knew my son would have the understanding and confidence to come straight home and get help rather than try to deal with any issues alone. I'd told him never to run after the dog or try and save the dog in the unlikely event of any drama.. just to drop the lead and come straight to get an adult.
There were never any issues at all.
He's 10 now.

Simonjt · 24/08/2025 19:58

With the dog no, on their own where we live yes, after all children walk to school at that age on their own.

MrsSkylerWhite · 24/08/2025 19:57

InMyShowgirlEra · 24/08/2025 19:54

You surely knew the response you'd get on MN?

It really depends on the child and your area. In my small, safe village there are always kids that age and younger around. My 5 yo goes up the street to play with the neighbour's kids and we check in periodically if necessary but normally they all ping pong between houses.

My biggest concern would be if he's going to pick up the dog mess.

Or the response from parents who are concerned about their very young children?
No 5 or 6 year old should be wandering about by themselves. Isn’t that just glaringly obvious?

Missj25 · 24/08/2025 19:55

SunshineAndFizz · 24/08/2025 19:45

No.

Round here, kids start walking to school without parents at 9/10, so I’d personally use that as a gauge.

9/10 too young to be walking to school alone, unless with others & it’s only a short distance ..

AliTheMinx · 24/08/2025 19:55

Absolutely not.

InMyShowgirlEra · 24/08/2025 19:54

You surely knew the response you'd get on MN?

It really depends on the child and your area. In my small, safe village there are always kids that age and younger around. My 5 yo goes up the street to play with the neighbour's kids and we check in periodically if necessary but normally they all ping pong between houses.

My biggest concern would be if he's going to pick up the dog mess.

freshpyjamas · 24/08/2025 19:54

Absolutely not

Betandbob · 24/08/2025 19:54

No

Ilovesshopping · 24/08/2025 19:54

No

Catcatcat111 · 24/08/2025 19:53

No, absolutely not. Reverse?

pinkbackground · 24/08/2025 19:53

No

Athreedoorwardrobe · 24/08/2025 19:53

Yes in that situation.
I live rurally and my son would walk the dog round the woods opposite our house at that age.
However my daughter is now 7 and I wouldn't let her as the maturity isn't quite there yet. But my son was fine at that age. He would have known what to do if there was an issue and more importantly had the confidence. My daughter is 7 but she would just panic if sometjing went wrong (like the dog getting off the lead) It does depend on the kid.
And obviously on the area!!
There's only a few houses on my lane and I know everybody.

MrsSkylerWhite · 24/08/2025 19:53

Obviously not.

Missj25 · 24/08/2025 19:52

tonari · 24/08/2025 19:38

Almost 7.

To walk around the block with (very) small placid dog. Takes less than 5 mins.

Small, quiet village.

Absolutely NO !!!!!!!

doodleschnoodle · 24/08/2025 19:52

Never in charge of a dog ever. You can’t control what other dogs and owners do, no matter how placid your dog is. I would let DD1 (6) walk to her friend’s house further down our street as an example but would watch her the whole way till she went into their house. If she would be out of line of sight then I wouldn’t let her go solo.