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Original poster

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

310 replies

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.

OP posts:
LBFseBrom · 24/08/2025 23:04

No. 8 or 9, yes.

Itsallchange · 24/08/2025 23:03

Probably not no…my 13 year old took the dog round the block today…I got a phone call (luckily has a phone) the lead had got stuck in the lampost and was strangling the dog! I had to go out onto a main road in my pjs with no shoes to rescue her!! I think you could follow at a distance so she feels independent

ClothesMyArmHurts · 24/08/2025 23:01

Of course it depends where you live, but with a dog, probably not.

My horrible neighbour threatened to report me to social services because I let my 8 year old play on her bike on our drive and in our cul de sac.

Ive no idea what age he thought she was? ( They had a baby at the time)

Same man let his small child play with his power tools on his drive when he was little.

I am calling him a rude word in my head 🤣, but I can’t put it in print.

Teanandtoast · 24/08/2025 23:00

Absolutely not

Heyitsmeyeh · 24/08/2025 23:00

One trillion times no

Bowies · 24/08/2025 22:58

Well if they’re almost 7…of course not!

howdowedo · 24/08/2025 22:58

Maybe but I’d be worried about other dogs like other posters have said.

My 6 and a bit year old, who has always been glued to me and very sensible, has started to test independence in many ways such as asking to walk ahead, asking to look around in a shop on her own, & asking me to go back to the table in a restaurant so she can walk back from the loo on her own.

I am letting her do these things whilst I secretly follow/watch closely as I believe in following her lead and raising independent kids.

The way she’s going in 9 months time she might be ready to walk around the block. But I likely wouldn’t let her, mostly because I don’t trust drivers and would be worried about it not being the done thing anymore.

Minfilia · 24/08/2025 22:57

You’d have to be fucking mental, so no. Seriously, how is this even a question?

FloweringBuds · 24/08/2025 22:55

No . Not in a million years

Anon501178 · 24/08/2025 22:54

No way! I won't let my 8yo go unsupervised to the play area next to our home....don't think we will let her out even there unsupervised til at LEAST 10, with friends.
You just don't know who's about.....it takes seconds for an abduction to happen or for someone to do something else inappropriate or dangerous to a child.
And they need to be able to safely navigate roads too.

Flatulence · 24/08/2025 22:54

Without a dog? Possibly, depending on the child, depending on the distance, depending on the neighbourhood, depending on the neighbours.

With a dog? Not a chance.

abracadabra1980 · 24/08/2025 22:50

No.

WhyamIinahandcartandwherearewegoing · 24/08/2025 22:49

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 24/08/2025 19:40

Absolutely fucking not

This x 10000000

pumpkinspiceforbreakfast · 24/08/2025 22:48

Depends on the child. I went to the corner shop for my mum at 6 and got the bus to and from school alone at 7, in London, with a walk at one end. I let DD do short walks (eg to post a letter) at 7. DTs are 8 and are only now ready for the short walk to post a letter. It’s road safety that you should be thinking about - the chances of anyone deliberately harming your child are incredibly tiny, and the benefits of them gaining the independence to go out alone are considerable, but yeah; roads and cars are the things to think about.

BreakingBroken · 24/08/2025 22:45

where i live in canada on a very quiet block yes, but equally the first couple of times i might loop around the block (in the opposite direction) meet the child and pup and "see" how it's going.
i do see other parents allowing small children to walk small dogs in my neighborhood.
equally the 5-6 year old also walk to school without parents almost all of the time.

wizzler · 24/08/2025 22:40

No. Sent mine round the block to post a letter at 8 yrs. definitely not with a dog

Usernameunavailableagain12 · 24/08/2025 22:40

I would but not with a dog

elm26 · 24/08/2025 22:37

Nope, not a chance.

EvilNextDoor · 24/08/2025 22:35

No!!

I get uncomfortable with my teens walking our dogs (who trained family protection dogs) without me or DH with them, not a reflection on either of the teens or the dogs just probably my own nerves about it.

No way on this planet would I allow a 6 year old walk any dog placid or not especially without adult supervision that’s just asking for trouble.

Missj25 · 24/08/2025 22:34

Tinybirdie · 24/08/2025 21:44

No, its the dog that worries me. I have an 11 year old. Shes been walking to and from school alone from the age of 7. But going out with a dog is a no. Ours is a small breed who could be killed very easily by a large breed. She does not have the strength or skill to protect him. So, no dog walking for her.

I think it’s absolutely mental that a child of 7 years of age would walk to school alone …

ThatNaiceMember · 24/08/2025 22:34

No. And I'm quite relaxed.

Mirror22 · 24/08/2025 22:33

Yes, mine has done it quite a few times.

Handrearedmagpie · 24/08/2025 22:31

I'm VERY laid back and all about building independence but this would be a hell no from me.

What if child dropped lead, dog ran into road & child followed??

Masmavi · 24/08/2025 22:29

No never

Sevenwondersofthewoo · 24/08/2025 22:28

To the ones saying this is ok are bloody lying there is no way in hell you’d not intervene seeing a 6 year old alone with a small dog ffs you’d be calling the cops
this isn’t the 70/80/90s anymore.

this is joke isn’t it. No one would do this ever