11 year old taking bus

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Thinking ahead to secondary schools (still a number of years off but I like to be prepared ) ... it's likely my DD would need to catch the bus home (public bus not school bus). It's probably only 15 mins so only short journey and bus stop about 10 mins walk from home on quiet residential roads.

I guess I'm just worried about safety but does this seem too young to bus alone? It makes me nervous but she's a lot younger than 11 so hard to imagine her at 11!

My advice would be take her on a bus a few times before she gets to eleven and she will be less worried about it, as will you!

My daughter is thirteen and knows the bus timetables better than me.

I think it's absolutely fine. In fact it's good for kids to learn how to get around independently.

It is hard to imagine them...but she’ll be really keen to have some independence by then. DS thinks the bus is the best part of secondary school.

When you're out and about, get her to spot the bus stops, and see where the buses are going, as well as taking her on buses yourself quite frequently. She probably will want to get the bus to go shopping in town or to see friends, so it will be as well for her to be familiar with all the routes, not just the bus to school.

I think most children starting secondary will be either walking or using public transport on their own. Round here (outer London) it's not unusual in Y6.
As long as you plan with your child in advance and allow several practice runs before the new term, they will be fine.
The important thing is to cover the 'what ifs' - the bus is late, they miss their stop, lose their travel pass or money etc.

Thanks, some good tips to consider! Good to know it's common at that age and gives a bit more independence - good point about bus to town & friend's house as means I don't have to keep ferrying around!

My dd took it to school from 10, it's fine. Just make sure she rides it with you s few times first if you aren't regular bus users

This sounds like my year 7 child's journey , they are fine with it.

I had them do a dry run before they started and also start to bus home from primary school alone in year six.

As PP have said travel with dd the first few times but before then make bus travel fun.
Get her to read time tables and plan a day out for both of you using buses.
Get her use to sporting safe places to go if there is a issue ( corner shops hair dressers etc )
Make sure she has emergency bus fare that is only to be used in emergency not sweets / lend to friends .
For your own peace of mind install a tracker app on her phone if she has one.
And tell her to keep her phone out of sight and her eyes on what is going on around her while she is out and about.

Yes of course it's fine! I was travelling by bus on my own from 9/10 and my middle dd started using buses in Year 6. It's good for them to get a feel of their local environment and work out where place A is in relation to B. Do the journey with her a few times in the summer holidays until she feels confident.

It's very common here (big city not London). My elder child walks through inner city shite streets (ugh) for a mile each way but there's a bus he can get if he really wants, but he doesn't like having to wait for them. He's a summer baby, total dreamer/puppy and at your stage I was terrified about this new challenge but he's risen to the challenge brilliantly. Honestly he's the kid I was sure would get hit by a car crossing the road and would forget where he lived

Year 7 is a big change for them and for you. Plan ahead, definitely do some trial runs, and loosen the apron strings over the summer a bit so they are confident enough to tackle it. They'll surprise you and as others have said the independence will open up possibilities all round. It's lovely.

My DD had to catch the bus, we did a trial run. Her first day I put her on the bus, she got a bit confused the other end but was fine in the end. I then put her on the bus again when the route changed, but that was more to make sure it was the right stop.

Chances are there will be others on the bus as well.