How much freedom for a 4 year old?

[fretamanger]

My ds is 4.
When he is out he must always hold my hand.
If he's playing in the field / park I always stay very close to him.
If we were going shopping he would wear his backpack reins.

He is due to start school in September and I was just wondering how much freedom other parents give their four year old children.

That’s lovely!

Sounds like progress, it's lovely when they're so proud of themselves!

When my DC were 4, we lived in Switzerland. They start kindergarten the year they are 4 of the 1st August. By Easter they are expected to walk to and from school alone. Morning, back home for lunch, back for afternoon school and back home again.

Well done OP, that little walk today has helped both of you, hasn't it? You are less on edge, and he is gaining the confidence he needs to start becoming independent.

Well done!

You sound like a lovely mummy, so don't beat yourself up. We are all learning as we go. Mine are teenagers and I still feel I haven't a clue what I'm doing!

Well done OP!
Enjoy the little bit of freedom you both get

Don't feel guilty, what's done is done and it sounds like the praise and new found freedom will do great things for his confidence!! Mine are starting school in September too.. good luck with it all!!!

That’s a lovely update OP. Glad it went well.

Great update OP!

Good update :) Letting them go makes it all the sweeter when they reach to you for reassurance. My 9 year old is one of the lads at school but he still slips his hand into mine for busy roads.

How is it going @fretamanger?