Are my children to young to be walking to school alone?

[Scorpion111]

My children go to a school that is on the same street as our house. They leave through the front door, cross over the road and then walk up the road for around 3-4 minutes and they’re at the school gates.

Because the school is so close, I can watch them walk the entire way from my bedroom window. Both of my children are extremely sensible, not just in my opinion but their teachers and their friend’s parents are always singing their praises.

They have only walked to school alone 2x and I take them through the same safety briefing in the morning - stay out the road, stay together, look where you’re going, look left and right before crossing etc. Also before letting them walk to school alone (which they have been begging to do btw) we started with saying bye to them at the gate instead of walking them to class, progressing to only walking to the top of the road with them, then half way up the road with them until I was confident in their ability to stay safe.

My children are 7 (almost 8) & 6 years old.

Yes, they are too young. Do you collect them and walk them home?

Yes they are far too young. I'm amazed the school hasn't spoken to you about this.

I would think 6 and 7 is too young too although it is good you can watch them

I don’t think the school would be keen at the prospect of a six year old walking to school on their own.

Why dont you walk them?

Yes they are to young, especially if your school road is anything like ours was. The parents parking everywhere and not paying attention to where they are going. It's not so much them walking alone I'd be concerned about but the risk of them being run over.

The way the street is set up the only time they have to cross the road is directly in front of the house, which I of course supervise. I do understand your point though so the two times when they have walked alone they’ve not left out until the cars near the school are gone.

They are far too young! Is this a reverse and your husband is letting them go on their own? I can't see why you would admit to doing that.

Then they would be late for school? Surely the parents don’t leave until the children have gone into class?

Do you have a disability? Otherwise it's not far for you to walk with them either. I do think they are much too young, even with you watching them.

I usually do walk them but they see some of their friends that also live on the street walk alone to school and they’ve been begging to do the same.
It still definitely wouldn’t be a permanent thing.

If its just a couple of minutes walk, why jot take them?

This comment confused me as well. If the cars are gone then that's because school has started. The streets near the local schools are still busy even 5-10 minutes after the children have gone into class.

They're far too young to be walking by themselves.

I think it depends where you live. I'm guessing by the reactions from other posters that it's not normal where they are. I live in a country where it's normal for children to walk to school alone or travel alone on the school bus from 5. Nothing has ever happened where I live and no one is hysterical at the thought.

In Switzerland - my cousin's children walk to school on their own from the age of 5 (to be fair usually joining a bunch of other children) - there you are considered to be doing bad parenting in not allowing independence if you don't let them go on their own...

maybe different cultures, but realistically, the OP knows her children and their safety - if she can see them all the way to school and they only cross one road with her supervision, then they are not really walking on their own - should not be an issue... the main issue with age is the developmental stage at which children can perceive speed of traffic accurately etc (on av. around 12!) but it doesn't sound as though that is a risk...

I am with the OP - it sounds as though she has thought it through and is managing the situation well - her children gain independence without being at risk...

I think culturally this isn't acceptable in the UK although it would be totally normal in much of Europe.

Personally, crossing the road is the bit I'd be worried about. If it weren't for that I think it would be fine. Crossing the road I'd wait a couple of years.

Yes this is what I’m thinking as lots of the local children walk alone. I also walked to school alone at that age as my mother was a nurse and always working. My school journey was a lot further and I’d sometimes use the woods as a shortcut! No way would I ever let my children walk alone if the route was anything like the one I had to do.

Honestly don't risk this. I'd nothing else you'd. be the talk of school yard and that can have repercussions etc for play dates etc if people feel that you're irresponsible enough to let a 6 year old walk to school unsupervised. ( honestly you looking at them out the window isn't going to be much help in the event that something happens )

where I am in Scotland it’s normal from age 7/8 so fine for your older child.

Actually, no. The school doors are open first thing in the morning so the children can go straight inside. None of the parents stay and most of the parents who do drive their children to school don’t get out of the cars - just let the kids out and then drive off once they’re through the gates. They’re getting to school right on time, they’ve just not been early.

Would be totally normal/expected here in Germany

It will be fine. I walked at 6/7. Traffic would be the main concern.
Mine walked from 7/8. Because there are lots of other people walking at the same time they knew if anything awful happened they were around other people. A few times when I did the school run I helped kids on their own if they had tripped up etc and once when one boy was picking on another boy.

My daughter has just turned 10, and I would probably just now allow her to make her own way in if that was our set up.
My other daughter is 6, nearly 7, and it's a no from me. Even together. I'd have to be on my knees with illness and absolutely no other choice.

My db’s kids have been navigating busy city roads in Europe since age 8, using underground alone from age 10. Here in UK we are really protective. Personally I think it is okay but our school insists on a parent handover until summer of Y5!

Yes too young. They must be year 1 and year 2? At those ages, the teacher will often grab parents for a quick word in the morning. I’m afraid I think letting them walk is lazy and odd. And too much responsibility for the 7 year old to watch the 6 year old.