To be a bit shocked by this?

[magicmummy1]

DD is five, and in year 1. This morning, while we were out at her dance class, a little friend from her class appeared on the doorstep asking if she could play. My husband asked where her parents were, and she said that they were at home and that she had come alone.

It's probably about 6-7 minutes walk to this child's house, and she would have to cross three roads - not busy ones, but roads nonetheless. Obviously, we weren't expecting her today, so wouldn't have been able to alert the parents if she hadn't arrived safely.

I was a bit to hear that she had come to our house all by herself, but my OH thinks I am over-reacting. AIBU to think that five is still a bit young to go running around the neighbourhood all alone?

It's about the age of 11 they get road sense . Dcs were younger than 5 when they started playing out but we live in a small culdesac, but they weren't allowed to the shop around the corner until 8. There were no roads to cross. Starts to walk to school by themselves in year 5.

I know I used to walk to the shop at the top of the road at 6. Back road, little path, quiet street.

DS sometimes does over the road to his friends house (literally 15 metres away, but round the corner) and he's jut 3. I watch him all the way though, obviously.

I do remember being 6 and stranded at school, expected to walk hom by myself. All was fine apart from one very busy main road, and I just got stuck there. Thankfully a teacher was driving past and stopped to help me.

In my Mother's defence, I think she was in hospital having my sister