To think that if a child is expected to walk home alone they shouldn't be scared to do so?

[COCKadoodledooo]

Went to collect ds1 from school this afternoon. Stopped at the park to play for a bit. Had a friend's dd with us too, and walked her home (on our way) afterwards. While we were outside her house, another boy (he's year 5, ds and his chum year 2) strolled up to join us (he hadn't been with us at the park btw). As we left, he started to walk with us. Got to the end of our lane, and he was still with us. I know where he lives (mile from our house, along the main road).

As we'd been walking I'd been talking to him - he usually rides his bike home, so I asked where it was (puncture apparently). Anyway, he said he was scared to be walking home (it was 4.20, so not dark or anything). So I asked if he'd like me and the boys to walk him back. Felt a bit awkward truth be told, it shouldn't have been up to me to get him home safely. He said his mum was likely to be home, but didn't know his phone number.

When we got there, he let himself in. I made sure mum was there (from the end of the drive, couldn't get ds2's pushchair past the car) then we came home.

Was planning on mentioning to his mum when I see her what he said about being scared, but am I BU to mention it to school too?

I don't generally give a toss about how people choose to parent their children, but he's a kid. 9 years old. And he was scared. That's not right is it?

Odd situation tbh if you ask me.

If he was that scared surely he would have gone home straight from school. 4.20pm is surely an hour after kick out and I presume he doesn't live 4 miles away?

Does the boy know you well? As in your name etc??

If not I'd be concerned about him talking and inviting himself to walk with strangers.

IMO you did the right thing walking him home but I would talk to his mum before you mention it to anyone else.

Everyone knows childrens versions of events are usually from their viewpoint!!

Thanks both. Bullying didn't really occur to me Beertricks, probably because it's not something we've been touched by yet (thankfully) so thanks for that suggestion.

Mumbar I thought it odd too. No idea where he'd been (didn't occur to me to as at the time, durr). A lot of kids play on the green after school though, so he might have been there. The really odd thing is though that I'm sure I did see his mum in the playground this afternoon! He knows E (ds1) and that I'm E's mum.We're a very small school, so even though I only know him/his mum to say hello to, he would recognise me as not being a stranger.

I shall mention it to mum if I see her in the morning. Still in 2 minds about saying anything to school.

I'd probably mention it to her first and see how she reacts, then gauge from that whether to say anything to school.

Bullies could be a possibility. I had a friend (a boy) in year 5 who used to walk home and often got picked on by some bigger boys on the way, he'd hang around for as long as possible at school hoping they'd have given up waiting for him by the time he walked back, my mum often used to give him a lift back as she felt sorry for him. (He used to wear his bag back to front as "protection" :()

Bertie that's horrible I'd hate to think of anything like that happening. I think I'll go with your suggestion, yep.

ds1 (yr 3) has just started walking home alone after clubs, and while I have encouraged him to do so I certainly wouldn't leave him to it if he expressed that he was in any way scared - I if he had expressed this to someone else then I would want them to let me know.