Not to collect my dds at the playground?

[Dancergirl]

My older 2 dds are in Years 5 and 3 (ie both juniors). The arrangement in the Juniors is the children are let out of class and they either meet parents in the playground or older children walk home.

Rather than faff around parking, getting dd3 out the car, walk down the path to school, get dds, get caught up in conversation (not keen on this!), walk back up the path and get them all in the car, I thought that they are both old enough to walk up the path themselves onto the road (a side road) and I will meet them there. Been doing this a few months and it's worked well and we all actually get home faster. I try to time it by coming along 5 mins after school ends to give them time to walk up the path.

However I've noticed that I seem to be the only Year 3 mum doing this - everyone else still waits on the playground. I've asked the dds if they're happy with the arrangement and they are - dd1 in particular quite likes waiting with her friends. Dd2 occasionally gets a bit anxious if I'm not there straightaway but they're only waiting 5 mins max.

So AIBU?

they sound sensible, and I assume you've told them to go back into school if you werent there?

Also, if the school is happy for juniors to walk home then this is no different.

If you are happy and they are happy then theres no problem is there? Possible you wouldnt do it if your eldest daughter was away and your year 3 daughter was on her own?

I would've thought this is fine. My son is 10, so top juniors, but I have let him walk home alone (with mates) roam around unsupervised since he was 8. I live in a very small village, though, and get to hear far too much about what he and his mates have been up to within minutes...

Sounds perfectly reasonable, but I would be there waiting every time. Good for them to have a little independence.

Problem is teebee, is that there is nowhere safe to stop near the gate where they can see me. That's why I come 5 mins late when it's a bit quieter.

Or the alternative is that I could park further down the road and they could come and find me? Or is that expecting too much of an 8.5 year old?

You see in my mind I think it's fine, even for a sensible 8.5 year old by themselves. Surely children that age walk home from school by themselves in some areas? It's just that I'm the only one that bothers me a bit. Am I going to get a reputation as a neglectful mother?

Think it sounds perfectly reasonable Dancergirl. My dcs are also in yr 5 and yr 3. Similar setup at their school. The school has two exits and my dcs come through one which leads onto road where I park. Not very busy and i can park very near to where they walk through from school. Have drummed into them that if for any reason I'm not there, they go straight back into school. I also tell them to wait for each other before leaving the school gates. They prefer me to wait in the car for them (hopefully not because I am embarrassing) but because this is much "cooler".

I think it gives them just the right amount of independence. I also prefer the set up as I am an "older mum" and find the whole school playground bit a pain in the arse.

Perfectly reasonable. She isn't alone, she is with her elder sister anyway.

yanbu, sounds a good arrangement