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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Who is BU

28 replies

prettypleasewithsugarontop · 28/03/2013 07:33

Two DDs (5 & 8) DD1 goes to school with childminder (effectively keeping space for DD2 when she starts school in August) DH reckons that the girls will be able to walk down together with no adult supervision, its a 10min walk with 1 road cross. So, who IBU? I think its a bit much responsibility for DD1, especially as DD2 can play up...any thoughts welcome and please tell me if I am being precious Blush

OP posts:
ApocalypseThen · 28/03/2013 07:38

Why not try a couple if dry runs on a quiet day like Sunday and see how they go? You can follow from a distance once or twice or whatever?

Flisspaps · 28/03/2013 07:39

I wouldn't expect an 8yo to supervise a 5yo on the walk home.

I might let an 8yo do it alone but not the younger one.

TantrumsAndBalloons · 28/03/2013 07:40

I might let the 8 year old, depending on the child obviously.

But I wouldn't ask an 8 year old to be responsible for a 5 year old. That's too much IMO.

Icelollycraving · 28/03/2013 07:44

I wouldn't. That responsibility is too much IMO.

YellowandGreenandRedandBlue · 28/03/2013 07:44

He is being totally irresponsible, not just nreasonable. A child is not safe to supervise a younger sibling at just 8yo, either at home or out in traffic.

Your school may have guidelines on this, they wouldn't release the 5 yo to an 8yo for a reason.

SkinnybitchWannabe · 28/03/2013 07:45

I agree with the above replies. I wouldn't let the 8 year old be responsible for the 5 year old..far too young.

SanityClause · 28/03/2013 07:53

It's not fair to make the 8yo responsible. If you would let the 5yo do it on her own, fine, but not if the 8yo has to look after her.

So, as you think the 5yo has the potential to be a bit silly, I would say they aren't ready yet.

niceguy2 · 28/03/2013 07:54

He's being an idiot. I'm generally pretty relaxed about things like this but even i wouldn't leave an 8yr old in charge of a 5 year old.

CloudsAndTrees · 28/03/2013 07:55

There is no way I'd even begin to consider an arrangement like that.

Why can't they both just go with the childminder?

Callisto · 28/03/2013 07:55

No way would I do this, and I can't imagine the school would allow it anyway. So yanbu or precious and I think your DH is being irresponsible to say the least.

Original poster
prettypleasewithsugarontop · 28/03/2013 07:56

Thankd for all the replies. I don't know if the school have a policy, but I do feel a bit Hmm . TBF we both walked alone from a young age but this was in the 90s. I'm going to have to attempt to figure this one out - how I wish the school had a breakfast club! Sad

OP posts:
ENormaSnob · 28/03/2013 07:57

Far too young.

Original poster
prettypleasewithsugarontop · 28/03/2013 07:57

The cm doesn't have the space for both as she has two primary school age children of her own, so only space for one other child.

OP posts:
fluffyraggies · 28/03/2013 07:57

Nope - wouldn't do it.
DD2 is not DD1s responsibility.

YellowandGreenandRedandBlue · 28/03/2013 08:00

Is the school run dne inthe car?

YellowandGreenandRedandBlue · 28/03/2013 08:02

It doesn't matter what you did as children, times and standards change. In Victorian times they'd have been up chimneys by 8.

Volume of traffic has changed enormously.

Original poster
prettypleasewithsugarontop · 28/03/2013 08:02

No, they would be walking from home, we live in small village. A possibility would be finding out wheb they can be in.school grounds from and just leaving a little later to accomodate that (i don't drive)

OP posts:
Original poster
prettypleasewithsugarontop · 28/03/2013 08:03

Yes Yellow...that was one of my points, it is a very busy road

OP posts:
TanteRose · 28/03/2013 08:03

well, we are not in the UK and it is the norm where we live, but my 8 year old DD used to walk with DS, 6, to school and back

two roads, one railway track to cross and a 15 minute walk

but as I said, there were loads of other children doing the same thing, and traffic assistants on the two roads they had to cross

binger · 28/03/2013 08:04

Our school's policy is that p1 children must be brought to and picked up (at door) by adult.

MammaTJ · 28/03/2013 08:04

No, I would not let an 8 year old be responsible for a 5 year old.

YellowandGreenandRedandBlue · 28/03/2013 08:06

If walking, can't the childminder take them all? I thought an 8yo wouldn't count in her numbers? Or she could get a variation for the school run, I bet she would get that.

RedHelenB · 28/03/2013 08:08

Does she use a car the CM? Because your 8 year old doesn't count in her numbers if she walks with her mindees. Thing is, even if they were safe to walk to school (10 mins does seem a bit long with a road to cross) what would happen of they turned up & school was closed for some reason?

RedHelenB · 28/03/2013 08:10

Not quite sure how it helps because you are only gaining 10 mins of time aren't you as you would be at home when they set off presumably? Are there no neighbours they could walk with?

Flisspaps · 28/03/2013 08:42

Hmm. My certificate said 6 under 8 so I would imagine that your 8yo DD wouldn't count in her numbers anyway.

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