AIBU to follow my 10yo to school?

[17leftfeet]

She's oldest end of yr 5 and desperate to walk to school by herself

Not had this problem before as with dd1 I had to pick up and drop off due to dd2

She goes to the local shop and park by herself no problem but there's a fairly major road to cross

There is an official crossing but you have to walk about 50yrds past the school to use it so a lot of people don't use it

She asked again this morning so I said I'll think about it but it will be on the condition that she uses the crossing

AIBU to say she can walk but follow at a discrete distance so I know she's using the crossing and not being persuaded to cross elsewhere by friends she might see

She's a pretty sensible child by all accounts

Don't follow your child to school!

DS is 10 (yr5) and has walked since Sept to school (he has moved to Middle School) it's a 20 minute walk to the other side of town. You have said she is pretty sensible & that you let her walk to shops & park - so you trust her and she must have road sense!

DS actually walked to school himself from Yr 4 - but the Primary School was a lot closer.

She will be fine

Well. Either she'll see you or someone will phone the police because a woman appears to be stalking a child

Is there any way you can practise road crossing before you decide? How good is she at crossing busy roads? Even if she uses the crossing faithfully (and with a child you honestly never know that will happen ) there may be a day when the crossing is out of order, so she needs to know how to judge when to cross a road. Also, is there another parent who does walk their child to school who you can ask to keep an eye out? So that you don't get arrested, in your clever disguise.

tell her you will do spot checks.

The first time you ever see her not using the crossing is the last time you trust her.

You probably won't have to do any. Tell her you have spies out their, other mums/CCTV etc so you will always know.

YANBU however if you are concerned could you do it in stages by leaving her at the crossing for a week and then a longer distance where you can see the crossing that way she forms the habit and understands the importance of the crossing from the off. And then tell her you will be checking occasionally. Is it a lolly pop crossing? if so tell her you will be getting the lolly pop man or lady to report back to you.

My 10 yr old walks herself and crosses a quite busy road with no crossing. I was worried at first but after walking along with her one morning and getting told off for cross in too soon I realised she was fine. Teach her stop look at listen. All my kids are road savvy

Make sure you go a couple of mornings before she does it alone and make her cross the road or meet her and drop her off at the road a few days

Yanbu - I agree with thebody

Do you walk with her now? I know this is potentially looking with my DD so when we walk to and from school, I let her tell me when it's safe to cross.

Even so there is a nasty crossing en route (fortunately at the end of our road) and I will most probably meet her there to begin with .

potentially looming

I started walking to school alone once a week in yr 6 to practice for secondary school. (In born in August so was just turned 10) same situation as you re. busy rd. my mum just asked a couple of other mums who we're walking in the same direction to keep an eye on me. Is that an option?

Yabu. 10yo is pretty capable of getting to school within walking distances.

It's a long road with a sweeping curve so I can't see her from the end of it, we walk now but use a network of paths I wouldn't want her walking along alone

I think just going to have to be brave and let her go for it

Eek