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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let my 7 year old go to the local shop alone?

67 replies

SausageBaconCrackling · 23/05/2015 08:23

Brief context - have 2 DS's a year apart, eldest is 8 and has been to the local shop for milk alone once. There is a relatively busy road to cross, but it is not a main road and there is a lighted crossing so safe to cross.

Wibu to allow the 7 year old to go? Ever since his brother went he has been desperate and he is probably the more sensible of the two.

Am I a terrible mother to even consider it?

OP posts:
MrsPnut · 23/05/2015 08:25

I would so long as he knows how to cross the road properly and how to use the crossing safely.

VelvetRose · 23/05/2015 08:25

How far away is the shop? How long would it take?

Pippa12 · 23/05/2015 08:26

Don't think I'd let mine go out alone till aged 10. I still think they are very young and immature at 7/8 TBH.

x2boys · 23/05/2015 08:30

I have just started letting my eight yr old go to the shop but he Has no roads to cross it depends on the child but my son has no road sense so he can only go to the shop where he doesnt have to cross roads.

VixxFace · 23/05/2015 08:31

no!

BoobsAkimbo · 23/05/2015 08:31

Yes, why not if you think he's sensible?

BoobsAkimbo · 23/05/2015 08:33

Genuinely surprised at the No votes. I was walking / taking a train to school on my own by the age of 7 and I'm not that old! How times have changed.

MissDuke · 23/05/2015 08:36

I personally wouldn't, no. I assume you are having doubts when you posted here?

VelvetRose · 23/05/2015 08:36

They have! When I was 7 I was walking 2.5 miles to school albeit with classmates!

PacificDogwood · 23/05/2015 08:38

YANBU to consider this.

YABU to expect us to give you advice on what to do as we a. don't know your DCs and b. don't know the road/the distance etc.

Fwiw I am very much in favour of encouraging independence from a young age, but each of us can only make these decisions for ourselves.

Supersoft · 23/05/2015 09:00

If it's under a mile then I would. Depends on the area / child though. Can't they both go together?

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 23/05/2015 09:05

No, I wouldnt.

Allinson2014 · 23/05/2015 09:09

I wouldn't. I've got a DS the same age and I know he's not ready for something like this. However, no one knows your child or how far it is to the shops so it's impossible to say if YABU or not.

ButterflyUpSoHigh · 23/05/2015 09:15

No way.

TENDTOprocrastinate · 23/05/2015 09:17

No way. I have a sensible 7yo dd and I would not let her yet.

FergalSharkeysfloppyfringe · 23/05/2015 09:17

I think it depends on so many factors, there is no clear yes or no. Location, location of shop to home, maturity of child, community who give a shit etc. At 7/8 I believe my child would have been mature and sensible enough to do a sweet shop trip alone. Raised eyebrows and unfortunately caring too much about outside opinion, stopped me allowing it until aged 10.

Assess your child, are they mature, sensible, able to cross the road safely etc? I think only you can make a decision OP. People parent so differently that if you take too much opinion on board youre not going to be doing what you necessarily believe is the right thing.

It is lovely when they bring you back a Star Bar.

SoldierBear · 23/05/2015 09:18

If you know he will cross only at crossing, then yes.
If that is not yet the case, then I'd be re-enforcing road safety.
So many kids aren't alowed anywhere alone until they go to high school, and there is a spike in accidents at that age because they are not prepared.

5madthings · 23/05/2015 09:23

What pacific said

Tanith · 23/05/2015 09:30

If it's crossing a road, I would be wary.
I remember being told that children under 8 have difficulty in judging how fast a car is travelling towards them.
It's a physical development rather than a learned skill.

annie987 · 23/05/2015 09:31

Yes - without hesitation.

prorsum · 23/05/2015 09:38

Yes I would, as long as it was very, very near and no crossings. Also I would tell the shop owner beforehand to expect them and keep an eye out. That's how it was done with me.

DavidSebastianWaghorn · 23/05/2015 09:40

Agree with previous posters; so much depends on the individual child. I've reached a compromise with my 7 yr old. There is one big road to cross and she is definitely not ready for that on her own. I cross the road with her and then wait a way back from the shop. She gets a massive kick out of doing the shopping. I give her a little list of things to pick up and off she goes.

RB68 · 23/05/2015 09:41

I am in the it depends camp too. We live a mile from the corner shop - but its down the canal. My DD is a v sensible 9yr old but I wouldn't let her go without an adult - wouldn't be happy with two kids doing it either. However where we used to live the shop was round the corner and across a side road albeit fairly busy. The age she is now, 9, I would prob let her go by herself.

Could you supervise the first few times from assistance - ie just watch

DragonMamma · 23/05/2015 09:42

I have a very sensible 7.5 yr old and for the last couple of months I've been allowing her to the local shop. It's on the road that backs on to ours and so no road to cross.

I'd be happy for her to cross a very quiet local road as she's very sensible.

She loves going and it's been handy when I've run out of something midway through cooking to save me dragging the younger one out as well.

I even let her ride her bike around the block and she thinks it's brilliant.

buggerthebotox · 23/05/2015 09:44

Yes. I was buying fags for my mother at that age and walking to and from school.

Imo the more independence they have, the better. But you know your child and the circumstances. I'd be prepared for some sniffy comments, though.