AIBU?
That parents should take young children to school
Peachybanana · 15/07/2015 01:41
There's a new family moved in a few doors down from me who have a son in primary 1 so he must be 4/5 yo. Every morning I see him walking to school on his own, the school is relatively close however there is a road to cross which does tend to be busy with school traffic in the mornings and home time.
The parents seem like a lovely couple, would it be wrong of me to
1.mention my concerns to them?
2. go out there myself and make sure he gets across the road safely
what would you do?
TheDowagerCuntess · 15/07/2015 01:47
I certainly wouldn't leave my DC to make their own way to school (eldest is 6, and only one road to cross), but you do risk looking like a massive sticky-beak if you say something.
It's difficult, because what's more important - beaking out, or ensuring the basic safety of a 4YO. On the face of it, the latter, right?
SavoyCabbage · 15/07/2015 02:29
Are they from another country? Where I am loads of children go to school on their own and when the bell rings they all just go off. The school doesn't make sure everyone gets picked up.
In fact, yesterday I found a crying child in the park as his mother usually gets him from the park and she had t turned up.
And this is no county backwater. Our school is on a six lane road!!!
Bogeyface · 15/07/2015 03:11
I would go with "I dont know if you know as you have just moved in but there was a horrible near miss a couple of weeks/months/years ago on [that road] with my friends son. Thats why we all walk them to school, the way the drivers go around that corner...... just thought I would mention it as I wasnt sure if you knew" big smile and dont mention it again.
Spartans · 15/07/2015 06:00
Hmm not sure about this. If he is in year one he will be 5 or 6? Or is primary 1 not year 1?
Next doors 5 year old plays out with a couple of friends and is the most sensible out of the three of them when it comes to crossing roads and playing on the path. If he went to a school close I would imagine he could take himself. As it is, our nearest primary is 2 miles away.
However I wouldn't let my child walk on their own. I also not entirely sure having a word is a good idea. I doubt it will change their mind and probably cause some tension. If you are ok with that then do it.
mimishimmi · 15/07/2015 06:16
Same happens here. Most are from South Asian background. The kids wait at busy roads until I go to cross it with my DS (8) and then they cross with us ... they've obviously been told by their parents to wait until an 'aunty' comes along. It does concern me what the legal ramifications could be for me if something happened to them. Apart from that, obviously I don't want anything to happen to these sweet kids.
turningvioletviolet · 15/07/2015 07:30
I've just had to write a note to dd2's school to say that I'm letting her walk home on her own. She's 9, Yr4. Without a letter they're not allowed to leave the teacher until a parent has been spotted. Not sure how it works the other way round though, it's not like the school can stop a parent allowing a child to walk to school on their own.
SophiePendragon · 15/07/2015 07:38
That is too little.
My 8yo walks on his own from a nearby car park which is about a minute or two's walk, and I still worry - and there are no roads to cross at all. (except a private one that's more like a driveway and very rarely used by a car)
Please say something to the school, not the parents, the school. They will do something about it.
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