To let them walk to school alone?

[ToTheGups]

Two dc ages 10 and 7.5. Journey of less than a mile, one Road.

The journey involves walking along the footpath next to the road for 3 mins. Today during that 3 mins we saw 4 cars, just to give an idea of how busy it is.

I usually walk them but ds 10 occasionally walks home alone so is used to the journey.

My morning childcare has fallen through for the next two days and I am a bit stuck. My friend can have them from the required time but takes her own dc to a different school so they would have to walk alone.

So Abu to let them walk alone?

Sounds fine, you know your children and their abilities.

My ten yr old cycles two miles to school and has done for well over a year.
I would be wary letting my 7 yr old be supervised by my ten yr old when out, but that is because of his personality. I do leave them alone in the house for short periods and they play out in our cul De sac.

All kids are different but a ten minute walk sounds fine.

I would think they should be OK if you set out and agree on the ground rules to start with.

The 10 year old will have to be making his own way to school before long when he transfers to secondary school anyway, so he needs to learn independence there if he hasn't already.

You could agree the route they are to take and insist that they stay together until they get to school, whether they like it or not.

I see kids much younger than yours making their own way to school. Some of them really do seem far too young to me, but obviously I don't know the family circumstances.

Mine were generally around 8 or 9 when I began letting them go on their own here. More so with DD3 though, being the youngest. With the older two I always had a younger child still in the infants and needing me to accompany them.

At 11 I used to pick up my 5 year old sister and be home alone with her for about an hour before my mum got home so would definitely not say they were too young to do this.
I fail to see how the school would even know about it - at our school the doors open and they all flood in. You'd have a hard job spotting which parent is with which child at that point.

I always think I live in a parallel universe when I read these threads. DD's school is obviously very lax because it has no requirements for adults to pick up or drop off junior school children and it is so absolutely the norm for Y3 children to go to school with Y5/6 siblings that no one would bat an eyelid! I think you're saying it would only be for 2 days anyway, so not even a long term arrangement ...

I would happily let ds 10 go by himself without a worry and have done on several occasions. The only reason I usually take them I'd because of the 7 year old.

There is only one route and once they have crossed the road there is literally nowhere else they can go. The hill and path alongside the field only lead to the school and they can't leave any other way so it is the 3 mins of footpath and crossing the road that concerned me. I think they can be trusted for this occasion.

I would but I'd be anxious my two would argue and eldest would stomp off or they'd push into the road

I asked ds at beginning of year six to collect dd from her year three class & meet me at front gate

It was fine for a week and then ds stormed up to me saying he want doing it again because dd was easing about with a year 3 boy and refused to come with ds and he pulled her arm and she cried

mine are 10 and 7.5 too. Our school normally says they have to be collected by an adult until year 4 (so end of year 3) but we live round the corner and dd2 would be allowed to walk home if I gave permission.

dd1 has been walking to/from school herself on and off since year 4.

Our junior kids go straight into class, so no-one from school would have any idea at all if they arrived with me, or got out of a car round the corner or walked or whatever.

I would have no problem letting them walk, especially as it is just for a couple of days/occasionally.

my two primary age kids walk to school alone. around the same distance. they are 8 and 10 now but have been doing it for most of last year too with their older sister. they're sensible. its fine.

worra - they are both juniors not infants

Of course this is fine. It is completely normal for children younger than yours to walk and bike alone to school in Germany and Holland. In fact, walking with them might even be frowned upon...

Here are amazing images of some of the walks children face if they want to get to school in other countries:

www.boredpanda.com/dangerous-journey-to-school/

worra - they are both juniors not infants

I know. That's why I said 'WRT school policies', because previous posters were talking about them. I forgot to add that bit though

Oh my actual God. Those pictures Clara I feel much better now haha!

Aren't they amazing??

I am glad you liked them!

I couldn't believe my eyes. I would be too scared to do all some of those journeys.

These threads always make me feel old, because when I was at primary (70s) all children at my London school walked in without their parents. Being accompanied by your mum would have resulted in teasing. Obviously it depends on your child, the walk etc, but I am slightly boggled at the idea that it's a child protection issue - it's not, it's a social trend.

And yes I did cross roads, and no I didn't walk with friends. I didn't have any friends

I was also at a London primary in the 70s, and most kids walked.

Personally I don't see an issue here, assuming a safe route and reasonably sensible (for their ages) children. You're the best judge of that.

I assume you can pick them up, because these days I suspect it would be against school policy for them to let a Y3 leave without an adult.

I am able to pick them up no problems. Year 3 aren't allowed out of the school unless there is an adult to pick them up. I think it is year 4 that they are allowed out.

My regular childcare was available after all so they didn't need to walk by their selves. Much to their disappointment.