what age would you let your DC do the following things?

[deliverdaniel]

Trying to work out if IABU

What age would you let your DCs do the following (FWIW mine have no special needs/ unusual circumstances etc)

1. Go to the small park at the end of your own road to play alone or with a friend (safe area, no roads to cross, about 100 feet from the house round one corner)

2. Go to the local shop without an adult (4 min walk with one main road to cross with a pedestrian/ traffic light crossing and no other roads to cross)

3)Walk to school alone or with a friend- 15 minute walk, several side roads to cross but no main road.

All in a safe, quiet-ish suburban area

Thank you!

I would say from the age of 11 for all the above

Mine were doing stuff like that at 8.

If generally sensible, 8/9. But school mightn't allow the walking to school bit til year 5.

About 9/10 for me.

I would also say 11, which is pretty normal round my area.

Kursk thanks for your reply. That seems late to me for these small things? At 11 I was going to school on the bus and train/ traveling pretty much everywhere I wanted to go on my own (within reason) and so were all my friends. Do you think times have changed a lot?

8/9. Did, do and will. Mine are pretty sensible and relish the responsibility being given to them, knowing that it would be taken away immediately if necessary.

1. 5 or 6
2. 6 or 7
3. 6 or 7

I live in a safe rural area in Germany and those are cautious normal here. If you're still walking an NT 7 year old to school your kid will be being laughed at for it, and if you drive your kid to school that's antisocial behaviour because you're putting all the responsible children in danger by creating traffic around the school.

I'd say 10/11
Year 5 or 6

9/10.

Depends on the child really.

I have two 10 year olds, 1 I'd let her but my boy can't even go to the toilet on his own!

My oldest started doing those things at 8 my little one at 6 but only when with the 8 year old.

Times def changed. . 30 years ago as a teen I was never in at the weekends!! My dd 10+11 are just allowed round the corner to the park with regular check - ins at home!!

11

Mine does all of those and he's 8. No major roads to cross though and no playing out alone, only with friends.

drinkingtea that's really interesting. I jsut read an article about how German parents give their kids much more freedom/ independence. I'll try and dig it out. And I have one German friend and she is definitely like that- unbelievably laid back. Her kids are very independent and confident (I'm jealous and admiring and wish I could be more like that!)

I'd say much earlier than 11. That sundscreally late. My two both have summer birthdays so turned 11 just before going to secondary. Are people really saying their kids didn't go to a park or walk to school alone until secondary

My son started catching a bus to town (10 miles away, 40 minute journey) to go shopping with friends from the age of 10 (start of Y6). He had definitely been walking to school and playing out in the park for a year or two by then.

Out of interest- those who say 10/11 years old- what is your main fear about letting a younger child do those things? Abduction? Traffic? Wandering off? Thanks!!

possibly younger than 11 for no roads but road sense is really late isn't it even if they're sensible kids?

We might let year 5 child walk after we cross initial road with them so 9?

11 for roads.

Things haven't changed, apart from cars. We just think they have. We must stop letting ourselves be ruled by paranoia and let our children have the freedom they need to grow.

In the UK thing seem to have become very protective in a generation. I walkednto school with friends from 6, went to London with a friend for the day at 15, and my parents were quite protective.
Last year I tried to drop a 14 year old boy about 100 yards from his house (to save driving down cup de sac), and he looked horrified (peaceful village, no roads to cross..).
Always worth thinking what they'll be doing to get to secondary school and working toward that tho - it'll be a shock spending and your on public transport twice a day, or walking thru a busy town, if they've never tried it before!

I was going to say much younger than pp. I would say 7 for a sensible child to go to a small park if it involves no roads. I am assuming you mean one of those little estate parks not a large town park. I would only let them with a friend at that age. For alone i would say nearer 8/9.

I would let them walk to shop around 9.

Kids round here walk to school from year 4 but it's a quiet small town. It would depend entirely on the roads .(and how sensible your child was)

Park and shop 8,walked to school from year 5.

6 for the park 7 for the shops and 8 for school all ish depending on the child. I let ds1 do things I couldn't trust me neice to do and she's 5 years older. Shes 10 and only just ok to go to the shops ds is 5 and could prob go just now though he's never asked so he's never went.

Mine were around 8 when they did those things.