To let 7 year old walk to and from school alone?

[RLE2]

DS is in year 3, we live about a 10 minute walk away from the school. We live in a quiet area, he won't be near any busy roads, the only roads he has to cross is our road and the school road. The school road isn't too busy as it's only people going to the school using it and our road is empty apart from neighbours. Is 7 too young? It's not unheard of for year 3's to walk by themselves at his school but most still walk with a parent, a few don't

Shatners, of course you are less likely to be snatched today than 30years ago, probably because there are no kids playing out now.
It's sad but no way would I have let my 7yr old do this and they have all grown up into independent functioning adults who moved away to uni at 18.

I wouldn't let my 7 year old walk home from school. Far far to young.

IHateUncleJamie seriously? I walked alone from age 5 in a city in the south west of England, as did everyone else. Nearer 40 years ago than 30 - are you saying that there was a radical change in English parenting between 1979 and 1989?

Too young. At 7 they're not developmentally ready to judge speed and distance.

No definitely not. I have a 7 year old who goes to a village school and I wouldn't let her walk alone even a short way. Although she's sensible, she's tripped over and hurt herself occasionally. Road sense goes out the window when she sees a friend or something that distracts her. She's been scared by dogs who have run to her as there's a lot of dog walkers in the area. Cars mount the pavement on narrow parts and I've had to pull her back and stop her on occasion. Dramatic but they could be approached by a stranger or even snatched.
Of course there are always risks and you can't wrap them in cotton wool forever, but if alone they need to be old enough to deal with situations that may arise, and I don't think they are at 7.

No i wouldn't allow it. Also when they do start walking by themselves i will allow them to walk home alone first. As i would be concerned that if they didnt get to school for any reason the school may not contact me there for my child could have been missing for all that time.

I dont see the huge hurry to make kids grow up.

DS1 did at that age, but there were no roads to cross. It was a straight line through the park, and there was a gate out of the park and into the school. There were also plenty of other children doing it then and he sometimes visited the playground on the way back.

I waited until DS2 was older because I think he's slightly more easily distracted and they'd also closed off the gate that went directly from the park to the school meaning he has to do the last 100yds on the pavement. He does the journey to school on his own (Yr5) but one of us always picks him up still. Next year he'll do both journeys independently.

Our schoolonve rang me up to complain that our childminder wasnt walking our 3 down into the playground but was dropping them at the top of the road (a quiet culture de sac). School had concerns that due to turning traffic they were at risk of being run over.

I think 7 is maybe a bit young for MY child in MY area - but as PP have said only you know.

I would be tempted to do a bit of prep work with him first. I did this with my eldest - doing the route together and pointing out any bits he needs to be more aware of, doing the route apart but together (me walking a bit behind), doing the route apart but together with walkie talkies, etc. So it was built up over a few weeks, rather than him just walking out the door one morning. This built both his and my confidence. The walkie- talkies were great as he could check in when he arrived at school.

I would of thought too young but if you think it's fine why not follow him secretly the first couple of times so you can see how he get's on crossing roads etc and there as a back up & put your mind at rest

You can try to justify it to yourself by using words like 'phased approach' but the fact is 7 year old have not developed enough critical thinking skills to deal with unpredictable situations or unforseen circumstances. It just comes across as laziness to me. There is a middle ground between letting them walk alone at 7 and not letting them out of your sight until 18.

We got stuck in traffic on the way to school and we're 1/2 a mile from my DS's school. I told him to get out and start walking as we were going to be late, but I couldn't leave him and picked him back up again. 🤦🏻‍♀️

why would you do this ? Unless there is a genuine reason - please don't put a child at risk

I said my DD was 10, 11 in a few months actually.

7 is far too young imo.

if you say your child can walk home alone or to school alone I do not think legally the school can stop it, they may not like it but if you send in a signed letter for wee johnnie to walk home that's it
I walked to and fro from school aged 6-7 and by 8 was responsible for my younger sister, the roads are safer now statistically as is stranger danger but people are more risk adverse even though risk is lower
Europe is very similar to here and most children go to school by themselves from age 6-7

I was sharing my experience to show why I'm on the fence regards a 7 year old.

I should say, I didn't do that until my child was 9 and a half. And even then I was still walking my smallest child so I could physically check that he had arrived. He just really wanted to feel independent and I trusted him.

I probably wouldn’t at that age... I’d give it a year or two.

Some posters here will be ultra risk-averse though.... The other day there was a post asking whether it was ok to let her 17, yes seventeen, yo daughter walk 15 minutes to work now it was light

why would you do this ? Unless there is a genuine reason - please don't put a child at risk

At risk of what, @lovemyflipflops ? Not goady, genuine question.

if you say your child can walk home alone or to school alone I do not think legally the school can stop it, they may not like it but if you send in a signed letter for wee johnnie to walk home that's it

Well, I'd imagine if they think it's a safe guarding risk, they could refer you to ss.

As he's been asking for a while then yes. I would ease him into it, first let him take the lead when you walk to school, deciding when it is safe to cross the road (also get him to do that when you are walking elsewhere, on busier roads) to get an idea of his road sense - does he make considered sensible decisions about when to cross the road or is he impulsive? Then have him walk with you following a bit behind to see how he does. This is the advice given in my country where children are expected to walk alone to and from school from 6/7 years old (and as they can do it just fine here then there's no reason why children the same age can't in the UK, provided it's in a reasonably safe road area).

I used to walk to school at 5 (school was on my street) - but then I also used to chap strangers doors and ask if they wanted me to take their babies for a walk ( and they used to let me). Different times sighs nostalgically

Will your school let you? At our school they've tightened up on safeguarding and you can only walk to and from school alone in years 5 and 6. For other years you can't even walk them to the playground and then leave, you have to remain with them until the school goes in.

It's completely area/kid dependent but I would say that until you feel happy to make the decision without asking on here, keep going with him.

I wouldn't let my 8yr old (y3) but she is a dreamer, has 2 roads to cross, and to be perfectly honest the local parents would probably call ss about it. However if you and he are confident in his abilities is your decision. I always find asking the kid what they would do if an adult they didn't know talked to them revealing (e.g. When DD 1 said some sassy reply I knew she wasn't ready).