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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you let your 11 yr old out for their daily exercise alone?

118 replies

Teacher12345 · 23/04/2020 20:46

8ish so not too busy and it is still warm. Would you trust them to socially distance? Would you let them go with you?

OP posts:
Original poster
Teacher12345 · 23/04/2020 22:04

I am simply asking if, in the current climate, other people would be confident letting their 11 yr old child out for a walk on their own. Trusting them to social distance and keep themselves safe.

OP posts:
Tumbleweed101 · 23/04/2020 22:06

I'd prefer my 10yo (nearly 11) to do her exercise earlier than 8pm. Otherwise I have no problem with her going out alone. We are rural though so easier to social distance without supervision.

milkysmum · 23/04/2020 22:09

Yes. I have an11year old and would be more than ok with her going on a walk on her own.
Dolly- how on Earth do you get an 11 year old in bed by 8pm!?
Neither my 8 year old or 11year old would ever be tired before 10pm- ever!! ( much much later on a weekend )

WhyCantIthinkOfAgoodOne · 23/04/2020 22:12

I live in a very safe village with not much traffic so as long as the 11 year old was sensible then yes I would.

RoseMartha · 23/04/2020 22:17

My kids who are a bit older than this, the answer is no, but one has asd, and not ready at all.

However, if things were different and I had a sensible 11 yr old then probably yes but not that late. Probably about 6pm instead.

chomalungma · 23/04/2020 22:20

If it's social distancing you're worried about, there are plenty of adults out there who don't seem to get it, let alone children.

fairynick · 23/04/2020 22:21

Well at 11 don’t most children get on the bus to go to secondary school? Mumsnet is full of mollycoddling sorry.

Mummyshark2018 · 23/04/2020 22:22

Yes it's fine. At 11 they should understand social distancing and tbh they're going to have to get used to it if we listen to what we're told about how this is going to roll for the foreseeable.

Tootletum · 23/04/2020 22:23

Don't see why not for him but it's everyone else asking questions and getting pissy I'd worry about.

stickerqueen · 23/04/2020 22:25

depends on the child really I would not let me 12 year old because she not good at the social distancing.

Schoolisback1973 · 23/04/2020 22:27

Yes but not at 8pm

shazshaz · 23/04/2020 22:34

The issue isn't mollycoddling or safety, the issue is peer pressure. There are plenty of school kids around my way meeting up in an organised way while out for their "daily walk". Parents are either ignorant in their bliss or letting it happen. OP I let my teen out for specific journeys ie bike ride to the shop. I track dc via their phone. But just a general walk - no I don't. If they want a walk just to get out then they go with either me or OH.

mrsbeeton999 · 23/04/2020 22:35

Was he running past everyone clapping if it was 8pm this evening?

Winter2020 · 23/04/2020 23:14

My eldest is 10 and I wouldn't let him go out for his walk alone at the moment. My worry is him being snatched rather than walking too close to someone re: the virus.

When he is 11 I hope he will walk to high school which is 20 minutes or so away but generally with friends and even if not with friends there would be lots of others walking too. I don't like the idea of him walking lonely streets which they would be at the minute.

Blackandgreenteas · 23/04/2020 23:19

I’m a bit worried she’d panic and be scared if the police stopped her to ask what she was doing, so I haven’t been letting dd11 do this. That said, I might if this goes on much longer.

Mummyshark2019 · 23/04/2020 23:19

Nope

Doryhunky · 23/04/2020 23:21

Normal times yes. Now no. Fewer people around. Some people have been aggressive
About social distancing. Some people
Are
The social distancing police and might make
Her uncomfortable.

saraclara · 23/04/2020 23:23

Absolutely. When I was a kid I really needed alone time. I'd go out for long walks frequently. And now that families are cooped up together, I think some kids will need it all the more.

And yes, I would have trusted my own kids to manage social distancing. I'd just remind them to wash their hands as soon as they got home.

LagunaBubbles · 23/04/2020 23:25

wouldn’t. At that age they’re not strong enough to fight off an attack

An attack by who?

Handiies · 23/04/2020 23:31

No chance, 11 is way too young

Handiies · 23/04/2020 23:31

Not a chance, way too young

Sheeeeesh · 23/04/2020 23:37

Not at 8pm, no. My 11 yr old has been out for a bike ride but that is with 16 yr old big brother, he is still developing confidence and road awareness which is even harder when trying to socially distance. Depends on the child though, some are more street wise than my delightful airheadSmile

REdReDRE · 23/04/2020 23:57

No, I wouldn't trust them not to meet up with others. Granted, mainly older, but if I go out for a run around that time I've seen groups of teenagers, I totally judge their parents for allowing them out alone.

If it wasn't for that, I still think 8pm is a bit late but not covid related.

ThePants999 · 24/04/2020 00:02

When I was about 11 - I might have been 12 - I'd occasionally walk 8 miles to the nearest town. Most of that was along a busy A road (adjoining path). 'Course, I'd then be knackered and phoning my parents asking for a lift home 😁

Greenmarmalade · 24/04/2020 00:03

Yes.