To allow a ten year old to walk home from school alone?

[hibbledobble]

She will be in year 5.

Options will be very limited as au pairs virtually non-existent due to leaving the EU and covid-19, after-school club likely not running (and pretty poor if it does), and no childminders I know collect from the school. Plus at her age she would hate being with a childminder.

She is very keen, and thinking of getting her a phone so she can call us if needed. Walk approximately 10 minutes.

It would be to an empty home though, and alone for up to 2 hours.

Walk home no problem, alone for 2 hours is however not ideal imo.

Would it be every day or does one of you work part time?

Everyday for 2hrs by herself could get very lonely very quickly. I know my just starting Yr5 would be very unhappy.

My sons just turning 11 and will be doing this if I ever go back to office working.

My Y5 isn’t ready for this yet (I don’t trust her road crossing skills) but I’m certainly expecting her to come home by herself some time this year. It won’t be to an empty house though, and I think she would find that hard for more than about half an hour.

The walk home is OK. It seems a little young to be home alone for 2 hours but not the worst thing in the world if she has a phone and is fairly sensible.

Used to do this myself from age 9, I loved the independence - it all depends on the kid. Can she cope with it?

Walking home fine, on own for 2 hours, less so.

You're going to get loads of people saying that no child should ever be allowed to walk home until they're at least 17 because what if a meteor fell on their head or an elephant rampaged in the back garden and they didn't know what to do and no, calling a neighbour wouldn't be enough.
But you're raising a confident, independent child who will be fine!

My 9 year old had started walking to and from school before COVID. Some days with a friend, some days on her bike. I have no problem with that.
But it’ll be a while before I’d let her come home and sit in an empty house for 2 hours.

Nothing wrong with the walking home from school. It’s encouraged by DD’s school for Yr 5 & 6.

However, I wouldn’t be comfortable leaving my 10 yr old DD home alone for 2 hours.

I think she would cope, and she is very keen for the freedom. I worry it would be frowned upon by many though, so gauging opinions here.

It wouldn't be every day, likely 2-3 a week

Walk home fine. 2 hours is a definite no from me.

My DD is about to go into Year 5 and will walk home sometimes, but: she had been doing it very occasionally with her brother while in Year 4 (him in Year 6); there are only two roads to cross and lots of people walk together along the same route; and I wouldn't be happy for her then to be at home alone for more than 45 minutes or so.

That said, you know your child and circumstances better than anyone.

You may have thought of this, but I'd recommend a key safe if you can position it out of sight.

I don't see that you have much choice to be honest, why not give it a try and if she doesn't like it you will have to reconsider I guess, but with little choice I don't know what people are suppose to do

If you have someone local she can go to if there’s a problem, clear rules about what she can and can’t do while home alone, and she has a phone so you know when she leaves school and when she gets home, and plans for what happens if she wants to go to an unexpected play date, then I think it can work. You may find she’s lonely and a bit scared, especially in winter when it’s dark. But if it’s the only option, then she’ll have to manage.

It’s too far to walk home from school for my children but my now secondary school eldest child was left at home from time to time in year 5 and loved every second of it! Sounds like your DD is keen to try so I agree with pp saying give it a go. If it works well, then great. If it doesn’t, then you can have a rethink.

Like others, no issue with the walk home (mine walked home from year 4). But not to an empty house. And 2 hours is a long time. It means she may well want drinks/snacks etc and letting them loose in the kitchen, alone, at age 10 would be a no from me.

The walk home is fine but 2 hour alone is too long imo

Our school wouldn't let them leave alone until Year 6. Not sure what rules your school would have?

My ds walked home alone last year in year 5 but never to an empty house, especially a house that was empty for 2 hours. Maybe as a one off but not a couple / few days a week.

She'll be fine so long as she knows where to go if she's worried and can easily phone you.

I'd be happier if she had a landline as well as a mobile so no relying on batteries but other than that fine.

Depends on your situation. I would let dd but she has a phone, knows several neighbours very well, is competent in the kitchen etc. I would also let the neighbours know. Would she have someone on hand to run to or contact if she needed to?

Our school is the same @leafeater, only year 6s are allowed to walk to and from school unaccompanied. Definitely worth checking what school’s policy is.
I personally don’t think it is too young, and it would depend on your child as to how sensible she is, only you know that.

It means she may well want drinks/snacks etc and letting them loose in the kitchen, alone, at age 10 would be a no from me.

Surely a 10yo can pour milk or juice and make a sandwich?

You could always prepare a snack in advance and leave it in the fridge for them.