What age is considered appropriate before a child can do this...

[Poppymayday]

Get themselves home from a local school, let themselves in and stay home alone for an hour or so until adult gets back home?

Things have changed over the decades in the UK, it has not always been the way it is now.

I wouldn't say they're trying to make children grow up quicker here, they're just giving them what they consider to be a normal childhood, which hasn't changed that much. It's not perfect, I have issues with some of it (I think parents are too lax with water safety for instance) but on the whole I think it's better when children are giving some freedom and independence. My son walked to his friend's house on the next road by himself today and felt very proud of himself, and it gave him joy.

My DD was doing this from year 6 fairly regularly. Local school, five minute walk, no busy roads to cross. Then from year 7 was getting a bus on her own.

It does hugely depend on the child though and there's a big range in what parents are comfortable with. 8 does seem young to me though.

@Goldenbear You don't even know who I am, I have a 'Mumsnet' job as does my DH as does all of my family and parents. How do you think people got into those positions, it's not all nepotism.

A massive chunk of it is nepotism. I've seen it many, many times in the work place. I've also seen people who are thick as shit getting senior positions.

Cronyism is how you get a mumsnet job. Being smart means you end up becoming the smart person in work who knows how to do everything, but is grossly underpaid and controlled too much by management.

This is such a culturally-specific question though, I don't think it can be a case that doing this at XYZ age is 'batshit'.
Equally many countries around the world that would condemn you as a batshit and a damaging parent if you didn't let your child walk or stay home alone until 13!

My DD walks home at 9. She. An see the house from school so we are 100m away. She might be home for 20 mins on occasion but usually I am there or her older sibling.

If only that were true for everyone. Your second reply to me also misses the point . Some of us are focussing on emotional well being as well as practical concerns.

I did this from year 7 including collecting my siblings from primary school 20 mins walk away and serving us all tea my mum left in the oven.

I’m smart and well paid 😉. I also don’t own an SUV. Not sure how any of this is relevant to this discussion though.

My sons were both confident to do this aged about 10/Yr5.

Year 7.

@Anonymouseposter Some of us are focussing on emotional well being as well as practical concerns.

Then you should be the biggest advocate for children walking home from school, given the proven benefits for mental well being.

Not until secondary school. So 11/12

Yes-either with their parent or to a house with someone in it , a relative, childminder or from after school club.

Just to add having read a lot of the arguments on this thread - she came home at rush hour on tube from year 7 with friends on her own. Year 6 she walked from her primary - but I always had someone waiting for her in the house until she was older.
((I walked home alone from village school from age 6 ! And got a school bus - my mum was always at home - and I never wanted my DD to come home to an empty house))

First year of secondary I would say but depends on the child. My second grandson is nearly 8 and behaves like 6 due to ADHD so even at 12 I doubt he would be safe to walk home alone or be alone in the house!

I'm in the US so my kids' school bus drops them virtually at the door. My 9-year-old lets himself in and is home alone for an hour until his sister gets home. No concerns here.

I’m sorry but infantilise is literally what you do with children.

I was doing this from 14/15. I was given a child minder occaisonally and then as my mum's nurses shifts changed, sometimes me and sister had to go home from the bus dropping us at the bus stop which was a ten minute walk home. I think 13 is minimum legal age to leave a child home alone.

Treating your child like an idiot doesn't improve their emotional well-being.

I seriously doubt you had a child minder at age 13.

@shuggles

What is a "Mumsnet job"?

9

What do you think OP?

A high paying job more than £60k, but often even higher than £100k.

Which apparently isn't enough for many people to live on, because they might have difficulty with their monthly payment for a massive ugly SUV after going on holiday for the 3rd time in one year.