AIBU to let my Year 5 daughter walk home alone?

[lemonbalm107]

DD will be going into year 5 in September and is sensible. Her school allows Y5 and Y6 to walk to/go home from school alone with parental permission.

what are everyone’s thoughts on this? We live a 4 minute walk from the school, with 2 residential road crossings (occasional cars, not super busy). Keen to encourage her independence but as she’s my first child I’m not sure overall.

Sounds like it wouldn’t be a problem, but when my kids were at primary school, I was working the playground, getting to know other parents , teachers and kids, and understanding dynamics of relationships. When DC3 was in Year 6, they absolutely didn’t need me to collect them, but school pick up was my reason to leave the office at 3.00 pm promptly.

My kids walked from year 5. Village school about 0.5 miles. Was a bit nerve wracking at first but they were pretty sensible and was good for their independence. All down to the child I think and the route.

Mine did in year 5. I suppose it depends on the journey though. In your situation I'd let her.

How old is year 5?
My daughter walked from just before her 10th birthday, with a friend.

Of course it's fine. Children walk home from Year 4 here without any issues.

I would start her in the spring / summer term of year 5. Probably from after Easter break. For the first week id send her and follow a few minutes after. I live in London, the roads are busy and mine would have to cross 4/5 roads.

Me and my husband were talking about this today because lots of kids walk to school alone. Ours a younger than yours and I can't imagine them going to school unsupervised. The eldest doesn't really have awareness of her surroundings shes distracted easily (ADHD) so I'm not sure if she will go alone.

I've just signed the permission form for DS1 to do this when he starts Y5 in September, similar sort of walk.

In reality we will still be nearby as we have to take DS2 (kids who are allowed to walk independently are not allowed to supervise siblings) so that's a bit of a safety net for him, but I think it's a good start to building independence.

My youngest starts year 5 in September and will walk alone (usually from the second week as we sign the permission slips in the first). My eldest did the same.

Why even question it, the school allows it for a reason. My DC all started walking home alone at that age and their school was almost 2 miles from home, they survived.

It feels weird to you because its all new. Mine is in yr5 now, and over a period of months I got further and further from school. By Easter he was walking on his own completly, about a 20min walk.

It's fine, but I think the school run is a great contact point so I wouldn't be in a rush to give it up.

Totally fine. DS started walking for 20 minutes (or cycling for 5) to/from school in year 5. He loved the independence. Let her do it if she wants to.

We have a middle school system where the expectation is all children walk from Y5, from a brand new school, new route. Goes to show that children are a lot more capable than we might think.

4 mins walk is fine,
im never letting my dd come home from primary alone as it’s a bus ride and I am not comfortable with that

What does it mean to work the playground?

Yanbu.

DD has walked alone right through Y5 and Y6.

DS I think we’ll struggle but he has SEN….

Sounds ideal.
My dd asks me every day. Her walk is 2miles and even home from the bus stop is an absolute no due to where we live. One day I'll move.

Yeah I’d be fine with it if she’s generally trustworthy

We live less then 5 minutes from school and it actually annoyed me that they wasn't allowed to do this younger they had already been going to the shop by themselves from 8 which was further then the school

Completely normal where I live for kids to walk home even younger.

We live in rural area, with middle school system. Children start at 9 and either walk or get the school bus. They are expected to do it, and there’s very little parental involvement after day 2.

That sounds entirely fine. My kids walked to and from school independently from Year 4. Our was about half a mile with some tricky crossings. They also started going to town to buy bits and bobs at the same age. It's been good for them to have that independence and trust, and to feel competent and useful.

Definitely let her go. Give her practice in crossing the busy roads. You could also give her a task with money or card to get groceries on her way back. Most children of that age (me included) could do that at that age. Maybe get her to walk to or back with a friend. Instil in her no going off to park, playground with anyone unless specifically agreed with you in advance and even then with a time limit. And clue her up again on stranger danger. Maybe if she gets lost or goes for a wander tell her to knock on a door if she’s scared. Does she have a basic phone? Might be worth getting one. Also what about a drink for after school?

Sounds fine to me!

You put the words into my mouth. Great to get stuff for themselves but if they’re helping mum eg to buy milk, flour, bread whatever it gives them great skills in choosing, prices, weights if applicable and responsibility and pride in being trusted, helpful and in getting it home. Could even shop to get ingredients for making cakes.