to have let my 7 year old go to the shop by himself today?

[IlanaK]

My mother certainly thinks I am and told me so in no uncertain terms!

He is 7.5 years old and we live in central London in a block of flats. The shop in question is under our building so he has to come out the front door and around the corner to the side - no road crossing involved. We know everyone in all the row of shops AND I got my Mum to look out her window to watch him (she lives in another block around that side so could see him as he came round the corner and in and out of the shop).

He was really pleased with himself and he saved me having to get all three kids bundled up just to get some eggs I needed for something I was cooking. My Mum says he is not worldly enough to do this and he is too young. She particularly thinks that as he is home educated he will not be worldly wise. I think the opposite - he is out and about with me all day everyday so knows how to deal with adults.

Unreasonable or not?

Turns out, though, that I do need to teach him to put it in a basket first and not the reusable bag he brought with him . Fortunately it was fine this time but it could be a bit sticky if someone asked if he intended to pay for it etc.

I think it sounds fine. He felt really important and grown up by helping you, he presumably knows not to go off with just anybody, and it will do wonders for his confidence to do things like this for you. People are so damned paranoid these days...

that reminds me of the first time I sent DS1 to the shop to get more than 2 or 3 items. I gave him a little list, but didn't specify types/brands - decided just to let him get whatever and we'd use it - didn't want to confuse him too much.

I nearly fainted when he came back with the stuff that I would have bought, and it wasn't just "all cheap" or "all branded" it was a mixture of own brand and branded!!

YANBU. Sounds fine to me.

good on you!!

I have a nearly 7 year old daughter - were it not for 3 main roads to the shop and the STUPID twats in the faux 4x4's I'd most likely let her trundle say half way now and all the way in a few months I'm still menatlly working out how I'd let her get go out.

I'm VERY pleasantly surprised to see so many being positive with the ideal of yes in the right time /place go for it.

I find it so sad how paranoid everyone is
if I ever try and arrange a kid over for tea it's always SO precise
oh does your kid want to come over for a play?
oh yes what day?
not fussed tuesday & thursday a bit busy but up to you pick a day!
ooo reel off list of clubs eventually find a window then it's will you be ok picking them up oh dear you don't drive do you? oh dear snotface doesn't like walking ( it's 8 mins)
well I'm sure they'll cope!
oooo then if I fetch them at 6 is that ok?
yep sure I can walk them home if you like no bother
ooooooooooooooo I don't know it's dark by then head bang wall

every kid is driven everywhere 5 mins 5 hours they have NO sense at all!

YANBU

MY ds8 has gone to the shops a few times on his own - he thinks he's very grown up and important

YANBU if the errand is small, the shop is near, the DC is sensible and knows the shop/route, and there isn't a traffic problem nearby. More kids should have the opportunity to do things like this.