How old to be allowed to walk to school on their own.

[Radley]

DD1 (7.11) is asking when she can start walking to school on her own.

She wouldn't have to cross a road until she got to school, I'm not happy with her doing this and, I won't even let her play on our street. Also, I'm not 100% sure she has got enough road sense at present.

What age is about right to walk on their own. I suppose I could let her walk in front at a distance as I have to take dd2 (5) anyway.

Does she have any friends she could walk with? I would be ok with this if she was in a group

I think it all comes down to what roads they have to cross etc. DD walked to and from school on her own since she was that age but there were lollipop people to cross them over both roads.

Not really, not near where we live, and, the only friends that walk past the end of the road are quite, errrrrrrrrrr streetwise and are allowed to go where they want when they want.

my dd1 is 8.6, she asked me the same question recently.
Unfortunately i didn't have an answer for her.
Will watch this thread with interest

How long would it take her?

I have just let DD1 start walking to school with her BF, who lives next door, she is 9. She doesn't have to cross a main road until school.
I started walking behind her and letting her cross the smaller road by herself to see how much she looked for cars etc... Also, they have just done Junior Pedestrian Skills at school so she feels quite confident now.

I'm not sure I would of let her at 7.11 though, seems a little young

My 9.3 yr old is not allowed

I was wondering this today, if it's neglect to leave them at home under 11 how does walking to school or letting them pop out to the shops work? Or have I got the under 11 thing wrong?

Mine started when they were 9, 7 and 5 - but they don't go alone, they are with each other, and they have no roads to cross or even walk down (they walk by a small stream). The journey is 5-10 minutes.

I started letting them when I realised I was just tagging along behind them with ds3 holding me up. I can't see why you couldn't let your dd walk on if you are going to be walking behind with dd2.

I think its better to walk in a group, maybe wait till her sibling is old enough to go to

I started walking to school by myself when I was seven, but that was in the glorious SLADE days of 1972. In 1972 there were hardly any cars on the road, and those people who did drive had the grace to do so within the speed limit. OP, your question depends entirely on whether she has to cross roads, etc. I think your last sentence is the solution in itself. Let her walk at a distance, because you have to take dd2 anyway.

dumbymummy, you must be the same school year as me. (I think)

It would take her about 5-10 minutes, she would have one road to cross and it is only busy because of the parents cars etc.

What does your gut say?

To be honest - NO, not yet. I think I might leave it a while

dd3 (9) sometimes walks to school on her own and has to cross a main road with pedestrian lights.

I'm not 100% happy about it but she did it in year 3 when dd2 was still at the same school so when we are running late I let her.

Other days she walks to my school with me then goes on to her school by a different route which is ok as there are lots of other parents around but takes longer.

Ideally we both walk to her school then I go off to mine but that involves getting up early and me having to run so doesn't happen often!

Depends on the child. My twins, age 8 have done it this year occasionally when I've had to leave for a work thing at 6 or 7am. But they only have to walk to the end of the road. No roads to cross. I think in Germany children of 5 and 6 would walk alone. I sent one twin out alone this afternoon to look for his brother.

Dumbledores, I was born in July 1965 - I'll be 42 this July. Do we have something in common? Hope so.

depends where

moine have started recently
ds1 is 8.5 and takes ds2
its a very short distnace

you can have very very sensible children with loads of raod sense...

i really WAS.... but at 16 years i still managed to get runover on a road i crossed every day (walking my dog) i was hit at 50mph so am lucky to be here now!

i personally dont think i would let a 7 year old walkto school on their own.... but by secindary school age i wouldnt hesitate!

dumbymummy, yes indeed. I am older than you - already 42, born 31.12.64 - but we would have been the same year at school.

Our school won't actually let children walk home themselves until Y4 and even then they need a letter stating the parents are happy for them walking home themselve.

My oldest son's school has a rule you had to be in the last year - age 12. I haven't asked the twins' school as they won't notice them walking on their own and I don't have any other option on those days except hiring someone to babysit from 6am to taking to school time which is silly or to do the 3 minute walk with them.

DS1 will walk on his own in Yr2....but the it's no different to walking to the neighbours house.

I think I'll be back to walking him for YR3 (new school - only up the road and across a supervised crossing but still.......)- but then I'll probably let him walk on his own from YR4-6........YR7 he'll be packed off across the park to catch the bus to the next town