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Original poster

Would you let your 8 & 6 yr olds...

93 replies

SoupDragon · 31/05/2007 10:12

... walk to the post box along residential roads where it involves crossing the not-busy road. It's out of sight of the house, probably 3 minutes wlk there and 5 back (it's uphill )

I can't decide. If it didn't involve crossing the road I'd let them but they've not crossed a road alone before and I'm paranoid about it having been run over myself.

OP posts:
ZacheryQuack · 31/05/2007 10:14

I don't have an 8 and 6 year old, but could you follow them (at a distance) and watch them crossing the road, or would your heart be too much in your mouth? See how they go and then maybe extend what they do?

kid · 31/05/2007 10:15

Depends on the children and how responsible they are. I personally wouldn't let my 5 and 8 year old do it. I might let them walk ahead of me to see what they were like and then consider it in the future.

Mindles · 31/05/2007 10:15

You could let them go but follow them secretly? Not sure really what that would achieve but you would know they were safe and could grab them if anything did happen. If everything went ok it might reassure you for next time. I don't know though because I used to walk to the village shop all the time which was a bit further than that and I can only have been about 6 or 7.

FioFio · 31/05/2007 10:16

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Message withdrawn

admylin · 31/05/2007 10:17

That is one of the things I also worry about here. My 2 dc could walk to school quite safely apart from that one road without a crossing.
Could you not do the trial run a few times and see how they do - go with them but they tell you when they think it's safe to cross? I'd trust an 8 year old but 6 is abit young maybe.

kid · 31/05/2007 10:20

I always feel my kids are safer when they are together.
I have let my 8 year old go to the shop opposite my house with my 13 year old nephew. I didn't even like that as the road they had to cross is used as a short cut by drivers so they often speed along it.

KerryMum · 31/05/2007 10:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lljkk · 31/05/2007 10:25

Probably yes to Q.
But we play games crossing the road, they tell me when to cross rather than me telling them (obviously I can stop them then if it's not actually safe). So they have had a lot of practice.

ahundredtimes · 31/05/2007 10:30

I let my 9 yr old do this, but not my 7 yr old, as he is too daft. In fact 9 yo not that sensible now I think of it. The first time he did, I shadowed him, jumping in and out of people's gates. Was mad, but made me feel better.

Original poster
SoupDragon · 31/05/2007 10:31

I can't follow them as BabyDragon is asleep I wouldn't let the 6 year old go by himself but with his brother he'd be fine. I'm usually fairly laid back - they run free at Godstone Farm and they were virually feral on the beach on holiday last year. It's just the road, my pet fear.

I normally get in the car, leave them all at home and am back in well under 2 minutes - I trust them alone for that long!

OP posts:
Kaloo20 · 31/05/2007 10:31

I probably do it with them this morning, reminding them how to cross the road on the way, then 'finding' another letter that needs posting this afternoon and after checking they remember how to cross the road let them go.

I remember being able to do this for the first time, but I was a few years older, but the post box was twice the distance and over a busier road

Kaloo20 · 31/05/2007 10:32

oops didn't see last post about sleeping dragon

ChasingSquirrels · 31/05/2007 10:34

depends on how non-busy it is, but almost certainly yes, I let my 4.5yo go to the box at the top of our road last week, but made him go the long way round the bottom of the road rather than cross it. This was a 3min round trip. Having said that everyone I know is amazed I let him though.

LadyTophamHatt · 31/05/2007 10:34

Yes, ds1 has been doing it for a little while.
ds2 has been with him a couple of times.

They haveeto cross the road directly outside our house and wlak along a very narrow raod with no pavement.

ahundredtimes · 31/05/2007 10:35

I read this thing Soupy which said children weren't able to judge distance and speed properly until they're nine. Have no idea whether this is true, but this is what I tell my 7 and 5 yo. But then again I've also told ds1 NOT to cross the road if he can see, hear or smell a car anywhere on the road. I figure he can wait.

ChasingSquirrels · 31/05/2007 10:36

lol at see hear or smell, ds waits and waits and waits, then waits some more (this is with me with him). I do wonder if once he goes out on his own he is ever going to manage to get accross

LadyTophamHatt · 31/05/2007 10:36

they'll be fine soupy.

tell them if they do it sensibly they can have 50p each.
that always works here!!

ProfessorGrammaticus · 31/05/2007 10:36

I let my 8 yr old, he did it yesterday! Don't send the 6 year old yet (even with the 8 yr old). Depends on the child.

DimpledThighs · 31/05/2007 10:36

I would if the roads were quite and I would put them in bright jumpers!

ahundredtimes · 31/05/2007 10:37

Am also quite laid back, and want my children to be at least a little streetwise and like them to be feral on holidays too. BUT I am in constant state of anguish whilst 9 yo out on his Important and Necessary Trip to Local Shop.

Original poster
SoupDragon · 31/05/2007 10:37

It's "non busy" in that it's a residential road, it's not a rat run, not a through road to anywhere (but not a cul de sac) but they'd have to cross where I can't see them.

OP posts:
ChasingSquirrels · 31/05/2007 10:38

babydragon will have woken up while you are dithering, then you can creep along behind them!

Original poster
SoupDragon · 31/05/2007 10:38

DS2 is streetwise enough to realise I can't see if they're being sensible or not, LTH

OP posts:
charliecat · 31/05/2007 10:39

Ive read that they cant just speed/distance till they are 11.
I lost my ability to judge while I was preganant for some bizarre reason and it was terrifying. I could see cars, but my brain wouldnt process how fast they were moving/whether I should cross.
I have a 9 and 6 year old. I wouldnt let them.

Original poster
SoupDragon · 31/05/2007 10:39

She will certainly wake up if DSs don't stop trying to kill each other!

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