Question about yr 7 student walking to and from school

[Mojavewonderer]

I have a daughter who started year 7 in September. We live about a half hour walk from school but I usually drive her which takes 6 minutes. I am coming to the conclusion that she could maybe walk to and from school but she has no one to walk with although there are older kids from her school walking in from where we live. Would it be ok to let her walk it or should I keep driving her in? I want her to have her independence and be able to get herself to school but I am anxious, she is not though and wants to do it. What would you do?

I know how you feel! My DS has just started year 7 too and has a 25 min walk. The approach I took was to walk him both ways for a few days so that he I was happy with the route. Then I walked part of the way, increasing the distance he walked by himself each day. He now walks himself to and from school quite happily. The key I think is to do it gradually until you both feel comfortable.

She must be walking at times that lots of people are about and lots are walking to school. As long as she is happy she will be fine. Most children have a walk, then a bus.

Thank you both. I will walk her in on Monday and let her go it alone Tuesday if she's comfortable with doing that. There are loads of kids walking to school in the morning when I'm driving her in and she is allowed to carry a mobile as long as it's not seen being used on school premises so she can text me to let me know she got there safely :) fingers crossed all goes well.

Let. Her. Walk.

I have a DS in y 10, and Y6, and if DH and I didn't work we would let DS2 walk to school, the same distance. Although I would check somehow he had made it. I will let DS2 walk home after Easter (although he doen't know this yet).

Funny, because I did a practise run with DD1 (train and walk) in the summer holidays before she started school. I had been warned that it would be deeply uncool for me to accompany her to school, in any way. I know another mother who tried to walk her DD to the train station in the afternoon from school. Her DD just went off with her friends, and the mother ended up walking alone and then sitting in the train in a different carriage.

However, at DD2's school, all the parents picked up after school on the first day, even if it was just to accompany their DC on public transport. I was the only one who didn't. Seems you can get it right all the time.

Is cycling an option ?

I would say that walking was much safer- unless you have proper cycle paths.