Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

6yr old walking to School alone?

27 replies

caleyhighlander · 04/02/2015 03:19

My 6yr old DD wants to walk to School by herself because she is getting teased at School by older children for walking to School with mummy and for holding hands with mummy (these kids are 9).

So, should I let her walk by herself even though that route is dangerous and due to fact she is totally lacking independence?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Hurr1cane · 04/02/2015 03:33

No.

Hurr1cane · 04/02/2015 03:34

Don't hold hands with her, walk a distance behind her, go and tell the teacher about the bullying.

Bluegill · 04/02/2015 03:34

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

6 year olds Families General parenting

Sarax82 · 04/02/2015 03:44

I agree, walk with her but just hold hold back a bit if needs be so other kids can't tell she's with her mom and don't hold her hand if she feels that's causing the mick taking, but least she's not in any danger then and if the older kids are hanging about your still there to see they don't try and bother her outside of school. She's too young to walk by herself in my opinion but can't understand her wanting too try and do it if kids are being mean

VashtaNerada · 04/02/2015 03:46

Depends entirely where you live. Some 6yo can walk to school if the route is safe but it sounds like it's not where you live. So no. Obviously.

Goneintohibernation · 04/02/2015 03:56

I'm a little confused about why you are asking? Of course you shouldn't risk her safety because of some 9 year old bullies. Surely all the other 6 year olds are being taken to school by their parents?

FishWithABicycle · 04/02/2015 04:02

Of course a 6yo should not walk alone.
And she can hold mummy's hand if she wants to, but doesn't have to except for crossing the road.
Could you consider letting her scoot to school - you'd need to be confident that she would stop and wait for you to hold on to her for every single road crossing.

MirandaWest · 04/02/2015 04:59

Of course you shouldn't let her walk by herself if it's not what you want to do. I'm assuming you're somewhere where 6 year olds don't generally walk to school on their own although if you are it might be a bit different.
If walking to school on their own isn't what 6 year olds do where you are I might also get in touch with school to say that older children are teasing your DD about this - they'd address that with the children in question at my DCs school.

Jenny1231990 · 04/02/2015 10:02

My son is 6 and in year 1, no way on gods earth would I allow him to walk to school by himself it's only up the road, Bullied or not because of it, I'd go and speak to the head teacher about the bullies rather than risk my child's safety

Aranan · 04/02/2015 10:05

Flabbergasted you are even considering this on the say so of a 6 year old child and some 9 year old bullies! Surprised the 9 year olds are walking a dangerous route on their own as well actually.

Ems1812 · 04/02/2015 10:09

She's too little to be walking alone to school. I would say even a 9 year old is too young. Sod the bullies, it's not worth the safety risks.

atticusclaw · 04/02/2015 10:10

Definitely not.

NorbertDentressangle · 04/02/2015 10:12

You've said yourself that the route is dangerous so, no, of course you shouldn't let her.

morethanpotatoprints · 04/02/2015 10:17

No, of course not.
Tell the teacher about the bullying.
I walked with mine until they were y6 because it just wasn't safe in the area they went to school.
I wasn't happy to leave them at 9 neither.

Starlightbright1 · 04/02/2015 10:27

What a great idea..Your child is been teased by older children so your response is to leave your 6 year old alone with these children on a dangerous route to school...

IS teasing going on , on the way to school...IF so what aren't you speaking to the children? If it is going on in school speak to the teacher...

ILoveMyMonkey · 04/02/2015 10:30

Absolutely not and in our school she wouldn't be allowed out at the end of the day unless the teacher sees the adult collector (we don't even release to older siblings unless they are 16).

ILoveMyMonkey · 04/02/2015 10:30

Oh and I agree with all PP's go and see the school about the teasing!

AliceinWinterWonderland · 04/02/2015 10:34

Report the bullies. Continue walking your child to school.

Spatial · 04/02/2015 10:38

I have a very sensible 11 year old that started walking with a friend this school year.

I also have a dreamy 8 year old that I can never imagine allowing to walk without me.

6 is way too young, even if they are very sensible. At 6 very very few children can accurately judge distances so unless there are never any cars on the route, it would be extremely dangerous.

toofarfromcivilisation · 04/02/2015 10:40

I used to walk to school on my own at 6 & it was about a mile. I used to balance over a plank on a little stream too because it was a short cut! Everyone did in 1970!

Didn't let mine though until they were about 9 though!

LeoandBoosmum · 04/02/2015 10:50

Absolutely not! I would walk with her but not hold her hand, except for when crossing the road (it's probably the hand-holding which is causing the teasing). She should still have a general sense of dangers/ road safety awareness though. A six year old in a local school here ran to a friend who was standing across the road when school let out and was killed outright by a van (which was only doing 20). His mum saw the entire thing and will never get over it - I believe had she not had other small children she'd have soon followed him.

Just explain to your little one and compromise in a way that will keep her safe. Assuming the nine year olds are from the same school, it may be an idea to bring the teaing to the school's attention - they may do a whole school assembly to nip it in the bud (after all, there is a difference between a nine year old and a six year old walking to school unaccompanied, although I'd even be a bit reluctant to let a child walk alone to school at nine, unless there were a group of friends walking together and it didn't involve any major roads). The school should be working to instill a sense of protectiveness from the older children towards the little ones.

BTW, I wouldn't let her walk alone with you following at a distance...unless she knows you're following her, it gives her the impression that certain things that should be off limits aren't...

TeenAndTween · 04/02/2015 12:43

My 10 year old DD happily holds my hand on the way to school.

Talk to school re older kids.

disneymum3 · 04/02/2015 14:42

At the age of 6 this is an absolute no no. I wouldn't let a child of 6 cross a road by their self, let alone walk to school.

NorwaySpruce · 04/02/2015 14:50

So the route is unsafe. And your daughter isn't streetwise, but you wonder whether your decisions should be influenced by a group of nine year olds?

Who is the parent here?

Unless you are in a part of the world where going to school alone at 6 is normal, and it's only your perception that the route is unsafe? I know some UK parents struggle with the school bus system/cycle bus etc.

SirVixofVixHall · 04/02/2015 14:54

I'm like the above pp who walked to school at 6, but in the 70s everyone did so I was with a friend who I called for on the way, and/or my older brother. I walked home and back for lunch as well. My dds have had mich less freedom, and I wouldn't be happy with my 7 year old walking to school alone at all. My ten year old would be ok, but we live a car journey away so it isn't an issue.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread