How old before they can go to the corner shop on their own or with a friend?

[Spidermama]

My dd(8) says she wants to be allowed to go to the shop on her own or with her friend.

Does your child go to the shop on his/her own?

Are there roads to cross?

When did you start going to the shop on your own when you were a kid?

i can remember being about 8/9 when i was allowed to go to the shop which was the next street to where we used to live,there was a small road to cross but i was only allowed to go with a friend and not on my own until i was about 10.
I think it depends on your dd and how responsible you think she is for roads,strangers etc

I think 8 is a perfectly reasonable age for children to be allowed to go to the shop alone - DS1 and DS2 first started at that age. There is one road to cross. I would have started going to the shop on my own at a similar age, possibly even younger (I walked past a couple of shops on my way home from school).

My dd (9.5) would love to be allowed to go to the corner shop on her own - but there is one side road to cross so I don't let her as yet - though it would be handy if I did because I could send her out for bread, etc when we run out!

I remember being sent to the shop when I was 4 - and it wasn't just up the road either....

My dd is still not savvy enough imo to cross safely - and because cars regularly park on the double yellow lines it's not easy to see if traffic is coming.

I am very aware though that in 18 months or so she will be at secondary school and walking there on her own so I am trying to encourage her to watch the traffic more, etc when we are out together. I think when she is in Yr 6 I will be actively training her up for the secondary school walk...

Felt perfectly happy letting dds go to nearby park when they were 7. It is just at the end of our street and they only have to cross quiet road outside our house which I could watch them do. They had to be going either together or with a friend at that age.

Spidermama, I let ds, who is 9 but not very worldly at all, go on his own recently to buy eggs.
BUT:

no roads to cross
it's a 5 min walk if that
we live in small town
He had my mobile with him and I had dhs with me and if he wanted me all he had to do was press the green button twice

He came back elated and wanted to go again immediately so I let him and then third time he was longer and I was v v nervous and about to go and get him but then he appeared. When friends came to stay he went there with 2 others, one same age as him and 1 a year older, a very sensible 10yo and they were all THRILLED to be allowed.

I used to get sent to the corner shop in Bristol to get fags for my dad when I was about 7, aah the seventies, those were the days

KTPP, I was 4 as well when I used to go on my own armed with a list and some money. Couldn't imagine sending my 5yo ds out shopping on his own now though!

I let her go with her friend. I gave her a shopping list. They both loved it. They did really well even deciding not to get the croissants on the list because 'they were £1.50 for just two'.

I was a bit nervous but that's it now. She has been. A right of passage.

I live in a small village and have actively been encouraging my 7 yearold to go to the shop...vv handy...I dont let them cycle..think that would be more dangerous?..also let my 5&6 year old either go together or with the 7 yearold...I time it 3/4 mins each way ...can ring the shop if a problem...last time I sent the 7 year old out ...he came back abit flustered when i said what was hte matter he said he was scared of the dark...cr*p mum didnt even think of that as it was only 4pm