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Parenting

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Original poster

Am I right to let my 10 yr old dd walk to school tomorrow?

14 replies

mosschops30 · 16/05/2007 20:59

She walked today with two friends after sleeping over at one of their houses. They walked here first to drop off some stuff and then walked to school.

She usually goes to a friends and has a lift, but their car is broken and I am stuck tomorrow.

So if she coped today should I let her walk as a regular thing? She only has to cross 2 roads (and one has a zebra crossing), the road she walks along is jammed with traffic in the morning so no speeding vehicles, and there are lots of kids walking the same route to the local high school

Opinions welcome

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NoodleStroodle · 16/05/2007 21:02

Yes - a good step on the road to independence. 10/11 is old enough to start on such things IMO

CarGirl · 16/05/2007 21:03

yes I agree with Noodle

PandaG · 16/05/2007 21:05

I would be happy if she was with a friend.

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crunchie · 16/05/2007 21:06

why not?? if it is close enough to walk why would you use a car in teh first place? I would expect dd1 to be walking to school by year 5 AT LEAST (preferably in y4 tbh) By secondary school she will have to walk to teh bus stop and get a bus, so she is certainly caplable in walking the 300 yers

Chelseamum · 16/05/2007 21:10

I would let her but I would definetly remind her of all the issues, stranger, looking both sides of the road... blah blah blah

pointydog · 16/05/2007 21:33

I don't see why not

Original poster

mosschops30 · 16/05/2007 22:05

Its about a 20 minute walk to school from here. She will be walking alone tomorrow, but like I said its a busy walkway at that time in the morning, lots of children and parents walking in both directions to the two schools.

She will have to do it from september anyway for High School.

I know I was walking further and getting the bus when I was 10 but I suppose things have changed

OP posts:

christywhisty · 16/05/2007 23:10

My DD 9 occassionally, but there are no roads to cross, DS is in year 6 and most of the children walk themselves to school now.

Tommy · 16/05/2007 23:19

I was chatting to another Mum about this today and I remembered that I walked home from school at 5 or 6.

They need to get used to it sometime - you can't take them everywhere - and when they are at secondary school, they won't want you too.

nappyaddict · 17/05/2007 00:00

yes. round here all the children walk to school alone from the age of about 7.

if there were no roads to cross i'd even say it would be ok at about 6.

mumeeee · 17/05/2007 00:08

Yes she should be fine. A lot of children start walking to school at the age of 10.
A 7 year old is to young to walk to school on their own. Our local primary school won't let any child under 8 walk home from school by themselves. They have to be picked up by a known adult.

RosaLuxembourg · 17/05/2007 00:32

DD is 9 (Yr 5) and I have just started letting her walk home from school alone. Around here, summer term in Yr 5 is the normal time for this to happen. She has one busy road to cross with a zebra crossing and another with a lollipop lady. She was keen to do it and I think it is important she gets the chance.

nappyaddict · 17/05/2007 00:47

at 7 i was being left alone for a couple of hours at a time!

brightwell · 17/05/2007 03:42

My ds 9,(nearly 10) sometimes walks himself to school. It's not far and the only main raod to cross has a pedestrian crossing. It is hard letting them do it. But sometimes, in my case, needs must. I sometimes have to leave the house before him, he knows the house rules, he leaves home at 8.25 & makes sure the door is shut, Thankfully I have good neighbours who look out for him.

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