Kids walking them self to school

[JessicaRose92oxox]

Asking for a friend...

When is the appropriate age for children to walk them self to school?

Impossible to answer as every child is different and their routes to school will differ

Agree with pp. It depends on where you live, how long the walk is, the maturity of the child.

My eldest DS walked to school at age 7. We lived in a small village, 10 minute walk at child pace, one small road to cross and he was a sensible child.

In contrast DD is now 8 and not allowed to walk alone as it is around 15-20 minutes, two busier roads to cross and she has no sense of direction.

Depends on maturity of child, what the route is, whether there are dangerous roads to cross etc. Mine started when they went to middle school age 9. They walked with friends who lived nearby and it wasn't more than 10-15 min walk with only one road (with a lollipop lady)

Completely depends on the child/ren and the journey.

Can we have some more details?

I was walking to school when I was 9 or 10 I guess but we lived in a small village with no major roads and the journey to school was about a five min walk. For me it would depend on if they had to cross busy roads etc.

My dcs child's school will release them without an adult to collect them from year 5....so 9 upwards.

I allowed my ds to walk by himself in year 6, but I guess it depends on the child and the journey.

I would say 9. But it depends on traffic and being able to cross safely.

Kids seem to walk themselves to school from year 6 round here. I will probably follow suit. It's a 5 minute walk to school and she'll be doing a 40- 60 minute bus/train journey when she's in year 7 so I'd like to start building some independence before then.

This question has made me realise my dc will never experience walking to school 😬

In most parts of the world it's completel normal for children to walk themselves, as soon as they start primary school, which is mostly 6 years old.

My daughter went mostly by bike, though by herself only from 8 years old, because before that it was mainly roads we biked on (small ones, but still). From 8 years old it was bike lane only, so she went herself. In the previous school she would sometimes take the bus by herself from age 6 or 7, and occasionally she would walk.

If the school is within walking distance, I'd let any child walk from 6 years old.

Depends on the country you are in:
Year one at age 6 - including busses and undergrounds.
On bike - after passing the 'bike test' in year four age 10.

Very situation dependant.
Dd was 8.5. But lots of kids here walk from 6 or 7.
Small village and if you are on the 'right' side, no busy roads to cross. Most people know other school mums and everyone would look out for a kid in trouble.
When I was at school I never went anywhere alone til around 12.

We live in a small town and my DS started walking home from school alone some days when he was about 9 and a half. It's a 5-or-so minute walk with a couple of smallish roads to cross.

He doesn't walk to school alone yet as we're walking there anyway with his little sister - he finishes later than her, so we're always home first.

He's a bit of a dreamer, but pretty risk averse. This time next year he'll be about to start at secondary school (where no-one is walked by parents) so he needs to get used to it!

He is also left home alone for 15 mins here and there now.

In my case, there are no roads and it's about a five min walk - so mine have walked from 7yo.

I've had friends say this is irresponsible though. The same friends who let their much younger children play out in the road unsupervised... 😬