Age to go out alone

[BiscoffSundae]

What age did you let your child go to the shop on their own? I know all kids are different but just wondering the general age, more if it includes crossing a road, my son is 10 but my mum thinks he is too young to go to the shop alone so wondering what age is suitable?

Obviously all kids are different, but on average I think 10 is a good age to start short trips to the local shop.

I mean by 11 a lot of children are getting to/from secondary school alone by walking, bus etc. So the odd trip to the local shop seems like a good stepping stone.

you could always walk to the local shop 10 meters behind him and see how safe you think he acts.

I had a key to my house at 9 to make my own lunch. Never got taken to school by a parent always my brother who was 5 years older. Went to town on a bus to go swimming when I was 10. Thinking about my nephew who is 8 I can’t imagine him doing any of this but he is allowed to go to the shops and park etc himself.

She's right he is too young to be going out alone. Give it another four years or so.

Should be able to travel to secondary school independently with a journey that involves public transport and walking, so by 11 and work towards that. I'd say start at 8 or 9 walking to the end of the road to a local shop. 9 or 10 a longer walk crossing roads to a shop, by 10 or 11 make own way to and from school and park to meet friends.

I let my daughter go to the local shop by herself aged 8, but it's literally 50 metres away and no roads to cross - I used to wait by the open kitchen window for her to come back. Now aged 10 I'm just starting to let her go out if her school friends come and knock for her - but she has to take her phone with her. Luckily we live in a small very safe village at the end of a no through road, where everyone knows everyone - not sure I'd allow it yet if we lived anywhere else

How do think secondary kids get to and from school if they can't go out alone

Out to play - age 6

Visit the shops - age 9

I interpreted that as sarcasm not a genuine opinion that they should wait till they’re 13

14?

That's pretty extreme 😳

I'm 32 now but when I was 9 I went on my first trip to the shop (Woolworths) alone.

That's your opinion.

Both my kids started going out alone at 9/10. They take phones, they stay in touch, they gain confidence.

Ds is 9 and has been going to the shop on his own for a little while now (months not years). We're very rural and it's only a few mins walk away, there's no roads to cross (no pavements either though). Just checked and it's 310 yards

My 9yo is capable of going to the shop for milk or bread by herself, including paying. 10yo can do more complicated stuff. They've been going together for the past year, or 10yo by herself (nearly 11). But 9yo just started going by herself.

Its the same distance to school and she does that herself too (10yo has different start time)

About 8/9
Dd was allowed out the front to play at 4 she's 6 now.
Quiet cul-de-sac and she knows if she leaves it she comes in.

The term before their 11th birthdays I let them go to the park with their friends and the local shop- both 5- 10 min walk away and pelicans to cross any busier road. They also started walking to school by themselves at this age ( 5 min walk with no busy roads to cross. )

For DD1 ( June BD) this was the last term of year 6, for DD2 (Sept BD) this was the last term of year 5.

I think it does depend on how sensible your DC are. I think DD2 would have been ok to go younger than this as she always seemed more mature at a younger age than DD1 ( who as an adult was diagnosed with ADHD.)

My son was 8 when he went to the shop on his own now he's nearly 11 and walks home from school and to the park etc.

DS was 8

It depends very much on the journey to the shop!

Reading these replies it's apparent many of the pps are living in towns or cities. I live just outside a town and the nearest shop is still 45 minutes walk away so I wouldn't send my 10 year old there, no.
Most secondary school children where I'm located are driven to school too.

No shop is less than 10 mins walk but two roads to cross, it threw me that my mum said he was too young given she allowed us go to the shop from about 7! How times have changed I guess!

IME the grandparents are much more circumspect than with their own kids 😁