What age to walk a few doors down the road?

[Everydayitsgettingcloser]

A neighbour who lives about 10 doors down from us has kindly offered to drive my son to an activity. For now as it's winter and dark early we will definitely walk him down to them but it made me wonder at what age others would allow him to do it alone? There are no roads to cross. I was considering when it's summer and light outside, getting him to walk down on his own but watching him get in safely. Basically to encourage him becoming more independent

[aintitfun]

7?

[eatdrinkandbemerry]

6 if I could see him right up to their door

[Hellocatshome]

As long as you can stand at your door and watch until he gets to their door and neighbour will give a little wave when to you when they answer the door I would say about 5 but lots of people will probably disagree with me.

[Oodlesofdoodlescockapoodles]

I think if you can see them the whole time then pretty young. But if you mean to just send him on his way whilst you stay in the house then I'm not too sure. Maybe 8 or 9?

[MyMachineAndMe]

5 or 6.

[NuffSaidSam]

If you can see him the whole way then whenever you want really. Definitely fine from 5+, probably fine earlier depending on the child.

If you can't see them then a little bit older, depending on the road/area.

[Everydayitsgettingcloser]

Thanks everyone - along the same lines as I was thinking. He is 6 now and a cautious kid so he wouldn't want to in the dark and I think it's good to make 100% sure he knows which door it is but I am tempted to watch him go down in the summer and then look towards him doing this kind of thing (lift arrangements may change) on his own from 8/9.

It's not a biggie for me to walk him down but we need to start building his independence I think (he currently won't even go upstairs on his own!)