Was watching 'Child of our time' this week - we have an 8yo born in 2000 so very interesting.
None of the parents they spoke to would allow their kids to go to the shop alone e.g. to but a pint of milk. But all parents admitted they had done the same at that age.
We live 5 mins totally safe walk from a very small Morrisons supermarket, where our kids go almost every day on foot (when I have once again forgotten milk/bread/juice/food in general.) and where almost all the checkout staff know my kids on sight and even know their names!
Would I be a very horrible irresponsible phone-the-social-workers kind of mum to let me dd1 go there alone? Neighbour opposite lets her dd, 9, go there on her own. we live in a nice part of Glasgow where nothing bad ever happens. My terror is that someone would see dd out alone and cal social work!!!! All 3 of our kids play outside in the street communally supervised by 4 mums in the culdesac we live in.
I would like to start giving dd1 more freedomand responsibility - she is asking for it - but dont want to be irresponsible. remembering days where my mother sent me (8), sister (6) and my baby brother (1) off for a walk with the pram to buy sweeties several busy roads away! Am not worried about abduction - think that is a very exaggerated risk - but even with one quiet road to cross with pelican crossing I am not sure whether to be nervous of not - she is great at her traffic skills.
What does anyne else think? WOuld you let your kids do it?