Just saw an eight year old walk to school by himself (imagine not all the way) and he looked scared of his own shadow, tbh… He was a bit late so not many other people at the gate/ school playground left. It’s the type of school where there’s often no staff out and about greeting children in the morning any more except at the classroom door. The weather was awful.
I have seen other kids at this age and even younger walk through the gate by themselves and they looked absolutely fine - more at home and confident than me! However, I couldn’t think this child is not ready. His posture was scared - rounded shoulders, head down, hunched back… I just thought this child has proper high cortisol levels already and his day has barely started!
Wondering how other parents see this. In your opinion, is this helping a timid child be independent or teaching him he is on his own and has no choice…?
Surely there’s a middle ground of the disapproved ‘helicopter parenting’ and pushing your child to independence in a way that clearly intimidates them.
Which child is going to be more relaxed in the classroom and kinder to others at lunch break - the one who had a carefree chat with parent before drop off, or the one who had to ‘be brave’ alone?