Would you let a 9 and 12 year old walk to shops alone?

[DinoDinoDinoDino]

Would you let a just turned 9 year old and 12 year old go to the shops alone (obviously 12 year old can) but with a 9 year old? Shop says it’s 0.2 miles away, but it’s London and crossing 2 residential and one main road with a bus that comes down (thats the road thats got me questioning it)

11 so I feel like I should wait a little longer

I didn’t say there wasnt but they are kids and theres cars parked up on the road so you can’t always see over them at whats coming like an adult. Walking down would make it more difficult as it would become 4 roads rather than 3

OP I'm in London and understand about not letting kids out yet. My eldest is 8 and I wouldn't let her go to the shops (5 min walk away, no roads to cross). Too many dodgy people about unfortunately. However at 9, with a 12 year old sibling who is ok being out, I would let them do it, assuming that they are both sensible and wouldn't fall out en route. Surely there is a crossing somewhere even if it involves a longer walk? There surely must be some traffic lights with a crossing somewhere, as you live in London, just to manage the traffic. The main road near us has a ton of crossings (although sadly that doesn't stop people ignoring them, which is insane as it's 3 lanes each side, so basically just a slow motorway !), I struggle to believe there are no crossings anywhere. If that truly is the case, in your shoes I would be campaigning for a safe crossing point.

Tell them not to cross near the corner but on a straight stretch of road where it's safer. Are you sure there is no crossing anywhere near? That sounds very unusual.

There is none on the route to the shops no sadly there isnt, feel like I’m going to have to do a diagram 😂

No and I don’t think it’s unusual

Which part of London?

Does that make a difference?

My best advice?

Move …

😄

Why wouldn't that make a difference?!

Just wondering what difference it does make? Im not sure how it makes a difference?

I'm guessing you live in a nice part of London then if you have no idea!

Well I can’t give my exact area

Are you sure there is no crossing anywhere near? That sounds very unusual.

IME in and out of London, on a bus route there are usually crossing places near the bus stops, even if only an island in the middle of the road rather than lights.

I suppose op might live somewhere out in the wilds of Greater London where there might be longer distances between bus stops.

I've had stones thrown at me once walking through a council estate in London

My ex H grew up in Wandsworth was was mugged twice as a young boy, literally for his pocket money

When I lived near a red light district in zone 2 (with neighbours your children's age) I was curb crawled regularly during daylight hours

I was waiting for the drip feed of you living somewhere really dodgy

Edit to say zone 2

I don’t think it really matters, all parts of London have problems.

There are crossings further away but they won’t get you to the shops

Yes, probably. But not all roads and all 12 and 9 yr olds. So not if it's a particularly horrible road and the 9 yr old can still behave erratically.

Okay 😆

Well, I wouldnt let me kids walk alone through a red light district, personally. But I'd probably let them walk to a shop in a naice part

Thanks all I think I might start by letting them go to the ice cream van alone first then build up