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DS has just started Year 5 and wants to walk to school with a friend. What do I need to tell him about keeping safe?

11 replies

sinkingfast · 08/09/2008 16:25

I have a few written down but want to check I've covered everything.

Thank you!

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BecauseImWorthIt · 10/09/2008 08:44

Choose a word as a family password - something out of the ordinary that a stranger isn't likely to guess, and then tell your DS that only people who know the password will be allowed to pick him up/give him a lift. (And then don't forget to tell those people what the password is!)

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missingtheaction · 10/09/2008 08:39

I apprecaite the concern about snatching but he much is more likely to be harmed by some road safety issue. Larking around with his mate by the road, crossing without checking and seeing properly, stepping into road while texting etc. Apparently we don't get proper ability to judge speed until we are around 12 (I am still waiting).

depending where you live there is also a chance that he may be hassled by older kids in gangs, especially if he has a mobile.

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dinasaw · 10/09/2008 08:33

Let school know that they are walking to and from school and reconfirm with school that you will always contact them if he is not attending due to illness etc. Ask that you be contacted immediately if he is not at school on time.
Tell your son that if for any reason that he is to be collected by someone else (e.g family emergency) that you will contact school and his teacher will tell him the plans. He is only to accept changes in plans from you, his Dad and his teacher. He is never to accept a lift from someone else, even if it is a family friend. Tell him that if, for example, it is raining and a friend's mum offers him a lift, (it will happen!) he should either politely decline or ask to use their mobile to call you and ask you.
Sorry for being very particular, but my son went off with a friend's mum and I couldn't find him for a while.

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sinkingfast · 09/09/2008 15:56

Thanks SM and mimizan (hello again ), those are great. I was also talking to a friend today who said to tell him not to go anywhere near any cars e.g. if someone calls him asking for directions etc, to just say sorry and walk on. Also not to go with anyone who says I've told them to meet him.

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MorocconOil · 08/09/2008 19:24

My DS who is almost 9 has started going to the shop on his own to get the paper on saturday morning. I told him not to talk to anybody he doesn't know. If he sees someone he knows, he is to say hello and walk on.

In the past I have told him if anyone ever grabs him when we are not there, he can bite, kick and scream and run away as fast as he can.

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StarlightMcKenzie · 08/09/2008 19:23

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sinkingfast · 08/09/2008 19:16

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sinkingfast · 08/09/2008 18:25

Oh those are great thank you. Yes, I'm also looking forward to the day that ds can be sent out on errands, especially first thing on a weekend morning

What about "stranger danger"? Would you advise him and his friend to run off if someone tried to talk to them? And if someone grabbed one of them, what should the other one do? (Sorry for all these questions - ds is a big one for "what ifs")

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Jux · 08/09/2008 17:33

When dd started going to and from school on her own, we started by saying we would follow her, and we did for the first week or so, until we were confident she was OK with the roads and people around etc. Then we would take her to the nearest corner and say bye there, and meet her there after school. After that, we gave her a key and off she went. However, after about a term, she would occasionally ask us to come with her, or to come get her. Now, we're back to going with her and picking her up pretty well every day! Mind you, she was one of the only ones going on her own, and this year there are more of them, so she will probably be happier going on her own again. She currently working on going to the shops on her own. I sent her out for milk on Saturday morning!!!! It was fantastic!

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TheNinkynork · 08/09/2008 17:17

I bet he has great road sense, but areas by schools can be really tricky with people backing out of spaces, side roads and driveways in sometimes quite big vehicles. Does he know to look out for them / reverse lights and that they might not see him?

I'm thinking of letting my DD do this next year and that aspect does worry me. Good on you and DS. Let us know how it goes