Letting a four year old go to the shops unaccompanied?

[wonderingwondering]

DS is 4.5, starts Reception in September. We live 200 yards from our local shop, where they know DS. Today, I thought about letting him go to the shop on his own. We live on a busy road, but there's a wide pavement, and he wouldn't have to cross the road. He's quite sensible.

He seems very young, but he's quite capable of going in to a shop and buying things on his own - he's done that, while I wait outside or in the car, for a year or so now. Is he too young to walk there and back on his own?

No definitely not 3

Just checked out the time span ! 😞 Whats going on today !!

Have you heard of James bulger etc? I wouldn't leave him out of my sight!

@kyliewilson

4 is just too young. I’d say 7 is the minimum age to walk to the shop and buy something alone, but even I wouldn’t let a 7 year old do that. Think about possible dangers. He might see a dog on the other side of the road and want to say hello, he might see a friend and want to say hello, or he might see a toy car on the other pavement that he liked the look of. It doesn’t matter how sensible they are, or how sensible you think they are, all 4 year olds will probably still get distracted.

He's 17 by now so your advice is a tad out of date

Zombie thread!!

Thread is from 13 years ago, the boy is 17 now!

Well the lad is 17 now so I expect he is quite safe going to the shop!

How on Earth did I miss this first time around!
it’s strange because as I was reading it I was thinking that it was very like mumsnet as it was all those years ago, then I clocked the date

no

I think as long as you are nearby, it is not a bad thing to help him gain independence. Just found something called Old Enough on Netflix which is a weird show from Japan about just this.

Zombie ffs 😅 although it's still bat shit...4 years old Jesus Christ almighty 🤦

You have to be kidding, this must be a wind up .
Give him independence by choosing his own clothes or what to eat for breakfast but going to the shops on his own at 4 no way he's far too young anything could happen to him .

@Starbonnet123

You have to be kidding, this must be a wind up . Give him independence by choosing his own clothes or what to eat for breakfast but going to the shops on his own at 4 no way he's far too young anything could happen to him .

The lad is 17 now.

I don't think this is fair on the shop staff - it would make me very anxious if a child of that age came into the place where I work alone.

Erm are you on crack?

Good god no !!!!!!!

As he must be 17 by now I suggest you let him drive to the shop.

@CheeseCakeSunflowers

As he must be 17 by now I suggest you let him drive to the shop.

Is this a reverse?

not sure what you are trying to prove getting a 4 year going to the shop on their own?

im easily distracted myself walking round the corner let alone a 4 year old

No it's a zombie

Nooooo I was sucked in by a zombie

FFS!!
So sick of zombie threads since the amazing update.

he can go to the shops and get your fags now op!

Bloody zombie threads today!

wtaf is wrong with you ?????

I can't believe what I am reading. A four year old going shopping on his own. Of course he is far too young. Can you really not see that? Along a busy road too. What next have him cooking the dinner?