dd1 wants to walk home from school on her own

[itchyandscratchy]

She's just started Year 3 and was 8 yesterday. she's very sensible and is dying to show that's she's responsible.

It would be once a week, on a Friday (she's at the childminder's on the other days).
Would be across a level crossing, down a leafy, busyish residential street (as in lots of people about) then across our road (quietish). 5-7 mins walk.

I've said no for now - just doesn't feel right yet - but was wondering when is reasonable. My main concern would be crossing the road, although we have lots of practice when we walk and I supervise her crossing different roads from a safe distance. And would be slightly concerned in case any bigger kids were lairy with her maybe. When then? another year?

How very strange. I really am surprised. And mloo, how awful for you.

In our primary school they are let out alone from Yr 3. Year 5 and 6 and many Yr 4 usually walk home alone. I allowed DD2 to walk alone in Yr 4 and probably will allow DD3 to do so next year - she is Yr 3 this year and not quite ready IMO. It's a 10-min walk with a pelican crossing, a zebra crossing and a smaller road to cross.

Sadly mloo, I'm not at all surprised, but try not to let one horrible and unjustifiable over-reaction stop you trusting your children and letting them develop life experience.

I think that by schools not allowing 8+ year olds to walk home on their own and by living in a society where someone can be reported to authorities for doing so, there is a very slim chance indeed that children will be trusted to develop this sort of basic life experience.

blimey, mloo, that is awful.

The whole issue slightly confuses me really - am I right in thinking that if I left her 'home alone' at 8 I'd be breaking the law, but if I let her walk home for that 7 mins, it'd be legal? or was mloo reported/interviewed because she was breaking the law?

There is no law about these things at all, itchy, but if someone considers it 'neglect' you are buggered.

right, so it's basically judged individually I suppose. and that's why some parents wouldn't dream of leaving their dcs in the car when they nip into the garage, while others might do their whole supermarket shop, etc. It's a bit of a grey area.

It would depend on the traffic, IMO. No way would I let an 8 year old child come home on her own from DD's school to our house, and that is entirely down to the huge, dangerous roads that she would have to cross unsupervised and that require an understanding of traffic that an 8 year cannot have.

Yes, agree it is a very personal decision based on the local environment.

But based on the op's local envieontment (a fairly quiet road and leafy streests for a 5 minute walk), I would expect a lot of parents would think that was ok.

My son is 7, he has walked to and from school on his own since April. It is a 20 minute walk each way. He has to cross the road twice. I see no problems with it.

depends on traffic and individual child

ds walked home regularly from Yr 4; crossing five roads- two with lollipop ladies and one with traffic lights and two very quiet residential streets

earlier than that, no, he probably would have been too young