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Original poster

Would you let a 6yo walk down to the local shop with her 9 (almost 10) yr old sister and 11 yr old cousin?

29 replies

Plonker · 30/10/2009 12:07

I have made the decision - I just wondered what the majority of people would do.

It is 5 minutes there and 5 minutes back. 2 very quiet roads and no main roads to cross, although about a minute of the journey is walking along the main road.

So, would you?

OP posts:
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StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 30/10/2009 12:09

Yes

RubberDuck · 30/10/2009 12:09

I would, as long as the sister and cousin are usually sensible and you trust them.

Aimsmum · 30/10/2009 12:09

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MoreCrackThanHarlem · 30/10/2009 12:10

Yes

Aimsmum · 30/10/2009 14:24

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BlueKangerooWonders · 30/10/2009 14:32

I would!

Original poster
Plonker · 30/10/2009 15:58

Sorry, yes I did

OP posts:
LilyBolero · 30/10/2009 15:59

yes, what's more I'd let my 6 year old go on her own.

SixtyFootGhoul · 30/10/2009 16:03

def yes

inthesticks · 30/10/2009 16:29

Yes but I'd be stood watching them.

serenity · 30/10/2009 16:37

Yes, if I knew they were all fairly sensible.

GrumpyYoungFogey · 30/10/2009 21:21

I'd let my six year old go down to the shop by themselves, with instructions to come straight back and not talk to any strangers. After all, that's what my parent's would have let me do in 198-mumble.

Danthe4th · 30/10/2009 21:48

Yes I do but the older children have mobiles, it just gives me that bit of reasurance.

halfcut · 30/10/2009 21:49

yes

LynetteScavo · 30/10/2009 21:52

No.

I don't let my 6 year old go to the shop, a similar distance with his 10 year old brother.

ProfessorLaytonIsMyZombieSlave · 30/10/2009 21:55

Depends on the 6yo, 9yo and 11yo in question. I certainly wouldn't get all automatically judgey over someone else doing it.

suwoo · 30/10/2009 22:12

Yes. But definitely not on her own as some others have suggested.

GrapefruitMoon · 30/10/2009 22:16

Not my nearly 6 year old - because he is not sensible enough yet. Spend most of yesterday screeching at him to come back and hold my hand and he thought it was hilarious to ignore me in the middle of London.

bigsquirtybloodylips · 30/10/2009 22:18

my DSD takes DD1 to the local shops...there is no crossing roads. DSD was 9 when she started to take my dd1 who was 4.

piscesmoon · 30/10/2009 22:23

Yes, I think it would be a bit insulting to the older ones to think they couldn't manage such a short, quiet trip.

piscesmoon · 30/10/2009 22:25

When I was 11yrs I used to go much further with my 5 yr old brother-I was perfectly sensible and capable.

BiteOfFun · 30/10/2009 22:28

Yes, I would, UTGSN.

YohoAhoy · 30/10/2009 23:10

I saw this thread title, and turned to dh to say how things have changed - when we were about 8 or 9, a group of us took a neighbour's 2-year old daughter to the local shops. It was about 10 minutes away, and we had to cross several roads to get there. The mum let us take her without a qualm.

And then I remembered............

...............we forgot her and left her there

So I thought that wouldn't be very helpful.

All was fine though, and the neighbour let us take her around and about quite often. And we never forgot her again

LynetteScavo · 31/10/2009 09:57

UTGSN?

FlamingoBingo · 31/10/2009 10:01

Yes, but it would depend on the child. My 6yo is very sensible and capable and I would probably let her go on her own in a couple of years anyway. She already goes on her own with her (also very capable and sensible) 4.5yo sister if I'm at the end of the road or in the car. I wouldn't let them take their 3yo sister though, and wouldn't let some other children I know their age! Purely depends on the children involved.