Tell us about the first time you let your child go somewhere on their own - £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

[PoppyMumsnet]

It can be a big deal when your child first makes a trip on their own - whether it's to the corner shop, across the road to a friend or the playground, or maybe up to school without you for the first time. Churchill Insurance would like to hear about your experiences of the first time you let your child go somewhere on their own. Tell us where they went, how old they were and how you felt about letting them go. Did you set out any ground rules about road safety or perhaps sticking to an agreed route? Did it all go according to plan? With the school holidays coming up, your DC might be waiting to do their first solo trip then. Where are they planning to go and how do you feel about it?

Please share your stories with Churchill Insurance below. All MNers who post on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Thanks, and good luck!

MNHQ

[hanliying]

this summer i have signed my son up for "child flying alone" and he will fly to see his grand parents in another country. Although he has flown many times with me, i am still a bit nervous for him flying alone. The airline has the service of door to door accompany and there are a few other children flying along on the same flight. I'm really proud of him when he told me that he would be ok and ask me not to worry.

[AtSea1979]

DS (aged 11) had a transition day to high school last week. He walked to the bus stop and got his first bus alone. He's not used to handling money and having the independence of making sure he gets the right change etc.
For the walk to the bus stop I told him to be vigilant of traffic, he has hearing loss and wears hearing aids so needs to take extra care cross roads etc. He was very proud of himself when he got home off the bus.

[FeelingSmurfy]

To the postbox, within sight and first time I stood outside gate to watch, then inside gate, door, window etc

Within sight, no roads to cross and always run there and back (their choice) so it's not long they are out

[sleepyhead]

Ds1 started walking part ways to school by himself when he was eight. I was happy with him doing it, and ds1 was up for it, but dh took more convincing.

His school is at the edge of a large park so ds2 and I walk with him to the park gate which is beside ds2's nursery and then ds1 heads to school and I go to work.

We talked through scenarios such as him realising he'd forgotten something (go straight to school, don't double back); watching out for bikes; not talking to strangers (straight to school and tell a teacher if anyone approaches him), but I felt that it was a gentle introduction to going somewhere on his own and that the benefits outweighed the risks.

He likes the bit of independence and often ends up meeting friends in the park anyway.

[KittyKat88]

I did worry about the first time I let my DD1 go somewhere by herself. It was a friend's party, but I knew all the other mums that were staying so I wasn't too worried about her. She was fine and didn't miss me at all! I think, since I returned to work and have to rely on a childminder, I am a little less worried about leaving my DCs with someone else. However, when DD1 goes on her first overnight school trip next year I will probably be an emotional mess!!!

[KeepOnPlodding]

When DS was 6 he went up the road to post some Christmas cards for the neighbours. He was so proud of himself and obviously didn't notice me hanging out of the window tracking every step.

I do think it's really important for children to gradually gain some independence. Camping and holidays are great opportunities for them to go and do the washing up, go and buy milk/bread or play with friends away from us.

[iwasyoungonce]

My DD is 10 and I have just (about 3 weeks ago) let her go to the local Spar shop on her own, which is about a 3 minute walk. It involves crossing a main road. So far I've only let her do this at the weekend when the road is quiet.

She was ready for it, and I didn't really worry about her. I just reminded myself about the kind of freedom I had when I was her age - it was massively different. I was out and about on my bike, miles from home, for hours on end. My mum had no idea where I even was!

I trust my DD. She's sensible. I want to build her confidence. She was so excited about going to the shop on her own, bless her.

[purplepandas]

Not sure what that will be as mine are only 4 and 6. We love opposite a busy road so the park opposite is tricky for this reason.

[Purplehonesty]

Ds (6) and dd(4) have been playing out by themselves for a good while now.
We live rurally and so I let them roam a bit between our house and my dad next door. They are allowed to go to grandads, to the field/hill, to see the ducks but not allowed down the drive. (2 properties on one large croft)
They are really good and I altho I can't always see them I can hear them usually!
The first time I let dd go to grandads I ran through the house watching from each window and stayed there til she walked back.

[notagiraffe]

Mine were nine years old. I let them ride their bikes the quiet way through side streets to Londis to buy ice creams. I was so beside myself with worry that they'd take the main road instead, that I sneaked out with my bike and cycled off after them. Caught up near the shop. Their bikes were outside. I hid round the corner as I didn't want them to think I didn't trust them. They stood around on the pavement eating their ice creams then got back on their bikes. I had to head home the quick way to get there before them.
That night when we talked about them going out alone and what an adventure it had been they said, 'We saw you, you know, mum. You didn't need to follow us.'

[ummlilia]

My daughter was 9 when she started going to school alone. It's not far-literally up the hill and around a corner . I started gradually letting her go part way a few months earlier..to begin with just the last twenty yards, in sight of me, then a bit further etc till I was going half way up the hill and no more. One morning I was really ill with a chest infection and she said' I can go on my own mummy.' I watched from the window and she met up with her friends along the road. After that I never took her again...she wouldn't let me!

[itmustbemyage]

When my son was 7 he was allowed to go just along the road to his friends house himself. He didn't know I phoned his friend's mum just before he left and she phoned me once he had arrived safely.

[Natsku]

Just remembered the story of the first time my little cousin went off by herself, although her parents didn't know. 3 years old and she decided to ride her tricycle down the road. Naked! Luckily a neighbour saw and called my uncle to inform him that his little nudist is riding down the road to freedom

[TutanKaDashian]

My son was first allowed to walk to school alone when he was 9 which involved crossing a (not very busy) road. However, we lived just across the road from the school, in sight of the front door so I could peer out through the curtains Now he's 13, he goes most places by himself.

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

We have the advantage of living in a very quiet village so I've been happy to let them roam around with their friends since the age of about 6yrs. They will go to the little shop, the playpark or their friend's houses.They have to tell me where they are going and have a set time to return.
It does of course depend on the area you live in.

[Catsgowoof]

mine is only little so walking ahead of me on the school run is as far as i've got. i have a little worry if dc disappears round a corner but they're always sesnsibly waiting at the edge of the road

[Kittyluting]

I would say the first time my daughter went out on her own was a quick trip to the local shop, she was 8, and it's only 3 mins walk away, I just leaned on the window sill to wait for her to come back. Was a little nerve racking, but she insisted she wanted to do this, so I let it happen. And the first sleepover was with Beaver, she was well looked after by Scouts leaders, also with friends. So it was a better experience to her as well as to me and my husband!

[voyager50]

It hasn't happened yet but the first time - he is too young but I think I will follow him the whole way!

I remember when I was small we had a big playing field near us which my parents could see from my bedroom window. Back in the 80's all the kids would play out there together and go to the local corner shop right near it. We all knew the adults nearby and knew we could (and did) go to them when there was a problem.

I don't think there is the same community feeling today and things are very different for today's children and parents.

[voyager50]

sorry - I posted the first sentence with the words in the wrong order on my previous post after copying and pasting and can't edit it now!

[InMySpareTime]

When DS started juniors (Y3) his school finish time clashed with DD's, and I couldn't physically be at both schools.
DS walked to and from school on his own from the age of 7, across one road (with crossing keeper). He was fine, but as he was very small for his age he did get some looks from people who assumed he was nearer 5 years old!
He's now 14, and most of his restrictions are because his friends aren't allowed to do things (such as get a bus to town, or cycle a couple of miles on a cycleway separate from the road).

[AtticusTheRoman]

Dd is 10 and I'm year 6.

We live in a small city and most of her friends go into town with friends in preparation for the independence of starting secondary school.

I must admit I was a bit reluctant to allow DD to go into town without me. I finally allowed her to go for an hour a few months ago. I made sure I dropped her off where she was meeting her friends and stayed in town. I also bought her a mobile phone in case she needed to contact me....

She called me twice just to say "Hi" and met me an hour later. She had a fantastic time and having that bit of independence has really boosted her confidence!

She hasn't asked to go again, although did walk to her secondary school with classmates the other morning for the shuffle up day.

[NotCitrus]

I remember the shock when I took 3yo ds to a birthday party and the mum said "See you later!" Another mum and I looked startled and party mum reminded us she was a primary school teacher, it would be much easier without us, and told us to go have a coffee! So we did!

Mine will go out of sight for a bit but know not to cross any roads, so I catch them up. Live in a city with lots of traffic so it's that stopping me giving the 7yo more freedom - he has friends in the next street but annoyingly on the other side. He has come back alone after they just see him across the road. We also get to the corner of the park and let 7 and 4yo go ahead to the playground, and they go to loos in restaurants alone (4yo only where I know there isn't a heavy door).

Been trying to come up with things the 7yo could buy from the chemist for me, as all other shops involve crossing our road and there are lots of speeding idiots. Hoping to go one-way and get speed humps soon, as a mere 20 sign has done nothing.

[M2676]

To school,and she's just 13years old X

[PorridgeAgainAbney]

DS is 3 - I have started letting him walk the long way round the front garden from the car, along the pavement and through the gate to the front door. It means he is out of my sight for about 3 seconds...he thinks it's incredibly exciting to go all by himself and I'm happy that I'm letting him have a teeny tiny bit of independence.

[MummyBtothree]

I remember when we moved to a new area and let our two boys cross the road and walk to the shop together. It's not that far but it was a huge deal for me at the time.