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

[Andbabymakesthree]

I've started to let my son nearly 9 out on his scooter in our part of the estate. It's been hard explaining to his sister why she can't have the same freedom but it's important he knows he can be trusted.

[Lottielou7]

I've recently allowed my 12 year old dd to go to our local Waitrose because it is literally minutes from our house. I'm the definition of a neurotic mother though. But I do realise it's not fair for me to let my issues hinder her independence.

[Lottielou7]

Meant to say - if she's with a friend she's allowed to go into town or to the shops local to her after school. If she's with a friend I'm happier. She has a watch and I agree to meet her at a given time.

[hermancakedestroyer]

I let my 11 year old walk to the shop on his own for the first time the other day to get some milk. I think it's good to encourage them to get out and about when you think they are mature enough to cope with being out on their own. My DS has a mobile and we have strict time limits if he does go out on his own. They need to learn independence gradually and build up their confidence.

[shydaylily]

when they were 10 i let them pop to the corner shop and to and from school which is 10 minutes away from home.

[timeforabrewnow]

I have let all 3 of mine go to the local park - 2 minutes away - once they were in year 5. Gave them a time for coming back, and made sure they had a watch on.

[kiki725]

Mine child is 11 is allowed to walk to her friends and then they walk the mile to school together. Next year she will be at secondary school and needs to get more independent

[shivbrown]

I let my 10 year old walk to school on his own, I secretly followed him but he done so well, and im very proud. They grow up so quick x

[Maclairey]

My eldest is only 3 so we havent got there yet but everyday he doesnt something new that sends me into a panic. Today it was climbing on the climbing frame at the park, across a rope net thing. I tried to act calm but really I was crying inside. I am not looking forward to the days when I have to give him that freedom. I am a natural worrier anyway and I can see it causing me a lot of worry. Its all about finding a balance though isnt it, give them some freedom and they will respect you and thank you for it. Hopefully!

[sandbagsatdawn]

I let my 5 year old walk down the hill from our house to his friend's house on his own the other day. There is no pavement so the only rule was to stick to the side. I could see him almost all the way to the front door and then he disappeared behind their car. I still had to stop myself ringing his friend's mum just to check he had got there safely.

I also let my 10 year old and 5 year old eat their tea on the beach on their own for half an hour (as it was too sunny to make them sit indoors and wait for me), although the room I was working in is very close to the beach, and I could actually see the tops of their heads if I stood up and looked out the window. I did tell them no going near the sea, and to stay at the top of the beach and if there was any problem to come straight back to me.

[Annbunce]

When I first let my eldest go to the shop on her own, I secretly followed her there, just to make sure she was ok.

[Cailin7]

I cannot remember the exact ages of our DCs when we allowed them out on their own. It just was not a huge occasion or big deal and having 3 it probably varied on each DC. I think probably around age 7 for walking to school however school is just around the corner with no roads.

[EDisFunny]

Mine are too young to travel outside by themselves, only 3 & 4, but I have recently started letting them go explore by themselves at the soft play centres we go to and that is a big step for me! I want them to learn independence and self assurance so I am starting to give them the chance.

[jamielmdjs]

There's a little park across from the house - they are allowed down there when there is other kids there but i'm a constant watcher.

[Mozarmstrong]

My daughter and her mixed group of friends played on green 2 doors away with me peeping and pretending to wash my Windows. It's a strange world and I'm sorry but you have to know where they are .

[SuzCG]

I let my 9 & 6 year old walk to the playground where we were staying on holiday last year by themselves whilst I did the unpacking. It took me ages to do because I kept running off up the lane to check they were still there and were okay!

[LovelyBranches]

When DS started nursery at 11 months old I had to prepare us both with pre planned settling in sessions. It was hideous, I don't know who cried more. I'd never left him. We got through it. He's now 20 months old and loves it at nursery, waves me off every morning and wants to show me around the room when I pick him up at the end of the day.

[rhinosuze]

She is still too young to go anywhere alone but I remember the first time she stayed over at her nans at 6 months and all I did was ring up (and wake her up apparently!) Dreading letting her sleep at a friend's or walk to school Tec in future to be honest

[beckyinman]

We live in a tiny rural village so the kids quite often go to each other's houses or corner shop together, but we have eyes and ears dotted all over (just don't tell them!)

[Ilovemygsd]

9, almost 10. Only allowed on the fronts where I can see him. He is autistic though. I think if he was as mature and street wise as his peers id let him a little further at that age

[Alwaysforgettingmum]

My daughter was 9 when I first let her out. She had to go to the shop for me-a 5 minute walk away. I had asked her to get me milk. Before she left I drummed into her the stranger danger rules and if any car pulls up next to you, to just run and how some people are not very kind people. So money in pocket I sent her out. She was gone 5 mins and I heared a knock at the door. It was my daughter panting on the floor- bright red. I'm panicking asking her if she's ok. Transpires she was so worried about all those horrible people she had ran full speed to the shop, she was very concered that the cars were pulling up as she was running and didn't want to wait around. Queue me laughing my head off. Made it so much easier to send her out again as I knew she was quick when she had to be.

[Yokohamajojo]

Real proper alone was last summer when they were 6 and 8, we were visiting my brother in Sweden, they live in a very quiet area with little traffic. Both are mad on football and about 5 minute walk there are two massive football pitches which I let them go to by themselves. They were thrilled and still talk about it being the best thing about the whole trip! I couldn't help worrying so I was watching them from bushes the first time

[ha2el]

When my two boys were 7 and 9 we were living in Canada and we had a longish walk to school crossing many roads on the way. It was a very cold winter and I contracted bronchitis.The freezing cold air was agony to breath in so I told them that they would have to walk to and from school without me. It was nerve racking but I had no choice and I had to trust them to follow my instructions to be careful. Walking to school on their own was a hurdle which I had to be get over and goodness knows when or if I would have let them do it on their own if I hadn't been so unwell!

[Ranita]

My eldest starting mostly walking to school at the age of 7, I say mostly as I would cross him over the only main road running through the village. He now walks there all by himself(now age 10), also pops to the local shop for me and walks to friends houses.

[buckley1983]

Not sure if this qualifies - but my little one (3) just went to stay at his friends house overnight for the first time, without me! It's a bit of a cop out though as his friend's mum is my best friend - so I know the family extremely well & it has been a process which we have been working towards for a while - more for me than him, he's been ready for ages!!
It went really well though - he behaved beautifully, played nicely, slept well & is ready for Round 2!
The other milestone - trips to the shops, playing out alone - are a long way off for us - he's fine in the back garden because it's enclosed - but I still keep him in my line of vision!
He is itching for more independence, but it's going to be a drip-drip process over the years I think :)