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

[cheryl100]

I first allowed my DS aged 10 to go on his own to Lidl last week! He literally only has to cross our small road, then the car park....and I can see the entrance from my porch! I was really nervous and was continuously watching but he got everything on the list and felt really proud of himself!

[Bechoole]

Let the little man down the park - its not far and I can see from my back garden so was able to keep an eye without him knowing!

[sweir1]

we made the mistake of letting him go for a haircut - bad idea

[rocketriffs]

I've set boundaries for my 6 yr old. He knows how far he is allowed to go alone when he is out playing. He is confident enough to go to the bus stop to get on the school bus, which I can see from my window.

[kirstycooper01]

DD only 2 so hasn't happened yet!!

[toodles60]

Age 8 going to the shop which was in the next street around the corner. Not far. What they didn't know was that i followed them slowly all the way. lol Waited for them to turn the corner and ran down then slowly peered around the corner and i could see the shop. Watched them go in and waited for them to come out. Ran like a mad woman back to my door and inside and watched from behind the curtains as they walked up the road. Then when they came in i was in the kitchen making a cuppa and acting like all was calm and normal. they were so happy as they handed the pint of milk they'd bought for me :_)

[Bellroyd]

Sent to the shop with a note for the shopkeeper who had been pre-warned. Watched him all the way.So proud when he came back with a packet of Jaffa Cakes (plus change!) and we opened them straightaway to celebrate

[stewaris]

I had been taking my daughter to school for the first few weeks, walking up to the infants playground with her. Then one day, out of the blue, she stopped at the gate and "I can go by myself from here". I was gutted and the tears just streamed down my face. Oh how it feels when they say they no longer need you!

[Tean1]

My son walked to school by himself for the first time a few weeks ago. I was surprised how redundant I felt. I'm pleased he's becoming more independent but it did make me realise how much my life will change when my children are both grown up enough not to need me so much.

[StandUnderMyUmbrella]

My daughter has started going out a lot more with her friends now she is 11. She is starting high school in September so i am trying to let her gain confidence in the outside world with me not being there.

The first time she went out was to the local park with school friends, i was secretly terrified but made sure she had her phone with her, fully charged! I also have contact numbers for her friends, just in case.
The only ground rules i try to teach her is to stay with her friends, don't just run across the road because her friends might - use the crossings!

I feel she is very sensible and has common sense as do her friends, so i try not to worry too much, but its only normal t o be a bit anxious!

[andreaca]

both my kids were about 11- 12 when they went out with their friends, I was a nervous wreck, but I was so glad they had a phone so I could keep a check on them, they werent out too long the first time, and I must say now my daughter is 19 I still like to know where shes going and for check in texts from her, my son is still only 13 and I`m still petrified, but you have to let them do it, even though we go through the mill each time.

[smit23]

Apart from school? Nowhere yet!

[milliemoon]

my son is too young to do this but we live very close to the school so when he is old enough I will let him walk there but will probably be secretly watching him all the way

[cistolic]

I let my son go to the local shop at 10 years old, there were no roads to cross. I let him walk to school with his friends at the same age. I was forced into it because when he moved on to the Comprehensive school he would have to get the train. It was only one stop but the only way to school as I didn't drive & there was no other public transport.

[TLAF]

First time was when he was 3 YO. He went to friends of ours for a sleep-over while mummy & daddy were busy at the hospital delivering his new baby sister :-)

[Carriecakes80]

I cried, I waited at the window, I started to wish I had micro-chipped my own kids at birth....and my 10 year old had only gone to the park round the corner with his mates!!!
Yes, over protective, not all the time, just sometimes! But would rather be a little overly cautious, than the opposite!
My eldest has turned out pretty well rounded and confident lol, so can;t be doing too badly! x

[clairewilko29]

mine are 11 and 8 they often go to the park by themselves and i panic everytime. i was a nervous wreck my 11 year old first walked to high school by himself!!

[naomicm]

I spent most of my childhood playing out all day and going exploring but when it came to my own children I just couldn't do it! My eldest daughter (now 16) was finally allowed out on her own when she was 10... she met up with her friend on the corner and they walked to the local park. She had a mobile phone and had to text every half hour so we knew she was OK! Even now we like an occasional text to confirm all is ok luckily she humours us!

[cookie09]

My son walked to the shop when he was 9 as he wanted to get some sweets. It was about 10 minutes away and i had the fear of god in me the whole time, i kept on checking my watch and planning where he would be. I could hear ambulance sirens and i felt really nervous so i had to walk to the shop to check he was okay. He was obviously and he wondered why i had to follow him. Call me over paranoid, but my kids are my world and i don't think the worry ends there. To think when they are 18 and start going out at night, i don't think i'll sleep unless i know they are home safe.

[PhilTB54]

She ventured to the ice cream van @ 300 yards from our place on the beach. Lots of head turning to make sure she could still see us.

[cathyov]

Several years ago my middle daughter went for her first trip away from home with her school for a PGL break in year 5 - total confidence in the teachers and the activity holiday but somewhat surprised when she came home she was so proud to tell me she had visited hospital twice! Apparently she had got some wood in her eye from their tree top activity and had needed to be removed and have a follow up. Initially annoyed not to have been informed - reality there was nothing I could have done about it and my daughter was so proud to have completed her trip away, So important that they are well organised trips and adequate insurance in place,