N1cky

I was out for dinner a few nights ago with my daughters best friends Mum. She was telling me that next school term, one day a week she won't be able to pick her daughter up from school and they are thinking of letting her walk home on her own. Apparantly, she won't be in the house alone for long, no more than 10 minutes.

She'll turn 9 in September. Her walk home is through a housing estate and doesn't cross any main roads, also lots of kids and parents walk that way too.

I was quite shocked, her daughter is quite timid and she admitted that if someone showed her kid a kitten she'd probably go over. Where as mine, would run like crazy, and I still wouldn't let my kid come home on her own.

Am I the crazy overprotective one who imagines bad things around every corner? What age did you let your kids walk home/stay home on their own?

Ash UK/US

I am sure my kids will be ready to do it by themselves long before I am ready to let them.

Seems like there are a lot more scary people in the world then there used to be... or maybe we just hear about it more

Ash UK/US

BTW how old is your friends daughter????

SultanOfSwing

When our son moved up to middle school last year we let him walk to and from school alone because it is only about 3 roads down from us, though usually we . He was 11 at the start of the school year but his birthday is in October so most of the time it was when he was 12. He was then home on his own for maybe 90 minutes or so until one of us got home from work. We'd already allowed him to let himself in when he got off the bus from his elementary school the whole time he was 11. The house stayed locked up, we gave him the code to open the garage door and there was a key hidden in there to open up the door to the house.

At first you worry about them, it's natural, but he's a good head on him, and he knows not to go off with strangers or open the door/answer the phone while we're not there. I remember being on the phone with him a few times because he'd found himself trapped in the basment while someone was at the door and he didn't want to walk up the stairs and be seen! He'll be 13 in October and we've had no trouble with him going to and from school on his own thus far, touch wood.

Granted, our area is quiet, and he walks along one main road for about 5 minutes each day, with lots and lots of other kids around (high school is next door to the middle school), so YMMV. I wouldn't call you crazy or overprotective at all, we gave it a lot of thought before we allowed our son to be alone, and we both work 10 minutes away from home so we're on hand if he has any bother.

N1cky

Sorry I thought I had put that. She'll turn 9 in September

SultanOfSwing

Oh, 9 is a bit young to be walking home by herself. I thought she was maybe 11 or 12!

I can see how you have your concerns now!

kimilseung

In todays newspaper there is a story of an 8 year old murdered on his first solo walk home from day camp. I will post a link if I find it. (Thats what I thought this thread was about)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...issingboy.html

N1cky

OMG, how awful

SultanOfSwing

That's terrible .

Course, anyone can be murdered at any age or time, but there's no way an eight year old should be walking around by himself outside of his own street (within sight of his house, that is).

Ash UK/US

There is no way I would allow a 9 year old to do that!!!!!!!!!!

Nutmegger

So did I. Here are some tips published in response to the story.

http://http://www.nydailynews.com/li...and_stree.html

Anian

I walked to and from school every day from age 8 (so it would have been 1988) and the school was over half a mile away. I'd be happy to let my daughter make that journey at the same age.

If you can let your kids go to the local park alone then walking home is no different. Being alone in the house is a bit different though, but for 10 minutes there wouldn't be an issue for me.

Ash UK/US

I must a really over protective mother My daughter is 7, youngest 5 they are only allowed to play out in the yard... it is fenced and we have locks on the gates.

N1cky

Thanks for that. Link didn't work, corrected below.

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle...and_stree.html

I wouldn't let her go to the local park on her own either

SultanOfSwing

Right enough, when I was 8 I was probably allowed much further afield, especially on my bike, but I lived in an area that was more conducive to being able to do that.

When our son was 8 we were in an area with lots of blind corners and bad drivers, and a big lake to fall into if you're not careful! We weren't so worried about nonces or 'stranger danger' as we were about him getting hit by a car because some twat in a white van came flying round the corner at 40 mph.