Should I let my kid walk himself to school?

[hagbard]

He's nine soon to be ten, its about a mile 1/2 walk to school and he has to cross two somewhat busy streets. We already let him stay by himself for up to 2 hours, but we're not sure about letting him walk to school, he just doesn't seem properly cautious of traffic. This isn't Toronto or Vancouver, btw.

[konfusion666]

team him up with another kid, at the very least...

[Bordello]

That's a bit on the young side to be in the streets alone. Definitely try to have a buddy with him. If that's not possible, then I wouldn't do it.

[15-20_God]

a 10 yr old is perfectly capable of walking to school by themself, I know cause I use to be one. Maybe the father is a bit apprehensive cause his baby is growing up?

[Spidey]

My wife and I had this argument when my son turned 8. Is he old enough to walk to school. Only about 5 blocks or so. I myself thought it was time he did and of course she didnt. I think it was because of the fact he is growing up. I know he knows the rules of the road, stop for traffic,etc. It was also causing me to be late for work because I had to walk him to school then walk to work.


I basically started my only walking half way then he walked the rest. Maybe try that. Walk or drive him half way then progress from there.

I as well dont live in a huge city either. But sometimes you just have to let kids do things for themselves

[biosh]

My wife and I had this argument when my son turned 8. Is he old enough to walk to school. Only about 5 blocks or so. I myself thought it was time he did and of course she didnt. I think it was because of the fact he is growing up. I know he knows the rules of the road, stop for traffic,etc. It was also causing me to be late for work because I had to walk him to school then walk to work.


I basically started my only walking half way then he walked the rest. Maybe try that. Walk or drive him half way then progress from there.

I as well dont live in a huge city either. But sometimes you just have to let kids do things for themselves
The bolded part of your quote is without merit in this discussion...

[raptorsfever]

I think it's ok. :) I walked by myself to and from school when I was 9.

[jory29]

It depends a lot on your child; my son, 9 years old, has his 'head in the clouds' sometimes, [I suppose many kids that age do] so I can't do it yet - it takes only a fraction of a second for a car to careen out of a parking lot and into a child. I really think it depends on the child though; I was surprised you have him staying home for up to 2 hours at a time. So it does sound like he is pretty mature. Though he may be mature, and able to stay at home by himself, in an emergency situation, should one arise, he may not be able to think clearly enough to know what to do. Hopefully you've gone over some scenarios with him in case anything arises. It sounds like the walk and the roads might be a bit much for your son to maneuver right now, unless with a buddy.

O.K. - 2 more points; I see he is almost 10, which is good. My son just turned 9, and there's quite a diff. in those ages. However, my second point is, you hit the nail on the head when you stated that "he just doesn't seem properly cautious of traffic." I think in your heart of hearts, you know he may not be ready - and it doesn't seem like a chance worth taking.

[hagbard]

My wife and I had this argument when my son turned 8. Is he old enough to walk to school. Only about 5 blocks or so. I myself thought it was time he did and of course she didnt. I think it was because of the fact he is growing up. I know he knows the rules of the road, stop for traffic,etc. It was also causing me to be late for work because I had to walk him to school then walk to work.


I basically started my only walking half way then he walked the rest. Maybe try that. Walk or drive him half way then progress from there.

I as well dont live in a huge city either. But sometimes you just have to let kids do things for themselves

Right now, we walk him half-way, passed the busy streets. When I was his age, I was all over the neigbourhood and walking myself to school (actually, I was all over the neigborhood by the time I was six). Just not sure if I can rely on him to be careful crossing those streets.

[biosh]

When I was his age, I was all over the neigbourhood and walking myself to school (actually, I was all over the neigborhood by the time I was six).
Is the traffic flow/volume the same?

[hagbard]

It depends a lot on your child; my son, 9 years old, has his 'head in the clouds' sometimes, [I suppose many kids that age do] so I can't do it yet - it takes only a fraction of a second for a car to careen out of a parking lot and into a child. I really think it depends on the child though; I was surprised you have him staying home for up to 2 hours at a time. So it does sound like he is pretty mature. Though he may be mature, and able to stay at home by himself, in an emergency situation, should one arise, he may not be able to think clearly enough to know what to do. Hopefully you've gone over some scenarios with him in case anything arises. It sounds like the walk and the roads might be a bit much for your son to maneuver right now, unless with a buddy.

O.K. - 2 more points; I see he is almost 10, which is good. My son just turned 9, and there's quite a diff. in those ages. However, my second point is, you hit the nail on the head when you stated that "he just doesn't seem properly cautious of traffic." I think in your heart of hearts, you know he may not be ready - and it doesn't seem like a chance worth taking.


We only let him stay at home because we live in an apartment populated by seniors. He spends all of his time playing games like Age of Empires III and he's always were we left him when we get home.

[hagbard]

Is the traffic flow/volume the same?

There were very busy streets where I lived back then, but I wasn't allowed to cross them on my own till I was older. But I did anyway ;-). The streets he has to cross are not nearly as busy, but the drivers seem a lot worse (they don't always stop for pedestrians).

[Immortal]

I started walking to school when I was 7 so I'm sure he is able to. Back then I lived in the city and it's pretty safe. Although I did start walking to school with my bigger sister then.

[Spidey]

The bolded part of your quote is without merit in this discussion...


Why. I dont undertand

[hagbard]

I should mention, there is no schoolmate he can walk to school with, he's out of the catchment area so he's the only one coming to the school for this direction.

[The_Madz]

He's nine soon to be ten, its about a mile 1/2 walk to school and he has to cross two somewhat busy streets. We already let him stay by himself for up to 2 hours, but we're not sure about letting him walk to school, he just doesn't seem properly cautious of traffic. This isn't Toronto or Vancouver, btw.

as long as it's not like a jane/finch neighbourhood i would'nt worry.
make sure he understands the rules of the road and let him walk, the exercise will be good for him.

oh and make sure he is stree smart. kids are more grown than you think and the more responsibility you give the more mature they will be.

[BobW]

Please, please, please let him walk. We, as a society, seem to be afraid to let kids do anything. The only way they'll ever be ready for the real world is if they get to experiene it in relatively safe doses.

If there's another neighbourhood kid that goes to school, get them walking together. but it's only half a mile and if you trust the kid alone in the house for a couple of hours, then its time to let him cross the street without holding his hand.

[kingfencer]

bah... i walked by myself when i was 7 years old. in all my years nothing much happend, till i was in junior high, some girl got gropped by some guy as she was walking to school.

[Spidey]

Please, please, please let him walk. We, as a society, seem to be afraid to let kids do anything. The only way they'll ever be ready for the real world is if they get to experiene it in relatively safe doses.

If there's another neighbourhood kid that goes to school, get them walking together. but it's only half a mile and if you trust the kid alone in the house for a couple of hours, then its time to let him cross the street without holding his hand.


I agree. We took a course last year dealing with parenting, and it opened my eyes on how much we baby our kids. Helicopter parenting they were called. Since then we have been letting our kids do more things for themselves. They feel better about them selves and grown up to if you make them make their own decisions sometimes.

We were always on them getting their mitts, toques, etc for winter. Since then we let them get their stuff. If they forget it then guess what, their handa are cold. But they learned a small lesson and guess what, they never forget them anymore. Before they always knew "Mom & dad will take care oif it"

[hagbard]

I agree. We took a course last year dealing with parenting, and it opened my eyes on how much we baby our kids. Helicopter parenting they were called. Since then we have been letting our kids do more things for themselves. They feel better about them selves and grown up to if you make them make their own decisions sometimes.

We were always on them getting their mitts, toques, etc for winter. Since then we let them get their stuff. If they forget it then guess what, their handa are cold. But they learned a small lesson and guess what, they never forget them anymore. Before they always knew "Mom & dad will take care oif it"

We've always let him pretty much do his own thing (since he was four, he likes to go out in the middle of winter in a t-shirt), but I don't want him getting shmucked by a car.

[Spidey]

We've always let him pretty much do his own thing (since he was four, he likes to go out in the middle of winter in a t-shirt), but I don't want him getting shmucked by a car.


Well thats what we were worried about to. Only thing is, when do you stop worrying about that. He goes out when he's in high school that can happen to.

If you have taught him well enough it might be time. What u can do is let him go a few times alone but follow him (just dont let him see you) and see how he acts.

[PrimoTurbo]

By the time I was 6 I was also always running around alone, then again different country and different time. I remember as a kid I used to stay outside from like 9 am until 10pm, only coming home at 2 or 3 for some food.

We used to do a lot of dangerous stuff as kids, going into construction yards, going to the railroad, going to remote parks, starting fires, talking a bus around the city to different locations. :D

[Spidey]

Yes the world has changed for the worse in that aspect. We do let them go to the park by themselves except for our 4 year old. The 9 and 6 year old go to the park alone. Its only a block away and they have a time limit

[biosh]

as long as it's not like a jane/finch neighbourhood i would'nt worry...
Why, is the traffic particularly bad there?

(There's always room for racism... :rolleyes: )

[PrimoTurbo]

Despite the danger, I think if you talk to your kid and explain everything to them. Then it’s a great way for them to learn and become more responsible and independent, it’s part of growing up.

[gordholio]

If I was the parent, I would try to get a friend to walk with him.
It's not that he's too immature to walk to school himself, it's the fact that there are perverts out there and it makes it easier for them if a child is by themselves. Having a friend with him is wise and a good idea.

[Cyber6]

He's nine soon to be ten, its about a mile 1/2 walk to school and he has to cross two somewhat busy streets. We already let him stay by himself for up to 2 hours, but we're not sure about letting him walk to school, he just doesn't seem properly cautious of traffic. This isn't Toronto or Vancouver, btw.


I am all for helping kids to become independant, but in this case it really depends on the child. My son (now 16) was walking to school when he was 10. He is a very responsible/mature kid :D and I had no problem with that. It also helped the fact that he was a tall kid and looked more like a 12/13 years old.

My daughter(now 10) has been begging me since she was 9 to let her walk alone to school. She is the typical "head in the clouds" kid. There is no way I am letting her walk to school alone (or even with friends her age). She is allowed to run around the neighborhood with her 6 years old sister (I live in a great neighborhood). But walking to school and crossing a couple of major intersections. No way. Another point against her is, that she is a petite girl and looks more like a 7/8 years old.


C.

[fakishan]

crossing busy streets are tricky, especially if there's no crosswalk....or sidewalk.

[aquariaguy]

How is the crime in your area? If it's a "little" town, where there's people walking, everyone know's everyone. But for example in the safest place in Toronto, I wouldn't. Too many wannabe gangsters, rapists, child molesters...everyone is out there.

If it's so close just drop your kid off. Yup, i'm gonna be one over-protecting parent. :cheesygri

[jory29]

Hmmm, OP, Hagbard, in 3 different threads you posted today on this matter, you mention something to the effect that you just don't think you can rely on him to be as careful as he needs to be - to me, that indicates parental intuition talking. I think you know him better than anyone; even a few more months of maturity can help him to be ready, if he's not now. Do whatever you think is best, in your heart.

[Amourek]

I started walking home from school by myself in East Van when I was 7. Surprised I wasn't snatched.

[700mb80min]

A mile and a half is definatley too far . I pick my kids up or they get the bus. Have often passed little guys walking almost to my street in the rain but cant give them a lift , probably get nailed for kidnapping !

[plucky duck]

I walked my little sister until she's in grade 3 or 4. She's one of those who lack the most basic of common senses. She lives 4 blocks from our house. Then slowly I started walking her half way and letting her do the other half. I tell her to walk on the inside of the sidewalk and cross only at the patrol area. I tell her when I expect her home by and if she's going to stay late, call.

I also had that fear that one of these days she's going to get run over.

Now she's 17 and takes the bus to and from school every day. I still have fears that she may get kidnapped and sexually assaulted. The fear is in the back of my mind. I'll try to pick her up whenever I can and when it's not safe for her to go out alone (dark at nights). I'll give her a cell phone in case of emergencies. I tell her to walk on the main roads where it's busier and always people around, and where there's good lighting.

Best way is to teach them to fend for themselves, get him/her into some basic martial arts training. Carry a taser gun if need be, or pepper spray.

Being a boy has its advantages. I as well used to roam all around the neighbourhood and walk to and from school since I was in grade 2.

The only other fear I have is the loose neighbourhood dogs. No kid can fend for himself/herself if approached. Natural instinct is to run, but that makes things worse >:( I know I was once chased by 4 dogs in a door-to-door goalathon trying to sell christmas ornaments. If it wasn't for the owner calling the dogs I would've been chewed up, or worse yet, dead.

[keanefan]

If your son doesn't mind, you should walk with him or drive him to school.

If he wants to walk by himself, then let him.

You should warn him about rapists and bullies because they do exist.
Teach him how to defend himself.

Buy a self-defense video