Walking home from school

[MamaKoala]

I'm just wondering what age other mum's have felt comfortable with their kids walking home from school by themselves.
We live 5 minutes from the kids school and I can see the school from my front yard.
I know in today's world people are fearful of kidnapping and preditors and wanted other's opinions on what they think is appropriate and why?

[Mathermy]

If it was that close I would just walk with them, why not enjoy the morning sunshine as a family :)

[MrsMiggins]

I can understand you wanting to allow them an opportunity to become more independant. At that age, my brother & I did walk to school & back on our own most of the time (often with a group of friends, occasionally with an adult present) but yes, I do think times have changed a lot!!

I probably wouldn't feel comfortable doing it until high school age. And even then, I think I would have some kind of supervision.

Could you perhaps walk a little way behind them at this stage?

[Myztik]

After what happened to a little girl and her brother in Perth the other week I've told DS1 he's not walking to school alone til he's 16 :no:

I walk him to and from school every day (he's 6 atm) and it's a good 30minute walk each way. I love it, we use that time to really talk.

I really have no idea when I will let him walk by himself or with a friend.

[Areca]

Definitely not at 6 and 5. Not until highschool.

[MamaKoala]

I usually do take them up myself. Occasionally they ask to walk by themselves but I watch them walk up the street. I want to give them a little bit of freedom but not much as they are still young. I was thinking maybe they could walk home once or twice in the afternoon and I'd meet them out the front and sometimes I'd allow them to go up to the crossing on their own (it's one with a crossing guard and I can see them up until they get lost in the crowd of kids). Their step brother who is 9 has a lot of freedom to come and go around the area as he pleases but I do not agree with that quite yet. If it takes them more than 5 minutes to get home I'm on my way up the street to see them.
Thanks for your input ladies.

[MamaKoala]

What happened to the kids in Perth?

[Myztik]

This is what I was referring to

Possibly Distressing
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,24639432-5017004,00.html

I'll write a bit in white for those who dont want to read it..

Both children were lured into bushes in a park and raped, they were then let go and ran home and told their mum. The little girl required surgery after :(

[MamaKoala]

:( That's horrible. I think you're right about waiting until high school.

[DALLASMUM]

My kids walk on there own (less than five minutes away) they are 9 and 10. they walk in a group together with two other families of kids.

[raisingthree]

The little Ebony Simpson case comes to mind when I think about what age to let the kids walk alone. And I really don't know the answer to that question - high school age probably.

I find it so sad that I used to ride my bike to school at age 9 and now its unheard of. Its so sad that we are afraid to let them anymore:confused:

[Myztik]

It certainly made me think twice about it all. It all hit too close to home as my best friend has 3 little girls who go to the same school in that news report :(

[Fuchsia!]

Hmmm never? lol i dunno, if it were that close i would probably just walk up and get them