What age?

[Missy75]

I have lots of 'what age' questions but I'll start with this one...

What age would you let your kids wander the local neighbourhood unsupervised?

The school bus stop and the corner shop are about 10-12 houses away and out of view from our house. DD 9yo wants to be able to walk this distance herself but we have not let her yet and don't know when we will.

Other kids her age and younger do.
Are we being too overprotective?

[Flicka]

It is a totally different world from when we were kids don't you think? I used to walk to primary school with my brother but even back then (all those years ago) mum would stand at our driveway and watch us until we were out of sight.

I say - don't let her do anything that you aren't comfortable with. I guess it depends on how you feel, what the neighbourhood is like, if she would be alone and what kind of child she is (i mean is she emotionally mature and does she have common sense).

Can you come to an agreement where you wait for her a little way away....or at the end of your driveway????

And no, I don't think you are being over protective - you are just being her mum and that is your job.

[Elfin]

Hmmm this is a tough one and I am not sure if there is ever a right age and letting go quite frankly scares me a lot.

Kids even early teens can be abducted and never heard of again. I guess it depends on the child and how street smart they might be. I would prefer my child to be in a group rather than on his own.

I just feel you can't be too protective as terrible things can happen anywhere anytime. My son is 8 and I am certainly not ready for him to walk around yet by himself.:no:

[jasminesmum]

My ds2 has just turned 9 and I wouldn't let him walk anywhere by himself.

I have an older son too and I think he was about 14 before he started to walk around the streets by himself. Even then he had to txt me to let me know where he was and if he'd gotten there.

[Nanny No Fun]

When I had my children they where about 7 or 8 but in this day and age I would not let out by out them selfs until the early teens.

[SassyMummy]

Teens for sure. Despite the fact that the world is a scarier place these days (or at least it seems that way), I wouldn't be happy in putting full trust in my child's ability to protect themselves before they hit their teens (wouldn't trust my teen either, but I'd have to be a bit more lenient by then...).

[prideNJoy]

I voted 9-10, most kids are walking to and from school at this age by themselves, i guess it depends on the area you live in aswell.
I wouldn't let DD out unless she was with a friend or two, not by herself. But you cant keep them confined in a house or yard at that age either unless you want them to start rebelling! it's definately a hard one.

[tee]

Probably 12, or older. It really depends on the child too. I know that one of my brothers could be trusted at alot earlier age to not speak to strangers (etc etc). When I was a child, I was pretty young when I was out playing on the street, but things have changed so much.

I agree with what someone else said, don't do anything you aren't comfortable with. Gut instinct is always a winner with me.

[SweetSerenity]

I voted 11 to 12....

In saying that though it depends on the situation at hand.

If its regarding walking to school or bus stop i would say yes... 11 - 12 as generally there are lots of children around that time doing the same thing.

Regarding general walking around with friends unattended... probably later...

I guess there never is a right time.

Depends on when you trust your child and when it feels right.

I may change my mind when Peter hits that age and tell him not till he's 18 lol:o

[Missy75]

Thanks guys. I don't think she's ready but maybe we can come up with some sort of deal as flicka suggested where she can test her own confidence but she's still within view.

I remember my brother and I used to ask if we could walk some of the way home from the shops and mum would let us out then drive a few houses ahead and wait, and so on. :laughing:

Seems like most of you agree with maybe high school being the right time to let her walk to the shops, school and friends houses on her own.

Cheers.

[kymmy]

Its a hard one. I have thought about this a lot.
My girl is 7 and since she started school she has wanted to go to the shop by herself and now she is asking to babysit her brothers.
When I was 5 I used to roam the streets. I am shocked to think about it now. I can't imagine letting my girl go anywhere by herself for a few years yet. hubby and I are discussing her walking to school by herself. I let her walk a block to school and I watch her. I feel more at ease if she has a friend to walk with.
I would expect my girl to walk to high school by herself at 11. And maybe walk with her brothers in grade 6 (my boys will be in prep and grade 3 then)