Public transport
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Anonymous
| What age did your kids fully start navigating DC public transportation on their own? I mean taking the metro and bus on their own to see friends and go places they want to go. Not just talking about going to school. Tks! |
Anonymous
| 11 yrs old. |
Anonymous
13, but talked to them to behave on the metro and on the bus, reminded them to not talk so loud and always thanks the bus driver after the ride. |
Anonymous
12yrs old and my sister in NYC made fun of me for being a helicopter. I should have probably started a bit earlier |
Anonymous
| 12 years old. But with friends. |
Anonymous
| We live in the burbs. DD is 11, we’ve done the metro a few times but are not frequent users. I told her when she’s 14 she can use metro by herself with a friend. |
Anonymous
| 12 -- might have been earlier, but we kinda avoided public transit (and visiting people) in the pandemic. |
Anonymous
If its an older looking and savvy kid then 11 is okay but otherwise wait until 13 and in meantime practice it with them so it becomes a routine and they observe and experience possible issues in your presence and see how to manage them. |
Anonymous
|
One of my kids was taking daytime trips to places he had been with with me, but by himself at 11. Not just school, but activities he had been to previously. He wasn't comfortable trying a new route before 12, and then at 12 and 13 he didn't ride at all because of the pandemic.
My other kid was 11 the first time he rode the metro after the pandemic. He pretty immediately discovered that he could look at the maps and find new destinations. At that age, I still limited him to the daytime, and to places he had cleared with me in advance, but not necessarily been to before.. So, a little more navigation. He's 13 now, and I still expect him to tell me where he's going and what route he's taking. |
Anonymous
| From my experience, day time use of public transport in DC is pretty safe. Obviously, random incidents happen but even burb walking and driving isn't completely safe. Most school shootings happen in suburban schools, most sexual abuse happens at homes, in churches and in scout camps so bubble wrapping kids isn't possible. Its better to discuss pitfalls with them and use public transportation with them to give them savvy and confidence. |
Anonymous
13 is way too old. In NYC, parent passes are only give to K-2 students. But by 3rd grade the expectation is the kids know how to use public transportation with their friends |
Anonymous
Riding to school isn’t navigating. OP asked about kids navigating which is traveling to unfamiliar destinations. |
Anonymous
| 12. |
Anonymous
Where does your sister live? I wouldn’t have my 12 year old use the subway alone. Too many large group of teens looking for trouble and target young girls or boys alone. |
Anonymous
| Son started taking the metro in MS to Nationals games with friends. Daughter, not until Junior year of HS, and only with a large group of friends |