Letting 11yo roam

[Anonymous]

Just curious - are you comfortable with letting your 11 year old out on their own to knock on their friends' doors houses and to head to the park on their own?

[Anonymous]

How far is this roaming?

[Anonymous]

I don’t like my daughter to walk alone outside. At 11 years old she has to be with an adult or a friend.

[Anonymous]

I let my nine year old do this.

[Anonymous]

My 11 year old walked himself to and from school, so yes.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but our neighborhood has pretty quiet streets. It depends on the neighborhood just as much as it depends on the kid.

[Anonymous]

Very much child and neighborhood dependent. My 9 year old has an Apple Watch and walks down the street and around the corner to knock on friends houses. I am ok with that. We do not have a local park though so they just play over one another’s house. We do not get a lot of traffic on our street at all so they play in the street. I am ok with all of this.

[Anonymous]

What are they going to do at the park? Climb trees? Ride bikes? Or other they kind of kids looking for trouble?

[Anonymous]

I let a 5yo do this.

[Anonymous]

That's the age my DCs were when they started taking the subway to and from school on their own.

[Anonymous]

I let my six year old do it with a sibling and a seven year old alone.

Not allowed to cross major streets though. Neighborhood only.

It is NOT normal that you are even hesitant for any reason other than pedestrian safety. She can babysit in less than two years!!

[Anonymous]

My DD started doing this at 8-9, in Takoma Park.

[Anonymous]

I let my 7 year old do this.
So yes. I love that both of my kids are independent (older one is 13 and we let him do the same). And I prefer them outside exploring and playing than inside on screens.

[Anonymous]

No, and I don't want your kid knocking on my door. If you're going to send them over for free babysitting, text me and ask if it's a good time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I let my 7 year old do this.
So yes. I love that both of my kids are independent (older one is 13 and we let him do the same). And I prefer them outside exploring and playing than inside on screens.

You realize some families may not want your 7 year old to knock on their door to hang out at their house. And, that's irresponsible not to be supervising them. Its not that they are independent, you refuse to parent.