Could your 9 year old walk home from school?

[Anonymous]

In the circumstances you describe I would have allowed it, assuming that you don't live in a neighborhood with other challenges like an open air drug market or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP here.

Thank you PPs.

I was hit by a speeding car at 10, so I may not have the right perspective here.
Sadly there are no elementary school walkers going our way this coming year.

I will practice crossing that street with DS and see how he handles it.

Assuming your DS is up for it, I don't think there's anything wrong with it. However, I note you specifically mentioned elementary school walkers. Are there any middle or high school walkers who might be willing to wait for your DS and walk him home for some pocket money? That might calm your nerves a bit as well.

[Anonymous]

Common in our neighborhood at that age but there are a lot of walkers and no major roads.

[Anonymous]

OP, I was also hit by a car at age 11, probably due to my own failure to look both ways rather than any mistake on the driver's part, so I know from experience that kids that age aren't always responsible. But they need to develop responsibility at some point, and this is entirely age-appropriate.

I would practice the route with DS several times, and emphasize traffic safety any time you are walking anywhere together. Then take a deep breath and let him do it.

Depending on where you live, be prepared for busybodies who will be horrified at the sight of a child walking anywhere without a security detail. Just remember that there is no law against it anywhere, and that no reasonable policeman or CPS agent will respond to this kind of call.

[Anonymous]

My 10-year-old starting walking home from school alone at the very end of 4th grade when she had just turned 10. No busy streets to cross that didn't have a crosswalk, though.

[Anonymous]

My six-year-old has a ten minute walk to school and while I would never let him do it alone right now, I know he already knows the way and pays attention to traffic. I can see him doing it alone in a couple of years.

[Anonymous]

I don't let my nine year old do it, but not because I don't think he could handle it. I just don't trust the drivers in our neighborhood - they speed down our street (it's in between two major roads so they cut through) and we have no sidewalks. In the situation you describe with the busy road, I think it's fine in theory but I would definitely be uneasy enough about it that I would probably hire a neighborhood teen to walk with him that one day a week.

[Anonymous]

My 9 year old could but I wouldn't let him. Find someone to help out.

[Anonymous]

I don't let my nine year old do it, but not because I don't think he could handle it. I just don't trust the drivers in our neighborhood - they speed down our street (it's in between two major roads so they cut through) and we have no sidewalks. In the situation you describe with the busy road, I think it's fine in theory but I would definitely be uneasy enough about it that I would probably hire a neighborhood teen to walk with him that one day a week.

[Anonymous]

I walked home by myself when I was 9 and 10 - so did all other kids at my school. Small town Walk the way a few times with him without giving any prompts to see if he can do it. Then have him go a few times by himself but spy on him to check if he does everything right. Then trust him If it matters...my walk was an easy 20-30 minute walk home depending on how fast I walked and how much distractions there were on the way

[Anonymous]

OP, paradoxically I think a 9 year old is safer crossing a busy street when he is by himself, versus when he is with other kids who could distract him.

My 8 year old walked herself home many days of the week last school year, crossing a VERY busy street. I prepared her for it by walking with her the other days and scaring the shit out of her -- cars don't wait for people, people wait for cars. You should NEVER assume a car sees you. Just because you are at a cross walk doesn't mean it is safe. Look left look right look left again then run run run. In a fight between a car, and a person, the car. always. wins. and so on.

I think the kids who are least safe crossing roads are the ones who never do it. It takes some experience to be able to be confident. I would always have her walk ahead of me, and decide when it was safe to cross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, paradoxically I think a 9 year old is safer crossing a busy street when he is by himself, versus when he is with other kids who could distract him.

My 8 year old walked herself home many days of the week last school year, crossing a VERY busy street. I prepared her for it by walking with her the other days and scaring the shit out of her -- cars don't wait for people, people wait for cars. You should NEVER assume a car sees you. Just because you are at a cross walk doesn't mean it is safe. Look left look right look left again then run run run. In a fight between a car, and a person, the car. always. wins. and so on.

I think the kids who are least safe crossing roads are the ones who never do it. It takes some experience to be able to be confident. I would always have her walk ahead of me, and decide when it was safe to cross.

Good advice!

[Anonymous]

Is there a crossing guard at that intersection? Can you ask the school to get it staffed?

What is the plan in the rain?

Is it an option of doing a standing playdate with a friend that day at the friend's house?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's crazy assuming that a 9 year old is a responsible fellow.

I think it's crazy that we've designed an environment where a nine-year-old can't walk home from school because a driver might run him over.

OP, I think it's very reasonable for you to worry about this. If I were you, I would practice a lot of defensive walking with him. And I agree with the PP who says he might be better off on his own, so he's not distracted by his friends.

[Anonymous]

I would let my 9-year old walk home as you describe, but he wouldn't want to be home by himself that long. That's the more troublesome part to me.