How old does a child have to be to wait for a school bus alone?

[Anonymous]

Unless you live in a really bad neighborhood or on a really busy street, I think it's fine to let him walk half a block by himself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't you just walk him to the stop?

I have a second younger child whose preschool starts at 9. I am not even sure what time the bus comes but I know it would be about 40 min earlier than when we need to be out the door.

I would never let a child that young do that. Not for many years.

You wouldn't let a six-year-old walk half a block to the school bus stop? Would you let an eight-year-old? Would you let a ten-year-old? How old would the child need to be?

42.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd let the kid do it in first grade. I'd spend the rest of this year prepping them. What to do if you miss the bus, what to do if a driver stops to talk to you or offers you a ride, what to do if this or that.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son just turned 6 and is currently in kindergarten. Currently I drive him to school every morning at kiss n ride. DS WANTS to take the bus in the morning. Just wondering if it is ok for him to walk half a block to the bus stop. I am not sure if I would even feel comfortable with it but I am wondering if there is some age cut off. We are in Fairfax County.

It isn't an age cut off. Kindergarteners need an adult at the bus stop for pick up and drop off. Next year, it will be fine. Why can't you walk to the bus stop with him?

Because she is lazy

OP here. I drive my kid to school everyday. In those 40 min, I would be showering and getting myself and younger child ready for preschool. If my kid can't go to the bus stop alone, I am going to continue to drive him at 8:40.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't you just walk him to the stop?

I have a second younger child whose preschool starts at 9. I am not even sure what time the bus comes but I know it would be about 40 min earlier than when we need to be out the door.

I would never let a child that young do that. Not for many years.

Exactly how many years? You wouldn't let an 8 year old walk half a block to wait for the school bus?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP here. I drive my kid to school everyday. In those 40 min, I would be showering and getting myself and younger child ready for preschool. If my kid can't go to the bus stop alone, I am going to continue to drive him at 8:40.

OP, suppose you did the following:

1. Find out when the bus comes.
2. Figure out the timing. For example, if the bus comes at 8:00 am, what time would you have to leave the house to get to the bus stop, and what time would you get back? Also, if you didn't have to drive your older child to school, what time would you have to leave the house to get your younger child to preschool?
3. See if you can figure out a way to make that work.

[Anonymous]

My sister was 8 years old when a man attempted to abduct her from our bus stop. The only thing that stopped him was my giant 17 year-old neighbor who came running after the guy. He ran away. Please stay with your child at the bus stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister was 8 years old when a man attempted to abduct her from our bus stop. The only thing that stopped him was my giant 17 year-old neighbor who came running after the guy. He ran away. Please stay with your child at the bus stop.

What happened to your sister was terrifying, I'm sure, but extremely rare. Kids are quite literally much more likely to be struck by lightening than abducted by a stranger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister was 8 years old when a man attempted to abduct her from our bus stop. The only thing that stopped him was my giant 17 year-old neighbor who came running after the guy. He ran away. Please stay with your child at the bus stop.

And my neighbor was 8 years old when he was killed in a car accident. Please don't allow your children to ride in cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't you just walk him to the stop?

I have a second younger child whose preschool starts at 9. I am not even sure what time the bus comes but I know it would be about 40 min earlier than when we need to be out the door.

I would never let a child that young do that. Not for many years.

You wouldn't let a six-year-old walk half a block to the school bus stop? Would you let an eight-year-old? Would you let a ten-year-old? How old would the child need to be?

42.

Well, 42 is the new 6...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you live in a really bad neighborhood or on a really busy street, I think it's fine to let him walk half a block by himself.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister was 8 years old when a man attempted to abduct her from our bus stop. The only thing that stopped him was my giant 17 year-old neighbor who came running after the guy. He ran away. Please stay with your child at the bus stop.

And my neighbor was 8 years old when he was killed in a car accident. Please don't allow your children to ride in cars.

Please shut up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister was 8 years old when a man attempted to abduct her from our bus stop. The only thing that stopped him was my giant 17 year-old neighbor who came running after the guy. He ran away. Please stay with your child at the bus stop.

What happened to your sister was terrifying, I'm sure, but extremely rare. Kids are quite literally much more likely to be struck by lightening than abducted by a stranger.

While it is rare...it happens. 6 is too young to be at a bus stop alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister was 8 years old when a man attempted to abduct her from our bus stop. The only thing that stopped him was my giant 17 year-old neighbor who came running after the guy. He ran away. Please stay with your child at the bus stop.

And my neighbor was 8 years old when he was killed in a car accident. Please don't allow your children to ride in cars.

Please shut up.

Please learn to properly access risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

OP here. I drive my kid to school everyday. In those 40 min, I would be showering and getting myself and younger child ready for preschool. If my kid can't go to the bus stop alone, I am going to continue to drive him at 8:40.

OP, suppose you did the following:

1. Find out when the bus comes.
2. Figure out the timing. For example, if the bus comes at 8:00 am, what time would you have to leave the house to get to the bus stop, and what time would you get back? Also, if you didn't have to drive your older child to school, what time would you have to leave the house to get your younger child to preschool?
3. See if you can figure out a way to make that work.

OP here. I am fairly certain the bus comes between 8:00 and 8:10. We currently leave our house around 8:35 to get to school by 8:40. If I were to walk my son to the bus, we would need to walk out of the house around 8. I just don't think this is going to work. DS will just have to continue getting driven to school by me.