Would you let a just-turned-12-YO walk over a mile to a friend's house alone?

[Anonymous]

Absolutely not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A 12 year-old should be able to cross the street, even a major intersection.

I'm shocked as well.

Yes, a 12-year-old should be able to. But is this specific 12-year-old actually able to? That is the question.

^^^Also the streets should be designed so that 12-year-olds (and 8-year-olds, and 6-year-olds, and anybody) can safely and conveniently cross them on foot. When I think of "major intersection", I think of something like crossing Rockville Pike on foot. I would not feel safe about a 12-year-old crossing Rockville Pike on foot by themselves, because I do not feel safe about myself crossing Rockville Pike on foot.

I totally agree. We live near the intersection of Van Dorn and Franconia Rd (Alexandria). My kids have always walked to elementary school (oldest is 11) but there's no way I'd let them cross that intersection of Van Dorn/Franconia. It's horribly designed.

Wow - that's even worse than the Rockville Pike intersections. And right next to a high school. That's terrible.

[Anonymous]

It would depend on the child himself and the intersection(s). If there were a lot of traffic, a lot of distracted drivers, and a poorly designed intersection, I would not. I love to give my child independence and think it's important, but there are also a lot of idiot drivers around here.

[Anonymous]

Yes!! Have him call when he gets there, if you want.

[Anonymous]

I think it is sad this question even has to be asked. 12yr old is one year away from a teen. Crossing busy streets? If not now, when? 13, 14, 15??? They are going to be DRIVING at 16yrs old. At least let them start crossing a road and gaining some independence. Not sure why most parents aren't teaching their kids basic life skills. So many people worry about grades and athletics but kids as old as 8 can't tie shoes or kids that are 12 can't cross a street? I just find it really weird how people parent these days, especially in this area.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Starting in middle school, my son walked home once or twice a week from school. It was a bit under a mile but involved a major intersection.

Just talk about the rules -- not using the phone while walking is a good one.

[Anonymous]

It depends on how busy the intersections are. If you are talking about a highway/toll road/parkway type of intersection where people drive 55mph, then no, don't let him.

It it's an intersection that is 35 mph, then yes, but make sure he understands to look for cars that turn right on red and cars turning left, both of which could run into him even if he is following the crosswalk traffic light rules.

[Anonymous]

I wrote yes, but I also live in an area that is designed to be walkable. There are definitely major intersections, but there are clear crosswalks, and stoplights and other traffic calming methods.

I can't imagine an intersection in DC that I wouldn't allow my kid to cross, for example, or in a close in area like Downtown Silver Spring, Arlington, or Bethesda. But I can imagine that there might be places farther out where my answer would change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is sad this question even has to be asked. 12yr old is one year away from a teen. Crossing busy streets? If not now, when? 13, 14, 15??? They are going to be DRIVING at 16yrs old. At least let them start crossing a road and gaining some independence. Not sure why most parents aren't teaching their kids basic life skills. So many people worry about grades and athletics but kids as old as 8 can't tie shoes or kids that are 12 can't cross a street? I just find it really weird how people parent these days, especially in this area.

Look at the intersection of Franconia and Van Dorn in Alexandria, that the PP posted about. Look at the intersection of Old Georgetown Road and Rockville Pike in North Bethesda. Look at the intersection in the 5800 block of Riverdale Road in Riverdale. Now think about a 12-year-old crossing the street there.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I would depending on the intersections that he has to cross. If they were reasonably safe, I wouldn't worry that much. I'd have him call when he arrived.

[Anonymous]

Yes, there are poorly designed intersections and distracted drivers. But unless you intend to teach your child that it is never safe for anyone to cross such an intersection, and in fact, certain neighborhoods should never be navigated except by car, you are depriving them of learning an essential life skill. You are also making others around them less safe: drivers who have experienced life as pedestrians or bikers will remember to watch for them, and not just other motorists, when they drive.

[Anonymous]

I was 11 crossing a busy intersection on my way home from school when I forgot to look both ways and was hit by a car. I had to spend a long time in the hospital, but I'm sure my parents were the ones more traumatized, from watching me in pain and thinking of what might have happened.

A month later, I was back to crossing the exact same intersection. It would never have occurred to my parents to change this, any more than they would have started spoon-feeding me if I had choked on a sandwich. At some point, you have to accept that your child needs to learn to navigate the world without you, and that nothing in life worth doing is risk free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is sad this question even has to be asked. 12yr old is one year away from a teen. Crossing busy streets? If not now, when? 13, 14, 15??? They are going to be DRIVING at 16yrs old. At least let them start crossing a road and gaining some independence. Not sure why most parents aren't teaching their kids basic life skills. So many people worry about grades and athletics but kids as old as 8 can't tie shoes or kids that are 12 can't cross a street? I just find it really weird how people parent these days, especially in this area.

Look at the intersection of Franconia and Van Dorn in Alexandria, that the PP posted about. Look at the intersection of Old Georgetown Road and Rockville Pike in North Bethesda. Look at the intersection in the 5800 block of Riverdale Road in Riverdale. Now think about a 12-year-old crossing the street there.

So when would you allow someone to cross them? What is your age limit. My daughter just turned 13 a few weeks ago and is a freshman in high school. Should she still not cross a "busy" road? I have a 15yr old daughter too. Should she wait until we ship her off to college and have her professors teach her? And honestly, if you don't like an intersection or feel it is dangerous, you don't pick that intersection to cross. You go down to the next one. You teach and show that to your kids. No teenager is going to let you teach or show them anything. You have a small window between 8-12 to encourage, challenge, and motivate your kids to think and do on their own. Because once they turn into teenagers, they know everything and 90% of what they do/learn come from their friends and themselves.

[Anonymous]

NO. But I was snatched and thrown into a van while walking home with friends.

[Anonymous]

A mile and a quarter? I'd only walk so far for poon!