Kids walking home from bus stop by themselves

[Anonymous]

Why are these child professionals responding to a post that is a year and a half old? Encouraging parents to let their kids walk alone? Pedophile much?

[Anonymous]

No need to be super paranoid-kids are capable of defending themselves better than most parents think. If the kid had a disability or illness that clouded their judgements, I could understand.

Yes, today may not be as safe as 20-30 years ago, but that doesn't mean we need to drive kids to school in a armored Humvee wearing body armor and being surrounded by armed security guards. If they can't handle being around other kids unsupervised, how do we expect them to become productive adults and leaders for the next generation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Times have changed. Maybe it is a good thing, not a bad thing? I've seen lots of data to suggest that the crime rate has actually dropped, but maybe it it is our parents who should have been more careful. I used to play in storm sewer tunnels on the way home from school for crying out loud, NOT a good idea. And we had a long-term flasher problem, including a time he came into the girl's bathroom in our school. This was in the 70's in Fairfax. We didn't wear seatbelts either. Unfortunately there are alot of child predators out there. I want my kids to be independent, but I also need to work with the information I have, which is that there are lots of red dots on that sex offenders map in my zip code...

More awareness does not mean it has changed.

It depends on the kid and where you live. I think I'd be fine with them walking with friends around third grade, providing that they were mature enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Times have changed. Maybe it is a good thing, not a bad thing? I've seen lots of data to suggest that the crime rate has actually dropped, but maybe it it is our parents who should have been more careful. I used to play in storm sewer tunnels on the way home from school for crying out loud, NOT a good idea. And we had a long-term flasher problem, including a time he came into the girl's bathroom in our school. This was in the 70's in Fairfax. We didn't wear seatbelts either. Unfortunately there are alot of child predators out there. I want my kids to be independent, but I also need to work with the information I have, which is that there are lots of red dots on that sex offenders map in my zip code...

More awareness does not mean it has changed.

It depends on the kid and where you live. I think I'd be fine with them walking with friends around third grade, providing that they were mature enough.

Agree that it depends on where you live, the type and speed of traffic in your hood, the maturity / attentiveness to traffic of the kids, all those things. But at the end of the day, you do what works for you, right?

[Anonymous]

I have a daughter in 6th grade and she used to walk to the bus stop. She doesn't anymore because 2 pit bulls came and attacked her. She also has scoliosis. Scoliosis is the bending of the spine. It sometimes hurts so bad that she falls over. Someone has to be there with her. She can't do a lot of the things that she used to be able to do. Her spine bend the opposite way that she does her flexible tricks so it hurts. She has to hit her spine to push it back into place. If your kid has nothing wrong, let them have some freedom!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a daughter in 6th grade and she used to walk to the bus stop. She doesn't anymore because 2 pit bulls came and attacked her. She also has scoliosis. Scoliosis is the bending of the spine. It sometimes hurts so bad that she falls over. Someone has to be there with her. She can't do a lot of the things that she used to be able to do. Her spine bend the opposite way that she does her flexible tricks so it hurts. She has to hit her spine to push it back into place. If your kid has nothing wrong, let them have some freedom!

Just out of curiosity- how did you find this six year old thread?

[Anonymous]

My kids' bus stop is a block away. Starting the year one was in 1st grade and one was prek 4, they have generally gone to and from the bus stop alone. When the older one was in the 4s year and K, I was at the bus stop like the rest of the parents. But I kind of wish the kids could all have more independence together. Meaning, I want my kids to be unsupervised, but they are actually standing around with a bunch of other parents.

[Anonymous]

I would spend the 5.5 minutes it takes to look up my zip code in the sex offender registry. Then decide from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would spend the 5.5 minutes it takes to look up my zip code in the sex offender registry. Then decide from there.

I have done this. There are a few people on that registry somewhat near my house. But you can read what type of sex offense they were convicted of. All of them were something along the lines of 20 year old male sleeping with 16 year old female. That type of sex offender poses no danger to my 6 and 8 year old, as I see it.

The scenario of a pedophile who is a stranger trying to abduct our kids is very very rare. Kids much more likely to die in vehicle accident on the way to school.

I talk to my kids very directly about what types of scenarios would be possible child abuse and what to do. That kind of safety is best coming from within the kid, not by limiting their independence.

[Anonymous]

We pick up our kids. Why have kids if you do not want the responsibility

[Anonymous]

When I was young in a neighborhood where everyone knew each other - no one locked the doors( I know crazy ) but I remember an older high schooler riding his bike with his zipper unzipped circling me and my sister at the bus stop. It just looked like he was riding his bike but he had his Pennis hanging out and riding so close to us as we walked home. Of course I went home and told my mom, but that wouldn’t have happened if we had an adult present., and if a parent was watching from the window you wouldn’t think a thing. Anyways just something to think about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was young in a neighborhood where everyone knew each other - no one locked the doors( I know crazy ) but I remember an older high schooler riding his bike with his zipper unzipped circling me and my sister at the bus stop. It just looked like he was riding his bike but he had his Pennis hanging out and riding so close to us as we walked home. Of course I went home and told my mom, but that wouldn’t have happened if we had an adult present., and if a parent was watching from the window you wouldn’t think a thing. Anyways just something to think about.

I'm sorry this happened to you. But...

This type of incident in no way makes me want to supervise my kids more. The value they get from being independent is much stronger then the detriment of seeing a teenager's penis and feeling a bit threatened. And how great that you knew to tell your mom! Just my way of seeing things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids' bus stop is a block away. Starting the year one was in 1st grade and one was prek 4, they have generally gone to and from the bus stop alone. When the older one was in the 4s year and K, I was at the bus stop like the rest of the parents. But I kind of wish the kids could all have more independence together. Meaning, I want my kids to be unsupervised, but they are actually standing around with a bunch of other parents.

Agree with this so much! A very helicoptery mom actually walked my second grader home to our front door the second day of school and thought I was running late. I told her, no, Larlo can walk home by himself and she was so surprised, like the idea hadn't occurred to her. She has a third grader!

[Anonymous]

Our bus stop is near the home of a registered sex offender, so yes I walk my children to/from the bus stop. I’m not taking chances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll stop when they can drive themselves to school. Depends on your hood.

Gosh, how ridiculous!

My DD was in first grade and was walking home when a fifth grade boy walked up to her and started shoving snow down her back.
She responded by taking her fist and arm straight out and knocking him on his ass. It’s one of my fondest childhood memories of her and no I didn’t start walking home with her either after that and she has survived to adulthood.

One of the best parts was apologizing to his parents for my DD knocking over their misguided jerky kid (aww, poor Johnny got beaten up by a first grader today..).

Of course we live in an upper middle class suburb. If you live in a sketchy area do what you need to do.