Could your 9 year old walk home from school?

[Anonymous]

Should add, the man was not an employee. Just some guy eating a prepared meal in the seating area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You could check your library's website. Just as with walking, there being no rule against it won't save you or your son from being accosted by busybodies who think you're America's worst parent. Talk with your son ahead of time about what to do should someone approach him when you're not there, and practice what you'd say if someone comes up to you as well.

I wouldn't do it because someone is going to call CPS. Just have the kid walk home.

I agree about the busybodies. But I can't imagine that CPS would take seriously a report of a nine-year-old by himself at the library after school for a few hours. If he behaves himself, acts like he knows what he's doing, and is prepared with responses for the busybodies, everything should be fine.

My 12 year old sat alone playing on an ipad at a table in the cafe area of Balducci's recently (many were open/unused) while I shopped for about 15-20 min.

A man nearly accosted me for leaving DS alone "while I [the man] sat here and watched him" and took it upon himself to berate me.

So...if you go the library option, know that there are busybody nuts everywhere!

What?! That's crazy. What a jerk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP here again.

OK, I have a solution!

DS could go to the nearby library to wait for me, it's even closer and there's only one, much safer road to cross.

Do you think public libraries allow 9 year olds to read/do homework in the children's section, even if they're unaccompanied?

Thanks for all your advice!

(BTW I agree with 19:09 that safety is primarily reducing distractions. I was talking to my friend when I got hit by a car at 10 years old. I should have heard it even if I couldn't see (we were crossing at the top of a hill and round a bend) but I didn't because of our conversation.)

I used to work as a children's librarian and our library rule was that kids over 8 could be unattended in the children's section. If you want him to go there every day, I'd have a chat with the children's librarian about their policy. If a parent had asked me, I'd have said it was fine but clarified that we are not babysitters and he needed to behave appropriately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Scheduling nightmare. For one day of the week, I can't pick up my 4th grader from school and will come home an hour and a half after school ends.

School is less than a 5 minute walk to our house. However, there is a narrow but busy street to cross. I don't anticipate any problems inside the house, since DS is a responsible fellow. I am worried about him crossing the street and getting hit by a car turning right on red.

It's crazy, right?

well op in my day when I was 9 I walked myself back and forth to school. We were poor, so I didn't have any shoes, and it usually snowed. Also, it was uphill both ways.

[Anonymous]

My daughter walked home from school everyday in 5th grade, she was 9 for part of it. A lot of kids hung out at the library after school, another group went to a local coffee shop to do homework.

[Anonymous]

At age 8 my daughter spent all day every day walking throughout the city, taking the train, stopping to play at the playground, buying food at the store, and essentially doing anything she wanted. Oh, and with her 5 year old sister in tow. Somehow (gratefully) she made it through alive.

I think some kids of that age are far more competent than we give them credit for.

Me, I would have no problem at all having a 9 year old DS walk home from school and stay home for an hour or two. I don't think I would even require a phone call from him, unless it made him feel better.

[Anonymous]

He can do it, or arrange to go to a friends that one day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At age 8 my daughter spent all day every day walking throughout the city, taking the train, stopping to play at the playground, buying food at the store, and essentially doing anything she wanted. Oh, and with her 5 year old sister in tow. Somehow (gratefully) she made it through alive.

I think some kids of that age are far more competent than we give them credit for.

Me, I would have no problem at all having a 9 year old DS walk home from school and stay home for an hour or two. I don't think I would even require a phone call from him, unless it made him feel better.

Wha?? Was this back in the 70's, or recent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At age 8 my daughter spent all day every day walking throughout the city, taking the train, stopping to play at the playground, buying food at the store, and essentially doing anything she wanted. Oh, and with her 5 year old sister in tow. Somehow (gratefully) she made it through alive.

I think some kids of that age are far more competent than we give them credit for.

Me, I would have no problem at all having a 9 year old DS walk home from school and stay home for an hour or two. I don't think I would even require a phone call from him, unless it made him feel better.

Wha?? Was this back in the 70's, or recent?

No, this was about 4 years ago. She was not my daughter (yet) at the time. As horrible as it was, and as much as I would have never allowed that, I have to say that she did actually handle herself really well. Learning about her background shifted my perception slightly about what children are capable of.

[Anonymous]

Yes, with some practice and teaching he can walk home.

He can go to the library on rainy or very cold days.

[Anonymous]

Of my 4 kids, 3 could walk home alone at 9. The 4th one I wouldn't let do it. It comes down to personality and how responsible they are. I agree it is safer to walk alone. No earphones or music.