Do your teens walk home from school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 11 year old walks a mile each way to school in DC.

I'm guessing that's a very gentrified mile and that there are plenty of people around.

If he was walking in a more isolated/sketchy area that would be different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 11 year old walks a mile each way to school in DC.

I'm guessing that's a very gentrified mile and that there are plenty of people around.

If he was walking in a more isolated/sketchy area that would be different.

The original post said "It's a neighborhood street, very quiet and it comes to a dead end a few houses down from our driveway." That sounds quite safe to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 11 year old walks a mile each way to school in DC.

I'm guessing that's a very gentrified mile and that there are plenty of people around.

If he was walking in a more isolated/sketchy area that would be different.

The original post said "It's a neighborhood street, very quiet and it comes to a dead end a few houses down from our driveway." That sounds quite safe to me.

It depends on what the Op means by "quiet". Are there other kids walking home on the street, are there any neighbors home? Or is her daughter walking alone down a quiet street to an isolated house where no one else is around?

My take on this is, that having an Uber driver pick her up from school and drop her off in front of an isolated house is really no more or less safe than her daughter walking the whole half mile by herself. At least during the walk home she would be around other kids for at least part of the way.

[Anonymous]

My 12 and 14 year old walk home from the bus stop across a wooded park, not together quite often, .6 miles.

That said when I was 14 I was walking in a busy mall parking lot with two friends when we were followed by a guy in a car and then he exposed himself to us.

We reported it to mall security and later had to ID the guy in a photo book, he was prosecuted.

[Anonymous]

But what if they live in PG county?????? It's nice that all your kids walk everywhere but you are mentioning where you live exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But what if they live in PG county?????? It's nice that all your kids walk everywhere but you are mentioning where you live exactly.

What if they do live in Prince George's County? Plenty of kids walk around in Prince George's County. Plenty of people in general walk around in Prince George's County. And it is indeed dangerous, in some areas, but not because of muggings, but rather because the roads are deadly to pedestrians.

https://ggwash.org/view/68930/four-people-died-walking-on-area-roadways-heres-how-police-press-should-cover

[Anonymous]

A 14 yo can walk 1/5 a mile.

Crime rates are much lower than they were when your parents parented you. Incidentally, did they over-parent you the way they want you to do to DD?

[Anonymous]

She takes mass transit, then walks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are different dangers out there. Would I let my kid walk home through a sketchy area known for shootings and other violence? No. I wouldn't walk through an area like that, either. Another example of where having a cellphone with you is going to do you no good.

FYI, you should scratch the University of Chicago off your list. Plus, the dining options might not be immediately available, and that would *truly* be a tragedy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 12 and 14 year old walk home from the bus stop across a wooded park, not together quite often, .6 miles.

That said when I was 14 I was walking in a busy mall parking lot with two friends when we were followed by a guy in a car and then he exposed himself to us.

We reported it to mall security and later had to ID the guy in a photo book, he was prosecuted.

It's good that you and your 2 friends were in a busy mall parking lot with mall security nearby so that you could report the creep.

A kid walking home alone on an isolated stretch of street is usually not so fortunate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are different dangers out there. Would I let my kid walk home through a sketchy area known for shootings and other violence? No. I wouldn't walk through an area like that, either. Another example of where having a cellphone with you is going to do you no good.

FYI, you should scratch the University of Chicago off your list. Plus, the dining options might not be immediately available, and that would *truly* be a tragedy.

If I visited the campus and felt unsafe, yes I would scratch it off the list. No apologies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 12 and 14 year old walk home from the bus stop across a wooded park, not together quite often, .6 miles.

That said when I was 14 I was walking in a busy mall parking lot with two friends when we were followed by a guy in a car and then he exposed himself to us.

We reported it to mall security and later had to ID the guy in a photo book, he was prosecuted.

It's good that you and your 2 friends were in a busy mall parking lot with mall security nearby so that you could report the creep.

A kid walking home alone on an isolated stretch of street is usually not so fortunate.

How much walking do you do to get from Point A to Point B? My current idea is that people who think it's too dangerous for their teenagers to walk, because the teenagers might be kidnapped/followed/pestered, are people who don't walk to get places very much themselves, if at all. It's all part of the thinking that driving is normal and safe, whereas walking is weird and dangerous.

[Anonymous]

I used to walk home from school alone aged 9 across one major road (with traffic lights) and then a couple minor roads. It was a half mile and about 10-12 mins walk.

My kids are now going to the bus stop for MS alone but its less distance, more like 3-4 mins walk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 12 and 14 year old walk home from the bus stop across a wooded park, not together quite often, .6 miles.

That said when I was 14 I was walking in a busy mall parking lot with two friends when we were followed by a guy in a car and then he exposed himself to us.

We reported it to mall security and later had to ID the guy in a photo book, he was prosecuted.

It's good that you and your 2 friends were in a busy mall parking lot with mall security nearby so that you could report the creep.

A kid walking home alone on an isolated stretch of street is usually not so fortunate.

How much walking do you do to get from Point A to Point B? My current idea is that people who think it's too dangerous for their teenagers to walk, because the teenagers might be kidnapped/followed/pestered, are people who don't walk to get places very much themselves, if at all. It's all part of the thinking that driving is normal and safe, whereas walking is weird and dangerous.

Your theory would be wrong. I just know that you have to be aware of your surroundings. Like it or not, a girl walking alone in a crowded airport is not going to be vulnerable in the same way as a girl walking down a quiet street, alone, on a rainy day.

[Anonymous]

Have an iphone?

Use and set the Find Friends App so that you get an alert when she leaves the school prop. and then another when arriving home

(you could also watch along the walking progress if you so choose).