At what age did your kids get to school by themselves?

[Anonymous]

Even though the school year is 3/4th over, I’m still juggling with the later school start time this year (Mo Co) and need to find better solutions so I’m not late to work all of the time. We need such a short amount of morning care (15 minutes) that I’m hesitant to spend so much on the school's before care. Wondering when your DC was ready to head out to school alone (with twin sibling in this case), including locking the front door, and walking less than one block to school?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

8yrs old

[Anonymous]

3rd grade alone but with a twin, I would be fine with 2nd grade. Are there any close neighbors walking?

[Anonymous]

My 3rd grader is totally capable of being alone for 15 minutes and totally capable of walking that distance to school. The part that I'm not she'd be able to do is keep track of the time so that shoes are on and she leaves the house on time, remembering her backpack. How are your children with time management?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 3rd grader is totally capable of being alone for 15 minutes and totally capable of walking that distance to school. The part that I'm not she'd be able to do is keep track of the time so that shoes are on and she leaves the house on time, remembering her backpack. How are your children with time management?

I did this for me and my brother back in the 70s. My mom was an nurse. She would call the house every day about 10 min before it was time to leave. It was enough time for us to get our shoes and coats on, do any last minute backpack packing, and get out the door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 3rd grader is totally capable of being alone for 15 minutes and totally capable of walking that distance to school. The part that I'm not she'd be able to do is keep track of the time so that shoes are on and she leaves the house on time, remembering her backpack. How are your children with time management?

You have everything by the door, put on a kitchen timer, and put a sticky on the door to lock it behind you. One or two times they may forget to lock, get there on time, or do something else. They may even lock up and forget their backpack. Live and learn is a MUCH better way for your kids to become independent than with you hovering. At my school they can be inside the school 25min before the bell rings. One block is plenty of time to get there with 20+ minutes to spare. 99% of the time, it will be just fine and you are also giving your kids the gift of autonomy and critical thinking skills.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- thanks for the replies. I'm pretty sure they can do it with no problem. It's my letting go that's the hardest!

[Anonymous]

End of fourth grade. School is 50 minutes away by train. I walked her through our unsafe neighborhood to the train, then she took it to school and walked three blocks in a safe neighborhood.

Now in 7th grade and goes all over the city by herself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:End of fourth grade. School is 50 minutes away by train. I walked her through our unsafe neighborhood to the train, then she took it to school and walked three blocks in a safe neighborhood.

Now in 7th grade and goes all over the city by herself.

wow impressive!! good work!

[Anonymous]

Start of 6th grade our DC kids each began taking the metro to school. They walk about 3/4 of a mile from our house to the station.

[Anonymous]

This is all a breath of fresh air from the moms who still hold their 9yr old's hand crossing a street or watch their kids play outside all the time.

[Anonymous]

Just a thought - I have a Schlage lock that has a PIN code, one button locking, and emails me (if I want it to) when the bolt is thrown. So if you want some reassurance that they've left AND locked the house, that could be a way to go.

[Anonymous]

10 yo began walking to 5 th grade this year. She has a kajeet cell phone that I can track from my computer or phone, a rape whistle on her key lanyard, and an alarm that goes off every day 30 mins before school starts. I wake her every morning with plenty of time to get ready before I leave. It has been great for her independence. She walks home most days and calls me when she gets home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10 yo began walking to 5 th grade this year. She has a kajeet cell phone that I can track from my computer or phone, a rape whistle on her key lanyard, and an alarm that goes off every day 30 mins before school starts. I wake her every morning with plenty of time to get ready before I leave. It has been great for her independence. She walks home most days and calls me when she gets home.

PLEASE tell me this is sarcasm. Do you not see the irony of your 2nd and 4th sentences?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 3rd grader is totally capable of being alone for 15 minutes and totally capable of walking that distance to school. The part that I'm not she'd be able to do is keep track of the time so that shoes are on and she leaves the house on time, remembering her backpack. How are your children with time management?

+1

In the morning, no way my 3rd grader could handle it.

But in 2nd grade, I did leave him alone in the house for 15-20 minutes one afternoon per week, with a timer set to get shoes on and leave, and he took himself to a class about 6 blocks away. Maybe we should try the timer thing for the mornings...