Would you let your 4th and Kindergardener walk to school w/out an adult

[Anonymous]

One block?
Of course! You can see them the whole time from your house if you wanted to-and there will be lots of other kids around so close to the school. No brainer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Compiling from the other thread, I am getting about 10 attempted abductions in the last 6 months in our area. You all still think a 5 year old should be out walking by themselves, or with a sibling they may or may not listen to?
Crestwood (NW DC)
Smithsonian Air and Space
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/police-seek-man-in-abduction-attempt-at-smithsonians-air-and-space-museum/2016/03/23/b1b9b788-f112-11e5-85a6-2132cf446d0a_story.html
Several in Bethesda – East Bethesda, near Banockburn
Near Tilden MS on Old Georgetown Road
Northern VA near intersection of Rt 7 and Fairfax County Parkway
Falls Church City
South Arlington
Yorktown HS neighborhood
Cabin John
Science Museum in Richmond – inappropriate sexual touching of a 9 year old may be related to abduction attempt in Smithsonian
http://wtvr.com/2016/03/15/capitol-police-investigating-link-with-dc-attempted-abduction-and-science-museum-sexual-assault/

It must be so hard to be you. Your internal stress is just slowly eating away at you.

If you let your 4th grader walk to the bus stop alone how is it much different from a 4th grader and K siblings walking 1 block to school together? I honestly can not for the life of me understand your rationale of googling up every bad event that has ever happened and using that as a factor. Will your kids go to college? They get kidnapped there too. Kids die in school shootings. Cars crash, Planes crash, trains derail, weather events occur. You must put so much anxiety and fear into your kids that they will have a hard time living a happy life.

That is not true. All of the stuff from above is from one thread on DCUM. Just because I know this stuff doesn't mean I burden my children with it. I am glad you all are so concerned about my well being, but I am doing fine. I have never taken any medication other than allergy medicine, so no worries there. I just happen to be interested in this stuff, and I want my kids to be self aware and know what to do in different situations. Like the John Walsh video has a woman come up to kids in the park and ask for help looking for a lost kitten. Do your kids know what to do in that situation? It might not hurt to watch the video like I've suggested.

There is a difference between a child being "self aware" & being convinced the world is terrible place filled with sinister people who are lurking in every corner, just waiting for the first opportunity to kidnap/rape/murder him or her. In fact, I'd say --& recent research about how helicopered kids fare once they reach young adulthood bares this out -- that being overprotected & not being trusted to handle age-appropriate fredoms & responsibilities can greatly hinder self awareness. This is more true when it comes to self-confidence.

Also, no one on this thread has recommended letting kids walk to school unaccompanied without first teaching them basic safety rules. There is a stark difference, however, between making kids aware of potential dangers & what they should & should not do in potentially harmful procedures & stiffling normal, age-appropriate & healthy childhood steps towards independence because of your paranoia about something statistically less likely than being struck by lightening twice happening to your kids.

Thank you for posting what should be basic common sense to most people. It amazes how many kids still can not walk across the street in elementary school because Mommy is still holding their hand in parking lots and neighborhoods. The kids are so used to it, they don't even look.

[Anonymous]

No. While it seems perfectly reasonable (after all what can really happen in 1.5 blocks?), this is not the world we grew up in unfortunately. I walked 5 blocks to my elementary school and loved it.

But we are in a large urban area. Stuff like the below happens in a single block. In our area. In 'safe' family neighborhoods. In daylight. When parents are around. Within a block of schools. I wish it didn't-- and you never think it could happen to you--until it does.

There are plenty of other ways to build their independence...


http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Little-Boy-Remembered-Stranger-Danger-During-Arlington-Abduction-Attempt-376454021.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. While it seems perfectly reasonable (after all what can really happen in 1.5 blocks?), this is not the world we grew up in unfortunately. I walked 5 blocks to my elementary school and loved it.

But we are in a large urban area. Stuff like the below happens in a single block. In our area. In 'safe' family neighborhoods. In daylight. When parents are around. Within a block of schools. I wish it didn't-- and you never think it could happen to you--until it does.

There are plenty of other ways to build their independence...


http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Little-Boy-Remembered-Stranger-Danger-During-Arlington-Abduction-Attempt-376454021.html

True. It's safer now than when we were growing up.

[Anonymous]

Just wondering... why even have aftercare after school? If kids beginning at K can walk to/from school then presumably they can open a door and sit inside until someone gets home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. While it seems perfectly reasonable (after all what can really happen in 1.5 blocks?), this is not the world we grew up in unfortunately. I walked 5 blocks to my elementary school and loved it.

But we are in a large urban area. Stuff like the below happens in a single block. In our area. In 'safe' family neighborhoods. In daylight. When parents are around. Within a block of schools. I wish it didn't-- and you never think it could happen to you--until it does.

There are plenty of other ways to build their independence...


http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Little-Boy-Remembered-Stranger-Danger-During-Arlington-Abduction-Attempt-376454021.html

Yeah. Whatever.

True. It's safer now than when we were growing up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering... why even have aftercare after school? If kids beginning at K can walk to/from school then presumably they can open a door and sit inside until someone gets home.

My K'er can get in a lot more trouble at home fore 3 hours after school than on a 5 minute walk to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering... why even have aftercare after school? If kids beginning at K can walk to/from school then presumably they can open a door and sit inside until someone gets home.

8yrs and up can stay home alone. Remember latchkey kids. Before parents felt obligated to pay aftercare for 11yr old's.

And we are talking about a K student walking with a 4th grade sibling.