Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could you start by meeting her halfway? Are there other children who walk, or who might also walk if she walked? Could she ride her bike?

To the PP at 14:53, when I was in elementary school, before cable TV, every kid walked, starting in kindergarten. Every kid. If you had said to the parents that an 8-year-old is not old enough to walk 10 blocks on her own, their jaws would have dropped in astonishment.

The "way we did it when we were kids" argument just doesn't fly. Sorry.

Except that it should fly, because statistically, the world is much, much safer now.

I would not force it if she is not ready.

Anonymous wrote:Could you start by meeting her halfway? Are there other children who walk, or who might also walk if she walked? Could she ride her bike?

To the PP at 14:53, when I was in elementary school, before cable TV, every kid walked, starting in kindergarten. Every kid. If you had said to the parents that an 8-year-old is not old enough to walk 10 blocks on her own, their jaws would have dropped in astonishment.

The "way we did it when we were kids" argument just doesn't fly. Sorry.

drat

^^^also, what I would worry about is not abduction. I would worry that some speeding, cellphone-talking, oblivious-to-pedestrians driver would run her over.

^^^also, what I would worry about is not abduction. What

Anonymous wrote:Concur with pps. I'm not a helicopter parent, but I don't think this is appropriate. If there were several kids I might feel differently. Ten blocks is a mile, isn't it?

20 blocks is a mile. And I don't think walking a mile during daylight is too far at all for an 8 year old.

Could you start by meeting her halfway? Are there other children who walk, or who might also walk if she walked? Could she ride her bike?

To the PP at 14:53, when I was in elementary school, before cable TV, every kid walked, starting in kindergarten. Every kid. If you had said to the parents that an 8-year-old is not old enough to walk 10 blocks on her own, their jaws would have dropped in astonishment.

Concur with pps. I'm not a helicopter parent, but I don't think this is appropriate. If there were several kids I might feel differently. Ten blocks is a mile, isn't it?

OP, I think because you have older children your assuming too much readiness on the part of your 8 year old. Her fears are real to her. Listen and wait.

Can you agree to meet her halfway for a few days? And can you come up with a "safety" plan that will help her feel more prepared? I assume you've given her a phone (if not, no way I would allow this). Talk to her about what she fears and address each scenario--what she would do if...if a stranger offers her a ride...if she notices a neighbor watching her...if she feels she's being followed...etc. Allow her to talk all these things through and don't just say "Oh honey, that won't happen."

I wouldn't let my 8yo daughter walk home by herself. And I certainly wouldn't expect her to be ok with coming home to an empty house (nor would I allow her to do so).

Talk with her about real statistics - that kidnappings are VERY rare, and how they're almost always by someone you know. Talk with her about what to do - I taught my girl not to walk close to a running car with one person sitting in it, or a van with an open door (or again, someone sitting in it). Give her a watch, and tell her that you know what time school lets out, and how long it takes her to walk so you know when to start worrying. For a few days, meet her halfway. The next few days, meet her at the end of the driveway. Then meet her in the house for a few days. THEN introduce the key. Talk about what to do if the key doesn't work, whose house she can go to, etc.

Some kids can plunge right in, and some (like mine) need mental preparation time. So mentally prepare her. Tell her today that on Monday, you're going to meet her halfway. Work up to what you want.

Can she walk home with a buddy?

I can't offer advice because you and I fundamentally disagree. I think and 8 year old third grade girl is NOT old enough to walk 10 blocks each day on her own. And she's also not old enough to come home to a house that is empty.

I empathize however, with the difficulty in trying to encourage more independence when your child doesn't feel ready.

I would like for my daughter to start walking home from school every day. She is eight, in third grade. We live about ten blocks from school. I drop her off every day in the morning but think she is old enough to walk home in the afternoon. I SAH so will probably be there when she gets home most days but in case I am out running a quick errand or dropping one of her sibs off somewhere or something, I will give her a key. She also has older sibs who are in and out during the afternoons.

The problem is she is scared of crime, abduction etc. Since the start of the year sometimes she walks but sometimes she calls me from the office and asks me to come pick her up. A couple times her friends' parents have dropped her off after she asked.

Thoughts?