We live close in (burbs) and none of my kids’ friends do this at all. Most parents aren’t even dropping kids off at the movie theater yet, let alone sending them off on their own. I also do not see many 11-13 year olds alone on public transportation when I am riding. I have close friends in NYC who have 11 & 12 year olds and their kids don’t do this either. One is just about ready to send her kid from home to a friend’s apt. Others do have their kids go with a sibling/friend to/from school. But they’re not roaming and navigating. I do see kids this age biking around freely near us.

I have kids who attend DC public schools so this was something we knew we wanted them to get used to not just to get back and forth to school but because they have friends who live in different parts of the city and I wanted them to feel comfortable reaching out to friends to get together and not rely on me to drive them. It definitely took some time. In our case we happen to live closer to bus routes than metro so when the oldest was 12 we started. Lots of mistakes, getting on the bus going the wrong way, etc, but since they also have phones with navigation that helps them not get too lost. The metro bus app is pretty good for showing them when a bus is coming. Anyway fast forward a few months my oldest got comfortable enough to bring along his sibling, then another sibling, so they started at different times, but that was because they weren't traveling alone. Always encourage them to travel in groups if possible. Now the youngest is 13 and she is a wiz at the bus, and will take it all over the city because she feels comfortable finding her way even if it's a new line. She doesn't take the trains. She never tried it enough so now she doesn't want to do it. But that's fine with me. If she has time to spare and wants to travel by bus and I don't want to drive her? Have at it! I'm just glad they know how to do it now and that's a skill they can take to whatever college town they go to next. And in terms of safety I definitely had talks with all my kids, but honestly I think our kids see more than we realize and it's kinda water off a ducks back. I try not to scare them unnecessarily.

13

Anonymous wrote:11 yrs old.

+1