By 5 my kids are going into local stores (not gas stations) with cash to buy things.

A gas station on the side of the highway? No. In our neighborhood in a store they've spent the first few years of their lives going into with parents? Sure!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would let my kid go there when he is old enough to earn his own money to overspend on crap.

I generally agree and you need to put limits, but as a parent I’d rather have my kid outdoors and biking for miles than sitting inside all day on video games. I’ll give him a couple of dollars to stop for a slushee on a hot day.

He mows lawns nearly every day so I'm not worried about him sitting around being on a screen all day.

Okay, but it’s fun and social too. I remember walking with friends to get ice cream in the 80s during the summer. This is the same thing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would let my kid go there when he is old enough to earn his own money to overspend on crap.

I generally agree and you need to put limits, but as a parent I’d rather have my kid outdoors and biking for miles than sitting inside all day on video games. I’ll give him a couple of dollars to stop for a slushee on a hot day.

He mows lawns nearly every day so I'm not worried about him sitting around being on a screen all day.

Anonymous wrote:Really depends on the particular neighborhood. Generally age 9 would be ok with me.

+1. That said, my 8yo has been going to the small market at the entry to our neighborhood with friends. Walkable and only cross a neighborhood street with a crosswalk (no light or stop sign, though).

Anonymous wrote:10 yo son has been going to the convenience store and the 7/11 with his best friend the same age for the past 2 years. They're both just a few blocks from her houses. He usually just goes to her house (or she'll come to our house) then they'll go to either store for snacks and hang out at the park just up the street. There's never been any problems, they're both very responsible kids and they look out for each other.

*house, small typo

10 yo son has been going to the convenience store and the 7/11 with his best friend the same age for the past 2 years. They're both just a few blocks from her houses. He usually just goes to her house (or she'll come to our house) then they'll go to either store for snacks and hang out at the park just up the street. There's never been any problems, they're both very responsible kids and they look out for each other.

Around 9-10 mine started walking to the 7-11 and ice cream shop that are just a couple blocks from home. At 11 they were in middle school and regularly walking over a mile to school so I was fine with them venturing out more on their own -- to the grocery store to pick up something for me, to the library, local arts center. Those are all closer to home than their school.

Anonymous wrote: It also got me wondering, what age do you start letting your kids go to stores alone? I can't even imagine at this point!!

OP your post made me think of this 2015 thread: Japanese kids running errands https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/507275.page

Really depends on the particular neighborhood. Generally age 9 would be ok with me.

Anonymous wrote:I would let my kid go there when he is old enough to earn his own money to overspend on crap.

I generally agree and you need to put limits, but as a parent I’d rather have my kid outdoors and biking for miles than sitting inside all day on video games. I’ll give him a couple of dollars to stop for a slushee on a hot day.

DS started riding his bike with friends to 7-11 in 5th grade. It was about two miles. By 6th grade we were comfortable letting them go further and they frequently rode to fast food places around town for lunch. This is Vienna.

Anonymous wrote:Parents, this weekend we went to a park and then stopped by a 7 eleven. MY DH went in to grab a few slushies for my kids. I then noticed groups of elem children and a lone child go into this 7 -11 by herself. My kids are still in elementary school but would you allow them to go in a gas station by themselves? It also got me wondering, what age do you start letting your kids go to stores alone? I can't even imagine at this point!!

This seems very normal to me. Common where I live.

I send my 10 year old to the Capitol Hill Trader Joe's by himself.

Kids are 10 and 8, they walk a few blocks to the cvs, 7/11, Starbucks regularly.

By 5th grade together or in a small group. My younger was allowed to tag along as a 3rd grader if the older kids invited.
We are about 2 blocks from a small shopping center and there are 10 and up kids there all the time. As long as they behave in as civilized manner ( not running people off the sidewalk with bikes/ scooters etc.), it's all good.