I have an 8 year old. We walk to and from. We are 4 blocks form school. My 8 years old begs me to walk by himself. Everyday I say no way. That's insane.

Anonymous wrote:

You look them up yourself. I worked at the Department of Justice. NO WAY am I letting an 8 year-old walk home from school today.

From the DOJ.

http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/mpcncvs.pdf

Total violent victimization is down. Serious violent victimization is down. Rape and sexual assault victimization of females is down. Robbery victimization is down. Aggravated assault victimization is down. Simple assault victimization is down. Total property victimization is down. Burglary victimization is down. Motor vehicle theft victimization is down. Theft victimization is down.

OP,

Do you mind sharing why you need your daughter to walk home by herself?

Here's the law in Maryland:

"A person who is charged with the care of a child under the age of 8 years may not allow the child to be locked or confined in a dwelling, building, enclosure or motor vehicle while the person charged is absent and the dwelling, building, enclosure or motor vehicle is out of sight of the person charged unless the person charged provides at person at least 13 years old to remain with the child to protect the child."

Notice that nothing in this law refers to children walking to and from school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was illegal for an 8 year old to be home one. Am I wrong on that?

Well, it's illegal to leave a 12 year old and younger alone in your home in Fairfax County . . . . Personally, no way I'd let my 8 year old, male or female, walk home from school. NO fucking way. Especially if you have to cross 9 streets or so as it sounds OP's kid would have to do. People drive like maniacs around here and don't see the little ones.

Cite? I don't believe this is true.

Yeah, pp is full of shit and making it up as she goes along.

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/childrenyouth/supervision_eng.htm

Not full of shit and not making it up as she goes along. Why don't you read what you post first? Or are you jealous you can't do that off the top of your head? Fine, you want to fight about whether it's 1 1/2 hours or not. Check out age 8 below and 12 I remember because we needed to have a sitter in the evenings:


7 years and under:
Should not be left alone for any period of time. This may include leaving children unattended in cars, playgrounds, and backyards. The determining consideration would be the dangers in the environment and the ability of the caretaker to intervene.

8 to 10 years:
Should not be left alone for more than 1½ hours and only during daylight and early evening hours.

11 to 12 years:
May be left alone for up to 3 hours but not late at night or in circumstances requiring inappropriate responsibility.

13 to 15 years:
May be left unsupervised, but not overnight.

16 to 17 years:
May be left unsupervised (in some cases, for up to two consecutive overnight periods).

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1 to all of the above.

^^ Yes, I'm still waiting for those stats too about how it's safer now than in the 50s-70s.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Sorry, OP, I agree with this poster. It's too dangerous and I don't even know where you live. We didn't even let our daughter walk to high school (there was a bus, but sometimes she wanted to walk) because some patches are trail hidden from view; there's two registered sex offenders living between us and the school; and the rush hour traffic is hideous with a "me first" attitude. A friend of mine was killed while trying to walk her dog on the same route. An 8 year old is a prime target. I think you should listen to your daughter. Unfortunately, we are no longer living in the 50s-70s when it was safer to walk to school.

But that's not the case. Again. Statistically, it is SAFER now than it was in the 50s to the 70s.

Oh, ok. Please tell me which cities are statistically safer.

Anonymous wrote: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.

In complete agreement and can't imagine insisting on it.

Anonymous wrote:OP, pick your kid up. Really, that's not asking much from a mom that is actually home.

While my three kids are learning independence too (only once in middle school can they walk with a buddy), ,I too disagree with 8 year olds walking alone that distance.

Also, SHE DOESN'T WANT TO WALK ALONE!! Acknowledge her feelings, she is nervous and that's fine. Walk with her and let her see with you right next to her that the walk is fine and safe, then when she is ready, she will happily do it on her own.

Come on, it's so much easier for OP if her kid would just walk home alone.
She wouldn't have to be bothered to pick her up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was illegal for an 8 year old to be home one. Am I wrong on that?

Well, it's illegal to leave a 12 year old and younger alone in your home in Fairfax County . . . . Personally, no way I'd let my 8 year old, male or female, walk home from school. NO fucking way. Especially if you have to cross 9 streets or so as it sounds OP's kid would have to do. People drive like maniacs around here and don't see the little ones.

Cite? I don't believe this is true.

Yeah, pp is full of shit and making it up as she goes along.

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/childrenyouth/supervision_eng.htm

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was illegal for an 8 year old to be home one. Am I wrong on that?

Well, it's illegal to leave a 12 year old and younger alone in your home in Fairfax County . . . . Personally, no way I'd let my 8 year old, male or female, walk home from school. NO fucking way. Especially if you have to cross 9 streets or so as it sounds OP's kid would have to do. People drive like maniacs around here and don't see the little ones.

Cite? I don't believe this is true.

^^ precisely, especially an 8 year old girl.

Anonymous wrote:I don't think age 8 is too young to walk alone or be home alone - as long as their temperament and maturity allow for that. But I would not force her at that age if she felt uncomfortable doing it. To me, that's a sign she's not ready. May be she would get used to it if you started walking her to school in the morning. But I would not force her.

Also, I can't believe people think that a mile is too long for an average 8y.o. to walk.

It's not the distance per se. It's the walking ALONE for that distance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Sorry, OP, I agree with this poster. It's too dangerous and I don't even know where you live. We didn't even let our daughter walk to high school (there was a bus, but sometimes she wanted to walk) because some patches are trail hidden from view; there's two registered sex offenders living between us and the school; and the rush hour traffic is hideous with a "me first" attitude. A friend of mine was killed while trying to walk her dog on the same route. An 8 year old is a prime target. I think you should listen to your daughter. Unfortunately, we are no longer living in the 50s-70s when it was safer to walk to school.

But that's not the case. Again. Statistically, it is SAFER now than it was in the 50s to the 70s.

Says who? I have two sets of sex offenders between me and the school (rape sodomy on an ll year old). It is not safer. How old are you?

Say the crime statistics. Look them up.

You look them up yourself. I worked at the Department of Justice. NO WAY am I letting an 8 year-old walk home from school today.