At what age do you think it's appropriate for children to walk to school alone (two together), if it's only 2.5 blocks?

By Vicki on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 09:51 pm:

Oh boy, that would depend on lots of things for me. If it is a very safe neighborhood with no busy streets and crossing guards and lots of other kids walking also and you can see them, I would say maybe 2nd grade if you felt they were mature enough? LOL This would be tough for me if you can't tell. LOL

By Melanie on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 10:02 pm:

It's a tough one, for sure. Each kid would be ready for something like that at different ages. This past school year my boys were in 3rd and 4th grade and I bet, with the right set-up, I would have allowed them to walk together. I probably wouldn't have allowed it the year before, though.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 10:33 pm:

Ditto the others. I walked to school EVERY day when I was in elementary, but we went to a neighborhood school. Nowadays, I'm not sure I would ever allow it. People just can't be trusted. There's too much danger out there for me. It would be tough for me to allow it. Even a mature kid can get snatched or even injured by other kids bigger than they are.

By Marcia on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 10:47 pm:

My kids have been walking alone for several years. My oldest started walking alone when she was in about grade 3, and the other 2 were in 1 and SK. Our school as at the end of our street and through the playground. They only cross the street right in front of our home, and all kids on the street walk.

By Tripletmom on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 11:02 pm:

I REALLY don't know.It scares me to even think about it.She'll be going into grade 2 in September and I know it won't be then.I hope she stays content for awhile doing what we do now.I'd have to say,"Not for a looooooong time"

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 12:01 am:

Well, for me, as a child in 1965, it was probably as a kindergartener. I lived in a town of about 5000, and my parents were comfortable with that. School was about 2.5 blocks away, as well.

When my first daughter hit 5, though, it was 6 blocks and I didn't feel comfortable with it, at all. Sheboygan is a lot bigger and I didn't know how she would have been crossing streets, etc. She went to that school for kindy and first grade. I either walked her to school, or I took her in the car.

Then we moved and 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade were at a school 2 miles away and they had to take the bus. Walking to school was never an option for Emily, because, she went K-5 at the school 2 miles away.

I think it was maybe when Sarah was 8 or 9, that I let them take their bikes, to the discount Hostess store about a block away, for little treats. I walked the route with them, warned them of stuff to look out for and they always did it safely and had fun doing it by themselves.

I suppose, if we had stayed in the first neighborhood, I would have eventually let Sarah walk by herself, but at 5 and 6, I wasn't quite ready for her to do that. I remember my dad asking if she was walking to school by herself. I just couldn't even imagine it.

By Kaye on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 12:02 am:

It really depends on the kids. I let mine this year 4th grade and 2nd grade. Only on occassion though. I also live two blocks, with a neighborhood school, with crossing guards and I see at least 10 people that I know very very well each time I walk. So I feel like they help watch out for my kids if they are not with me. However, my youngest really doesn't follow directions very well, so he only got that priviledge about once a month

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 12:32 am:

When Sarah went to the school 6 blocks away, 5 of the streets weren't that busy, but the last one was. The school did have a crossing guard for that street. That didn't matter, to me, though. I still thought she was too young.

By Tink on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 12:45 am:

We live two blocks from my dks' school and my dks will be 7 and 9 years old (2nd and 4th grades). I plan on walking with them (in nice weather) and driving them (too cold or rainy) for the first couple of months of school. If I walk around the corner of the house, I can see them on the entire walk right up to the steps of the school. As long as I feel they can be trusted, I think I'll let them walk after those first months.

By Missbookworm on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 09:34 am:

I asked this question because my child's school is giving me grief about my 7 and 10 year old walking 2.5 blocks from the bus stop to the school they attend. The streets aren't busy at all I take them that far. We've been attending this school for two full years now. They know the route. It's straight, the streets aren't busy and our neighbourhood is quite safe. There are parents around the neighbourhood who see my children walking on their own and have said something to the teachers at the school about them walking alone.

I got into a big disagreement with the teacher on this one (more about these people not talking to me if they're concerned) and she said to me "Well they came to me because you're NEVER here." They even went to my children's childcare and spoke to the staff there about whether they were aware that my children are taking the city bus the 8 blocks that it is to school alone! The childcare people know that's not happening because they run into us on the bus a lot.

I feel this has more to do with me being a single parent and different than a lot of the families at our school than it does with my children. The teacher says "I explained to them that you're a single parent and working full time and that your teenagers school is in the opposite direction and you have no choice." What the *beep*?

I'm going to file a formal complaint I imagine. I'm just not sure how to go about it.

I'm so furious!

By Colette on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 09:43 am:

I cannot believe the school personnel is discussing your children with anyone other than you. I'd lose my job in a heartbeat for doing that. We get a speech every August about discussing students in public or with other parents. I don't know if the laws are different in Canada but I'd file that complaint with the super.

However, no, I would not let my children walk to school alone at 7 and 10, IMHO that's to young. I've seen to many stories to ever take a chance like that.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 10:04 am:

There are plenty of elementary kids who walk to school, in Sheboygan. I'm sure some of them are 7 and 10. The elementary school that my kids went to, was right next to another neighborhood and I'm sure some of those kids walk home, or to school alone. It's only 2 blocks. With a 10yo along, I would feel comfortable with letting my kids go.

In the afternoon, where the bus drops off 2 of the kids in my neighborhood, one of them has to walk two blocks to get to her house. She has to walk one block north and one block west, to get home. We live in a quiet neighborhood, though.

At 7 and 10, my kids were going to the Hostess store about a block to a block-and-a-half away. When I was 7 AND 10, I was for sure walking to school myself, but that was a long time ago.

By Marcia on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 10:07 am:

Catherin, my 11 year old walks home from the other side of town. She goes to a different school than the rest, because she's in Extended French. I wouldn't let her do it in the fall or winter, but she's been walking this spring. We are a small community where everyone walks to school, so it's not a big deal.
I would definitely file a complaint. Confidentiality is something that is very strict within schools, and they should have come straight to you.

By Samysnonna on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 10:39 am:

I agree with Collette. I'm a teacher in CA and we would never consider or be allowed to discuss a child's welfare with anyone other than their guardian. I can't imagine this teacher making the statement as though you needed an excuse for something you'd done wrong because you are a single parent. That's baloney and we all know it. File the complaint. If they're discussing you and your's they're probably discussing (gossiping) about others as well.

By Breann on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 08:37 pm:

We have 5 year olds in our area that walk 6+ blocks to school, alone. I wouldn't let my kids walk alone. My DD has started walking down to the park this summer with her best friend. The park is right next to the school. It's about 6 blocks for them and they have to cross main street, which isn't busy at all. We live in a town of about 3,000. I always send one of our cell phones with them, and make them call once they get there, and again before they come home.

I'm considering letting my dd and this friend walk home together after school this coming fall. They will be in 2nd grade.

By Conni on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 09:38 am:

OMG!!! I cannot believe this.

We are 2 blocks from an elem school that Brad attended from K-5. By 4th grade I was walking him some of the time too school/driving him some of the time. I then let him ride his bike and/or walk by himself. I was at the school volunteerng with a group of mom's on a project. One of the moms that lives in a mansion down the road says in front of the ladies 'Is Brad walking to school now?' I said 'Yes' She says 'ohhhhhhhhh poor little guyyyyyy' And now all the moms in the room are looking at me like I am the worst mom. LOL I thought, that was SO stupid. I am saving gas, saving miles on my vehicle, saving pollution to my environment, and my kid surely wont be OBESE if he gets off his butt and walks. I also saved myself time because when I was driving him the car rider line was so long it took FOREVER to get thru it.

What the hell is wrong with kids? I know what's wrong with A LOT of them- their PARENTS!!!!!!!!! ROFL

What really irritated me, was that there are 3 other boys from my neighborhood that walked that yr too. Plus the yrs before that the kids that had moved on too jr high - they had walked too this elem school too from our neighborhood... Now he rides the bus across town GASP! He has too walk allllll the way down our street to get to the bus stop. A whole 1/2 a block. And he walked in the rain before too. He will be warped for sure. ;)

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 10:23 am:

Good grief, Conni!

By Kiki on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 08:51 pm:

I do not let my daughter walk to school at all. I am too afraid.

By My2girlygirls on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 10:06 pm:

My girls walk alone (well with a bunch of other neighborhood kids) the 3 blocks to their school and across a major thoroughfare. Last year they were 2nd and 5th grade. There are crossing guards at the two intersections that are busy. I have instructed my girls that if the crossing guard is not there that they are to come home. We live in a great neighborhood where most of the kids walk to school. I don't worry because there are so many of them. Next year it may be a little different because they will go to different schools. Older one will ride the bus to middle school and the younger one will continue to walk with friends. I tell my kids all the time not to mis-behave because I have eyes all over the neighborhood. That kind of keeps them in check to know that at anytime another parent will call and let me know if they saw my children doing something that is not safe.

By Conni on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 12:53 am:

Hey Dawn- I didnt mean that towards any parents on this board!!!! LOL I think that *might* have come out wrong. And I hardly ever curse and thought that word would bleep out. oops Apparently, I dont even know what words get bleeped?

I certainly do feel for Catherine. I hope you get everything worked out. I could see them getting upset if your kids were late or absent repeatedly. But they show up everyday and you are under fire about how they get there. argh

Do you know in China you can put your Kindergartner on a train and send them off too school each day? That's what I have been told anyway.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 01:13 am:

I was "good griefing" the parents who were criticizing you for making your son walk 2 WHOLE blocks to school! I wasn't directing that toward you! (you slave-driver you!)

My mom would have and DID make me walk two blocks to school! Even in high school, when it was about a mile to and from school, many times I had to walk. (Although a broken leg does get you 6 weeks of chauffeur service!)

I think my dad often drove us to school, though, and then we walked home. I do remember once in a while, having to walk to school as well.

Then add a French horn to the backpack and have to walk a mile! ugh! I switched hands a lot! LOL!

By Kaye on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 08:12 am:

I don't think there is a concern for the walk. Sounds like the concern is the bus ride?

So you take your kids to a public bus stop, they ride the bus to a certain stop and then walk to school right?

As far as talking to other parents. Ultimately if they are approached they can give some pat answers. They are allowed to talk to your day care if they are concerned about report you to child protective services.

By Lauram on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 11:52 am:

My son walks down the street to his bus stop. He started this about 3 months ago- in the middle of third grade. I walked to school (1/2 mile) from 2nd-6th grade. I walked with my siblings, who started coming with me in Kindergarten. At one point, there was myself in fourth grade, my brother in second grade and my sister in Kindergarten. Sometimes we rode our bikes, too. I have great memories of this. I think it's a great way to get some exercise, and blow off a little steam before and after school. I used to LOVE walking in the fall when the leaves were starting to fall. Our street is a cul-de-sac and he gets picked up at the end of the road- so it's very safe. We have also had many discussions about stranger danger, not getting into people's cars, coming straight home, etc.... If it's raining or snowy, I drive him.

By Vicki on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 11:58 am:

Kaye, I wondered too if they are looking around and deciding if it needs to be reported!!

I think your right that it seems to be the bus ride that is concerning them and not the little bit they walk.

By Vicki on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 01:13 pm:

I just read your update about the question you asked on the debate board and I have a feeling they are indeed looking to report you. How do they even know about the beach? I am not saying it is right or wrong, but it seems the school is awfully involved in your kids and what they are doing. I would be surprised if they aren't talking to some "authority" about it also. I would be careful and ready if I were you!! Best wishes!!