How Old Before?

[Bizzy Lizzy]

My GS is now ten and a half and he has started doing short local trips on his own. He goes to school alone sometimes (about seven minute walk) and also to the local shop, which is a similar distance, and to visit a friend who lives a couple of roads away. They live in a quiet "nice" area so I am not saying I am worried in any way and I know in a year or so he will going to Secondary School. I cannot remember how old my boys were before they started taking trips out on their own so thought I would consult and get some GRU knowledge on this.

[Daisy]

BL - My GS2 is also 10 1/2. He walks to and from school on his own - only 5 minutes but one road to cross which needs care. He and his brother (12 this week-end) play out in their road which is a cul-de-sac, and I think he's allowed to the local park which is about 7 minutes away, but no roads to cross.

We were very lucky when our own sons were growing up - we lived in a cul de sac with access to woodland and there were several other children of similar ages. They were all allowed to play in the woods quite young provided they didn't leave anyone on their own. Then we moved to the New Forest when they were 9 and 11 and were also allowed to play out and in the Forest. I think they were both about 13 before we let them get the train into Southampton or Bournemouth (our nearest towns) It wasn't until they were at University that they realised how much freedom they had had. They met people who had never been allowed out to play at any time in their childhood!

I think a lot depends on where you live and how sensible the child is.

[Oma]

My G'S is the same age he walks to school and local shops he also goes to the football field as long as there is a group of them he is also allowed to go swimming and bowling with his friends but the nature of our town is they can get the short distance to the leisure centre through the estates without crossing roads . They live in a cul de sac too and the part they play in is outside DD window . I can't remember how old my children were when they started to go places so long ago now

[Gemini]

I let my daughters cross (small) roads alone and walk back from school in the last year at primary school. Because I knew I had to, I never wanted to let them out alone! I crossed the road with them to the bus for secondary school for a few weeks with DD1. DD2 never let me, but she had her sister. I walked DD3 to the secondary school bus for a while too. I think they do need to be able to be out alone somewhat before secondary school. As Daisy says, it does depend on the child and the area.

[Libra Gran]

I know eldest Girls started walking home from school from 11 years old,E now meets friends for a drink at Costa's near her home.Mine all went to and fro from school from 11 as well.But it was different when they were young,we lived opposite a huge heath and they would play out all day building camps,looking for newts and blackberry picking.Coming home only when their tummy's rumbled.

[Nanto2girls]

I can't remember when we started letting ours go to school on their own.Both granddaughters were 11 when they started walking to school by themselves.

I still talk to the youngest one about road safety,and she is 12 now.Her response is always Nan I'm not a baby.

[Plantaholic]

My two went to a school 5/6 miles away and at one time we only had one car. They were about 6 and 7 years old and they got on a bus which stopped not far from my MIL's house so I used to meet them there. My OH used to put them on the bus in the morning, it wasn't a school bus. When we moved here DS was 8 and DD was 7 and the school is opposite the end of our road, quite a change for us all. DS used to play on the common and in the woods behind us . Perhaps I should add that the school cook used to walk them to the bus as she caught the same one.

[Qwerty]

In my day as a child I walked to school no roads to cross and the school was in a park from about 9 yrs old seems young now but didn't then, my own children were about 10 and at middle school I had been meeting them from school and lessening my journey and theirs longer as the 2 yrs went on till eventually they did the run on their own on the main road there was a crossing lady who saw them over the main road

[Daisy]

Qwerty - you've reminded me about my childhood! My mother took me to school on the first day. I don't remember her collecting me at all! After that I walked, crossing two busy roads with my cousin and a next door neighbour, who were 5 years older. But at lunch-time I used to go home and back to school on my own because they went at different times. Parents would be considered neglectful and inadequate if that happened now!

[Avo]

We lived in a very rural village and our boys walked to school on their own at about 10 years old. They were also allowed out on their bikes and playing in the fields at a similar age. When they went to Secondary School I drove them as it was 4 miles away and no bus.

[Qwerty]

Qwerty - you've reminded me about my childhood! My mother took me to school on the first day. I don't remember her collecting me at all! After that I walked, crossing two busy roads with my cousin and a next door neighbour, who were 5 years older. But at lunch-time I used to go home and back to school on my own because they went at different times. Parents would be considered neglectful and inadequate if that happened now!

[Nana]

Lordy lordy, I can't remember! When I was a tot I had an older brother & sister & cousins who were at the same school, so I never went to school on my own. That was until I failed the 11+ & my world turned upside down. Everyone went to Grammar Schools but me. That's another story.
As others have said I would say it depends on the child & the area.