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Letting the kids walk themselves to school - when?

trophyhusband
trophyhusband's picture
Posts: 203
 Joined: 2006-11-27
 Dad Points: 391

We've been having big discussions around our neighborhood about whether/when to let the kids walk to elementary school by themselves.  Just curious if others are having the same discussion and what the outcome is...  Our setting is a highly urbanized mostly residential neighborhood in San Francisco (Noe Valley, if that means anything to you)... family friendly 'hood, lots of stop signs at the intersections, painted crosswalks at major intersections, sidewalks everywhere, neighborhood is arranged pretty much "on the grid".  We are 5 blocks from school - about a 1/4 mile.

What did you do when *you* were a kid?  Will you let your kid do the same at the same age?

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

- Andy


‹ What to do in Las Vegas with two kids under three? Pees in the potty... Poops in the pants... ›

Submitted by trophyhusband on Tue, 08/17/2010 - 11:59pm.

TopDog
Posts: 176
 Joined: 2010-02-11
 Dad Points: 188
Depends

Probably towards nearing the end of elementary school.  An adult would walk with them until the adult could see them get to the school.   Safer to be conservative. 


Wed, 08/18/2010 - 8:37am

FAPPAH
Posts: 11
 Joined: 2010-08-19
 Dad Points: 23
Things were different...

When I was growing up, first through third grades, I used to walk to and from school, a round trip of a mile and a half.

Sometimes I even rode my bike, without a helmet of course.

**

F.A.P.P.A.H. - Fathers As Primary Parent At Home


Thu, 08/19/2010 - 10:22pm

Philip.in.Kyle
Posts: 63
 Joined: 2010-05-16
 Dad Points: 99
I think it all depends on

I think it all depends on the neighborhood, how responsible the kid is, and how far they have to go.  Things have changed alot in the last 20 years.  I used to ride my bike to school with two other friends on occasion when I was in the 5th grade and we had about 3-4 miles to go each way


Sat, 08/28/2010 - 6:20pm

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