What is the "right" age to allow your child to go to school by themselves?

There really is no set age for a child to walk alone. It depends on how safe your area Is, how intelligent the child is, etc. An appropriate age might be as young as 10-12, maybe younger if you feel that the child could handle themselves in a safe manner

I'm also considering that, although I don't have a child. I have a brother who's 10 years younger than me. He's attending middle school. When he went to school by himself for the first time, I was so worried, for the traffic condition was heavy all the time and there are too many kidnappers. But as a middle school student, he must learn to be independent, so I just trusted him and prayed for him at home. Nothing's wrong so far and I'm quite relieve now.

Where do you live? Are there people that are out and can witness her going by? How far is it? These are just a few of the questions that come to mind as I look at this. I would say if it is a high crime neighborhood then someone should always escort her to school.

I don't think that there is a so called right age, its all depend on area and the kids. I let my son walk to school when he is 10 and follow behind him for a week and let him do it himself when I feel that he is able to do so as the area here I stay is quite safe for the kids to walk alone. I have friends here who let their kids walk to school as young as 7.

What's the right age?Well it depends on the child.If she's careful,responsible and she can look after herself then you can allow to walk by herself to the school. But aside from the age always something can happen,it doesn't matter if your 12 years old or 24.

I did not allow my child to go to school by herself until she's fourth year high school. She was in a school bus until the middle school year when she ask permission not to be in the school bus anymore. She wanted to begin to learn to do it by herself in preparation in going to college. I think with what's around us, there's no set age to let a child to go to school by his self.

well..for me this question is bit tough...my kids schools are far away...and so they can't go walking...they therefore go together with many other kids in an auto rickshaw...so i have never thought that what if they had to go alone and walking?...maybe i would have allowed the 7-8 years old to go alone...my son is 8 years old and i think he can go alone to a nearby place..but not so far as his present school.

hi 34Momma my son was biking all over Orange county at 10 but since we lived ten miles from his private school and no bus we took him to school as the orange co transit bus system was not dependable in the mornings but at 12 he begged to come home on the bus and he was very bright and very dependable with a high IQ so it worked out okay. he studied on the long trip home and was 16 when he graduated and went to junior college to get an aa in science. i think it really depends on the child and the area where you are at.does not New York have a pretty good transit system of course like me I worried about some of the people on the buses but we cannot wrap them in cotton wool forever much as it scares us.

I think that 5th or 6th grade would be a good time to start. Of course it depends on where they will be walking such as traffic, crossing streets without crossing guards present or designated crossings. If its in a residential neighborhood then they should be fine, give them a time to be home so in case it runs past that you can allow for some talk time among friends.

It would depend on how far the school is and how safe the area is. I never walked to school because it was always too far, but I did start taking the bus and walking to the bus stop. I had an older sister who walked with me though. I don't think I actually walked there all alone until I was 10 and she went on to middle school, give or take a few days when she was sick. A word of warning, the streets are never as safe as you think they are. I used to take walks around my neighborhood by myself, but then last year I was assaulted in broad daylight next to a main road. Now I don't go on walks alone if I can help it and I always carry a bottle of pepper spray with me. Before you let your daughter go to school on her own be sure you have a conversation with her about what to do in case of an emergency.

34momma- I think that it depends upon the child, the neighborhood, and the time of year to be honest. I never let any of my older children walk to school alone, I drove them or let them go on the bus. I think if I were in one block (or could see the school) I may let them walk, but not until third grade. That was how old we had to be when I was in elementary school (school rules) and I think that is a good age. By this age we know the street safety rules, and we also know what to do in the case of a stranger. Namaste-Anora

Momma call me crazy but I would not allow my kids to walk to school until they were in high school. Simply because I fret the thought of something happening. Here is what I did one day when my daughter was eight, and insisted she needed to walk as all the other kids did. I told her okay so I let her walk, unbeknown to her I followed her from behind, it was only 3 blocks, but she did not know I was following her from across the street. I saw her reach the crossing guard and panicked. She began to talk to the crossing guard in tears saying she was too scared. I approached seconds later and took her hand and she said oh I can't walk alone. I told her not to worry as little girls will know when the time is right. So there after when I was begged again, the answer was no.. and reminded her that as long as I could do it there was no reason.

Not being a parent, I can't really speak from experience. Having been an oldest child, I kinda can I only live two-and-a-half neighborhood-blocks (maybe 1/10 of a city-block) from my elementary school. I remember 'feeling' old enough after the first month of school!

As previous have mentioned it depends on the safe area a child is walking through to school. As well as if they have the confidence to manage everything they meet on their way to school. At age 9 my daughter started to school on her own. I believe it is very individual when a child is ready to walk to school on their own. Are there classmates or children in different grades living in the same neighbourhood they can walk together to school.

Hi. 34momma. When we moved into the neighborhood where my grandmother lives at, where I was raised as an child, teenager and young adult, I walked to school. I walked to elementary school when I was, 8 years old. And this was for three years. When I attended middle school, I walked for three more years. I was 11 when I started walking to this middle school. The great thing about this was that after school ended, I always had someone that I could walk with. Mostly everyone was into groups or only with a couple of friends, so I was never alone. I can't remember walking by myself, but if I have, God has been with me all of the time. I prayed and I felt safe as I walked alone. If I ever had to though.

I would say that it depends on the neighborhood, how far the trip is, and the individual child. I am not sure how old I was when I started going to school alone. probably like 4th or 5th grade. I think that that sounds like an appropriate time. Perhaps your older kids remember when they started going alone?

My daughter is eleven (still in fifth grade) and her sister is eight. Recently there had been a series of kidnappings where a man was taking 12 year old girls, raping them and dumping them (alive, fortunately). It was in my area so she absolutely did not walk to or from the bus stop by herself. He was caught (again, fortunately) - he worked literally 3 blocks from her school. I know she's responsible enough to walk herself to school, but she is physically developed for her age. She is at the age pedophiles and rapists seem to like most, and she has a little sister she loves for them to use as leverage. Ive told them both if anyone ever tries to take you - scream, fight, make as much of a fuss as possible, even if they threaten to kill you. But in the end, our society teaches girls to be passive and quiet, and its a hard habit to break even in situations where its vital. I guess what I'm saying is I'm walking her as long as I can. When I can't, I have family and friends that take care of her. I let them have freedom in other ways, but on this particular issue I'm going to be the overprotective mom. I can physically grab my daughter in ways that makes it impossible for her to move her arms and legs - I'm sure a large man could do the same easily.

greetings! when i was a lot younger, i started going to school on my own when i was in preschool. yes, that early since the school was just a few blocks away from our house. since then, i went to school on my own. i guess it really depends on how independent your child is. you also have to consider the safety of the location. if there are too many cars in your area, then it would be safer to accompany your child to school.

It sounds like to me that her school is real close to where you live so she doesn't have to cross a street to get there. so, I feel it depends on when she is responsible enough to come straight home and not goof off coming home after she knows that she shouldn't go home with any of her friends or talk to no one on her way home just come straight home. When you think she is ready to do that you can tell her to do that and you can get ready like your going to pick her up and slowly have her meet you closer and closer to home and then home to see how she will be. Have a good weekend.