At what age have you let your child start walking home without you? My son who is 7 would be walking with his friend and its 3 blocks.....His friends parents (I also watch him after school) think they are old enough and were wondering what I thought. I am just NOT sure If I am ready for it.

My second and 4th grader walked home all last year. I did worry some about the little one and I walked over to meet him the first time his brother was gone from school, but I forgot the next time and he was just fine. We are only a couple of blocks from school though. This year my Kindergartener, 3rd grader, 4th grader and 5th grader will all walk together.

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Ds starting at 8 years old walked home from school. We only lived a half a block from school. We recently moved and are now a little further but I would like him to walk with someone. I don't want him to walk alone.

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I guess I am a little over protective because my oldest is 8 and there is no way I would let him walk to school. If I did I would probably be following him in my car so I might as well bring him to school myself. I'm not sure when I will be ready.

I am hesitant on letting my almost 8 year old (3rd grade this next year) walk to school and we live about a block and a half. It is probably because I cannot see her as it is around the corner.

I think that if I didn't have to get 5 other kids into car seats (I watch 3 boys ages 4, 3 and 2) I would probably end up driving her especially in the winter.

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I let my sd walk last year at the age of 9 with a friend. We live about 5 blocks from the school.

One of reasons of letting them walk home all the other kids! Last winter I paid another daycare mom that I used to sit for.

There would be a big group of children that would walk with them. The school last year was also trying to implement a walking school bus but it never got off the ground

First question: Would he have to cross any busy streets without a crossing guard? If they answer is yes then I would probably wait till he was older.

Second question: How mature is he? Does he get easily distracted? I have a friend who won't let her soon to be 4th grader walk to school on her own because she tends to be absent minded and easily distracted and would probably end up at the park.

I agree, I just don't think its old enough. I have an 8 year old too and thank GOD we are on a bus route. If not, I would just drive her, I would never let her walk.

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Last year DD was in 1st grade and I sometimes let her walk home from the bus by herself. There are a couple of older kids who I'll give rids home when the weather is bad and it occurred to them to keep an eye on DD when she was walking. Of course, we live on a relatively safe street, too.

DD will probably walk more in 2nd grade but I wouldn't feel comfortable having her walk ALL the way from school without me, just too much time and too many opportunities to get hassled.

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