When Can My Kid Walk to School Alone?

The all-important issue of the safety of our children gives rise to many concerns. Not only is school one of them, but even the way to school and back demands parental consideration. While there are parents and children who believe the kid is able to negotiate the way to the school bus – or to the school building – alone when they are in their third grade, it is not always the right idea to act upon.

The notion is corrected by child safety experts working at the American Academy of Pediatrics – according to them, fourth to sixth-grade children (aged between 9 and 11) can be trusted to walk to school on their own only if they can be relied upon to be judicious enough.

What kids are ready to get to school by themselves

When parents decide where their child(ren) can be allowed to get to school and back unaccompanied, they have to take a number of factors into account:

• Where do you live, in the city, in the suburbs, or out of town?
• How far from home is the school located?
• Are the sidewalks on the way good enough?
• Is the child careful and mature so as to take walks alone?
• Do you consider your neighborhood to be safe for kids?
• Do the children know how to cross streets?
• Can they get about the neighborhood without getting into trouble?

Is there any law regulating the child’s age at which they can walk to school without adults? There is Article 858 of Every Student Succeeds Act that states that children have the right to step out alone; basically it means that parents are in their right when they allow their child(ren) to take walks, ride the bus to school, or bike around by themselves. If your neighborhood is a quiet one, it defers to federal law. whereas areas that rate high in crime can defer to specific regulations.

Children Must Be Taught Safety Skills

Knowing – and abiding by – age-relevant safety rules is one of the aspects of maturity and independence. To be able to get to school unattended the child must be aware of pedestrian rules. Here are some rules your kid must know:

To cross the street only at the intersection when the traffic lights are green; never to cross halfway down the block.

To look out for vehicles going round the corner before crossing the street.

Your having practiced the route with them is no sure-fire guarantee that they cannot stray away. If they happen to get lost, they should ask for help choosing a woman, better still if the woman is with a baby or a child.

Before beginning to cross they must look left, right, left again to make sure the coast is clear; when crossing observe the traffic.

To wait until the traffic man is green, then walk across the crossing, not breaking into a run.

When crossing, to watch the traffic all the time; they are not to mind their cell phones or electronic devices in their possession that can be very distracting.

They should keep in mind that they can’t know if all drivers see them; if they see a driver, it doesn’t mean they see them too.

There are people to be designated as “safe adults” – meaning both you and your child agreed that they are to be trusted, like a relative or a reliable neighbor. If a familiar person or a stranger doesn’t belong to this category, the kid must know that he or she is not to follow them at any cost. If a person who is not safe attempts to get close or walk them away, the kid is to shout out: “Help! It’s not my parent, and I want to get away!” and get running. Being grabbed and held, children are allowed to fight off, bite, kick, and do their best to free themselves.

Your child must know that he or she is not to get into cars unless the driver is a “safe adult.”

When practicing the route to school, note safe houses you pass where the children could run to get help if anything untoward happens. Arrange for your child’s friend(s) to meet to walk to school together.

Have your children wear bright noticeable clothes and/or a device making them noticeable, like a reflective armband or reflective stripes on the clothes. You may even consider getting them a safety vest.

The school route is indicative of factors shaping your decision about its safety – whether there are streets with heavy traffic on the way. A quieter route without busy streets may be negotiated by a younger kid, several busy intersections to cross require a child well up in pedestrian rules.

Good reasons to have your child leg it to school on their own

Walking is healthy; exercise will help your child lower BMI and get rid of unnecessary pounds.

Sending them off alone saves you time, gas money, and car maintenance as well as lowers your carbon footprint.

As kids walk to school and back alone or accompanied by friends they feel mature and independent which is good for their development.

They spend quality time with their pals and can make new friends. Regular walks to school together are very bonding.

Conclusion

Actually. parents are the best judges as to how responsible and independent their child is. You know that your little one is attentive and aware of what is going on around – so you can rely on them in the matter of going to school unattended. Then again, you know that your child is careless, intent on his own train of thoughts or easily distracted – so you may stay on the safe side and drive them over. Safety has a lot to do with instincts, and it’s up to you to know the right time when your child is ready to tackle the issue.