okay here is a good question...what is every1's opinion about your child walking home from bus stop alone after school?

Marcelle - posted on 03/01/2009

My children do walk to school / home by themselves. They are both over 10. It is less than 2 miles. My daughter is further, but she has a mobile (cell). It is good exercise for them. There are a fair number of neighbourhood children that also walk.

I do also feel that hiding them in a car all their lives is detrimental to their long term emotional and physical health as well as the long term health of any community. It is better that they learn to think about what they are doing, where they are, and what is appropriate behaviour. And communities are what we all need.

Angie - posted on 02/28/2009

No matter what I would never let my child walk home home alone. There are too many sicko's in the world now days and it just isn't worth it. That is your child we're talking about & I couldn't imagine something happening to them. You just never know when it could be one of our own next!! I hope it doesn't sound too dark to you, but that is just my opinion.

Christine - posted on 02/28/2009

I live less than 2 blocks from our school. My daughter is 8. Even though I can see the school from the end of the driveway I still walk her to her classroom in the morning and walk her home everyday. Like the other moms here have said there are a lot of variables. You have to make that call for yourself, your child, your family.

Marie - posted on 02/28/2009

My daughter is 7 and feels she is able to walk home, however, my neighborhood is not the greatest to walk alone in for adults, not to mention a child. She absolutely will not walk home alone. I think 7 is a little young to be able to do so anyway. I think closer to teenage levels would be good. However, I am a very overprotective mom.

Cheryl - posted on 02/28/2009

No way!  Not alone.  I still pick up all 3 and the oldest is 11. 

Felicia - posted on 02/27/2009

For me it would depend on age and the distance. My son will be starting kindergarden in the fall and I can't even imagine him walking home from the bus stop alone (and it's less than a block away from our house). If he were say 10 or in group with well behaved children age 10 or over I would be fine with it. My half sister is 10 and she walks herself and my half brother, 6, to the bus stop and back everyday and it has worked out well so far.

Michelle - posted on 02/27/2009

I agree with what most of the others are saying- it depends.  Go over safety with your kids.

And make sure they have a buddy to walk with.

Kylie - posted on 02/26/2009

Like afew other mum's have said it depends on so much, but i also think that if you educate your children about stranger danger and what safety houses are around you then, also if you want to give it a go buy then a whistle to put on when there walking and if they feel like there in danger they can then make plenty of noise and get attention of others and ward off those that frighten.

Marsha - posted on 02/26/2009

I think some of it is how old the child is and how far they need to walk. But it's a dangerous world. I went on line and got a listing of the sex offenders in my town and was astonished. There is a registered child molester that works at the local newspaper building right by the elementary school. How convienent. You just don't know. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Nicky - posted on 02/26/2009

Like most moms here, I think it depends on your child and where your busstop is.  In my daughter's elementary school, a parent or guardian must pick up the child from the school bus unless there is an official form signed by the parent stating that the child can walk home on their own.  My daughters busstop is at the end of our street (about 10 houses down) in a gated community, but I will still continue to walk her to the stop until she's in middle school.  She's just not responsible enough to make it all the way down the street in time to catch the bus and I don't want to have to drive her to school if she misses the bus.  I think that by middle school though, she will be able to make it herself, although I'll have to wait and see...

Angela - posted on 02/26/2009

we have the luxury of having the bus stop in front of our house. but our school district has a new rule that all preschool, kindergarten and 1st grade students have a "passport." each child has a yellow paper, which has their name, address and signatures of the parent, teacher and principal. this "passport" must be shown an adult who is getting the child off of the bus. no child is let off of the bus without it, no matter how well the driver knows the person. if something happens, the paper is missing, a parent looses custody, or any other reason for a new card, a red card is issued. that warns the driver to be extra careful of who is getting the child. bus drivers are alerted the second that a red card is issued. this is the 1st year, so i'm not sure how exactly everyone is feeling about it, but i do feel safer. it does pose issues, like if i'm stuck somewhere, if no one can get to my cards, my kids go back to school. i can't just have a neighbor or my mom run to the house. i guess i'd rather my kids be safe than sorry.

Denise - posted on 02/26/2009

I have this same issue and have chosen to drive my children to and from school for safety reasons.  Our bus stop isn't in a safe place....a pick-up/drop-off on a highway!  However, in our city (and many others) there is intown pick-up/drop-off points.  So here is my opinion:

~ Depends on age of children and the drop-off/pick-up point

~Is it a safe place, lots of other children walking to and from that point, other parents

~ Depends on your childs developmental needs: are they mature enough to handle this independant task by themselves

~ Can you see the bus stop point from your home?

~ Would an older child be willing to partner with your child to make sure they arrive safely, or even another parent?

There are many questions you have to ask and answer before one can truly give you a true yes/no.  My oldest is 10yrs old but developmental 5-6yrs and because she participates in a "normal" classroom she is treated the same as all students and therefore would have to catch the bus 1km away from our house and on a 2 lane hwy....therefore, my child will not be doing this herself (she can't process the danger fast enough).

Misty - posted on 02/26/2009

No way!  I homeschool, so it's not an issue for us.  But I wouldn't let my kids...no matter their age or maturity.  Plenty of grown, fully mature guys and girls have been kidnapped or worse while walking in broad daylight.  It's just not worth the risk to me!

Wendy - posted on 02/26/2009

Depends how old your child is, how responsible your child is, where you live, and how far you live in relation to the bus stop. I have the luxury of backing on to the school field so when my daughter is old enough ( she is only 5 at the moment), she will be able to walk home by herself.

Natalie - posted on 02/26/2009

I feel that it depends on your child's age and where you live.  I would not allow my child to walk home alone.  I live in Omaha and feel there is too much crime (even though I am in a suburb).  However, if my children were to walk as a group and they were say 10 or older, I would consider it.  I know I tend toward the cautious side, though.