Allowing a newly 11yr old a key and walk home 1 day a week
Discussion
OK its all dependent on the particular child however he's sensible and walks home on the odd days alone. Circa 20mins door to door.
The thinking is one day a week we give him a house key and he let's himself in for 1-2hours.
We trial ongoing, if he loses key, if he leaves the key in the outside of the door etc.
He already knows what to do incase of a fire based on what room and floor he is on. Window option, how to escape, not to use the cooker. Or chop up anything. He knows what to do if he cuts a finger anyway. (He loves cooking himself but this is banned when alone).
I imagine the chocolate will be raided and wrappers hidden..
When we were kids.....
.
Experiences and thoughts?
Theres going to be mistakes on the way.
The thinking is one day a week we give him a house key and he let's himself in for 1-2hours.
We trial ongoing, if he loses key, if he leaves the key in the outside of the door etc.
He already knows what to do incase of a fire based on what room and floor he is on. Window option, how to escape, not to use the cooker. Or chop up anything. He knows what to do if he cuts a finger anyway. (He loves cooking himself but this is banned when alone).
I imagine the chocolate will be raided and wrappers hidden..
When we were kids.....
.
Experiences and thoughts?
Theres going to be mistakes on the way.
Make sure their phone is charged and there are copies of your number around the house, and they know how to use the land line. They can let you know they are home.
Have they a friend who’s parent you know to use in an emergency?
Tracking software in their phone, let them know though, tell them you’re only monitoring it to start with (ahem!)
We would have had the same issue but for Covid, nearly a year on now though, we are lucky friends and Grandparents around the corner and the school is 10 mins walk away.
Have they a friend who’s parent you know to use in an emergency?
Tracking software in their phone, let them know though, tell them you’re only monitoring it to start with (ahem!)
We would have had the same issue but for Covid, nearly a year on now though, we are lucky friends and Grandparents around the corner and the school is 10 mins walk away.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
That's another topic.. he isn't having a smart phone yet.
We are getting him a 'dumb' phone.
We got our son a XPLORA 4 watch. Has phone capabilities, tracking and emergency dial. You can also only allow certain numbers for him to call. We are getting him a 'dumb' phone.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/XPLORA-children-Messages-...
r159 said:
Smart phones are fine as long as the protection is there. Our boy gets iPhone hand me downs that the wife has locked up that tight...it became no worse than a Nokia 3100. As he got older more access has been allowed for school stuff
my son was adept at password breaking, access and menus from the age of 7 on our phones. He's got a knack of always finding the information and ways. Same with computer devices. Bloody annoying. And
It's a city, there's always the possibility of him being turned over for his phone at some point sadly.
sociopath said:
I used to walk home 2 miles everyday at that age. The world is no less safe than it was then, probably safer despite the safety nazis saying otherwise.
If they're sensible and understand the consequences of breaking the rules then go for it.
Agree 1000%If they're sensible and understand the consequences of breaking the rules then go for it.
My wife is very protective.
From the age of 7 I allowed him to pop to the corner shop to get sweets. Same with when he started walking part, then all the way home. It had secretly done as my wife would never have agreed.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
sociopath said:
I used to walk home 2 miles everyday at that age. The world is no less safe than it was then, probably safer despite the safety nazis saying otherwise.
If they're sensible and understand the consequences of breaking the rules then go for it.
Agree 1000%If they're sensible and understand the consequences of breaking the rules then go for it.
My wife is very protective.
From the age of 7 I allowed him to pop to the corner shop to get sweets. Same with when he started walking part, then all the way home. It had secretly done as my wife would never have agreed.
I know some things are different now but if he's not cycling & there's other kids making the same journey then he needs to learn a few life skills & it seems a good opportunity to do so. The first one may be if he loses his key he gets to sit on the doorstep for a bit.
Mr Pointy said:
At the risk of this turning into the Four Yorkshiremen sketch when I was 11 I had to get two buses home form school & my job was to light the fires before my parents came home from work.
I know some things are different now but if he's not cycling & there's other kids making the same journey then he needs to learn a few life skills & it seems a good opportunity to do so. The first one may be if he loses his key he gets to sit on the doorstep for a bit.
I was given bus fare daily. Instead I pocketed it. Walked I rain (often in Yorkshire!), through roads, across a woods, fields etc and back spending the money on sweets. I know some things are different now but if he's not cycling & there's other kids making the same journey then he needs to learn a few life skills & it seems a good opportunity to do so. The first one may be if he loses his key he gets to sit on the doorstep for a bit.
My mum cursed my constant worn out shoes
Age 11 start of secondary school was when I was given a key. Kept it in my jacket inside pocket, I have never lost a key...
No such thing as mobile phones to worry about in those days. (Though my Dad was an early adopter, and was one of the first people to get a car phone, it was fitted by a towbar company, and the main bit went in the spare wheel well!)
No such thing as mobile phones to worry about in those days. (Though my Dad was an early adopter, and was one of the first people to get a car phone, it was fitted by a towbar company, and the main bit went in the spare wheel well!)
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