Allowing a newly 11yr old a key and walk home 1 day a week
Discussion
PhilboSE said:
Aged 11, starting secondary school. Mum says "Here's your season ticket, you know where the station is, get off at the station named XXX, walk to school. I'll be at work so let yourself if, you can have 2 biscuits then clean your shoes and do your homework".
Managed the first part of the equation, got off at the right stop, realised I had no idea how to get to the school. Hung around the station until I spotted some boys in the same blazer and followed them. Worked out OK.
Did that for the next 5 years, never lost a key and was never late for school. 11 year olds are more capable than we give them credit for.
My children walk the 1 mile to school since the youngest turned 11, except when it's raining hard or the youngest has particularly many things to carry, in which case my wife insists on driving them, which still annoys me somewhat.
But did you have shiny shoes?Managed the first part of the equation, got off at the right stop, realised I had no idea how to get to the school. Hung around the station until I spotted some boys in the same blazer and followed them. Worked out OK.
Did that for the next 5 years, never lost a key and was never late for school. 11 year olds are more capable than we give them credit for.
My children walk the 1 mile to school since the youngest turned 11, except when it's raining hard or the youngest has particularly many things to carry, in which case my wife insists on driving them, which still annoys me somewhat.
Not all 11 year olds are created equally. I have raised two, one of whom could have come home and starting cooking an evening meal, the other who'd probably have gotten herself lost on the route back and lost her key to boot....
You know your kid though and for most (my dopey daughter aside) 11 is fine for a little independence. It's really really hard for us as a parent to reason with ourselves over letting them go a bit, when on the flip side the child is rarely phased by any of it.
I'm sure he'll be absolutely fine.
You know your kid though and for most (my dopey daughter aside) 11 is fine for a little independence. It's really really hard for us as a parent to reason with ourselves over letting them go a bit, when on the flip side the child is rarely phased by any of it.
I'm sure he'll be absolutely fine.
W124Bob said:
PhilboSE said:
Aged 11, starting secondary school. Mum says "Here's your season ticket, you know where the station is, get off at the station named XXX, walk to school. I'll be at work so let yourself if, you can have 2 biscuits then clean your shoes and do your homework".
Managed the first part of the equation, got off at the right stop, realised I had no idea how to get to the school. Hung around the station until I spotted some boys in the same blazer and followed them. Worked out OK.
Did that for the next 5 years, never lost a key and was never late for school. 11 year olds are more capable than we give them credit for.
My children walk the 1 mile to school since the youngest turned 11, except when it's raining hard or the youngest has particularly many things to carry, in which case my wife insists on driving them, which still annoys me somewhat.
But did you have shiny shoes?Managed the first part of the equation, got off at the right stop, realised I had no idea how to get to the school. Hung around the station until I spotted some boys in the same blazer and followed them. Worked out OK.
Did that for the next 5 years, never lost a key and was never late for school. 11 year olds are more capable than we give them credit for.
My children walk the 1 mile to school since the youngest turned 11, except when it's raining hard or the youngest has particularly many things to carry, in which case my wife insists on driving them, which still annoys me somewhat.
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