Liz Atwood wonders how old is old enough to walk to school this Tween Tuesday. For more on the subject, check out our recent story:
The other day, my 9-year-old son announced that he was bored and was going to walk to a friend's house. He was out the door and more than a block away before I could put my shoes on and catch up to him. I ordered him back in the house, reminding him that he doesn't just say he's going to go out, but needs to ask permission first, and that he should be polite enough to call to see if his friend is home.
His brashness aside, the incident brings up the old question of when is a child old enough to walk alone to school or to a friend's house. First lady Michelle Obama has made childhood obesity one of her causes. We all know the kids need to get off the couch and put down the video games and exercise more. But personally, I don't have time to chauffer my kids to organized sports every day for the recommended hour of physical activity.
I wonder if I should start by allowing my son to walk to and from school—about four suburban blocks away—on a route that has sidewalks and little traffic.
A new report from U.S. Department of Transportation finds that the decline in kids walking or biking to school has stabilized, but that still only 13 percent of children five to 14 years old usually walked or biked to school compared with 48 percent of students in 1969.
Do you let your kids walk alone to school? At what age do you think it is safe to do so?