AIBU or do I need to move with the times?

I have read the answers to your question and I'm surprised that children ever get to walk to and from school. As I child I walked over a mile to school a across a very busy main road and I was 5 and did so all my school life at 11 I walked to the bus then walked one side of town to other caught another bus the when I got off had over a mile to walk home by fields and never really saw anyone and by then was doing after school clubs and got home around 7 pm
My feelings with mobile is that they get attached to their ears and pay no attention to what is going on around them I actually had my GD walk in front of me on Main Rd crossing never even saw me So no I don't see mobiles as giving them safety they don't pay attention to what is around them or who My friends and other dil describe the same with their child I know that's not all but u only got to look at adults they do it and kids copy

I have no memories of ever being escorted to school by my parents but can remember walking with my elder brother. By the time I was 10 was letting myself in the house after school, and lighting the coal fire as both parents were at work. ( I can still remember setting fire to my hair one 🫣). Sometimes I look back in horror at some of the things we got up to in the olden days.
Sadly as people have said times are different - more heavy traffic, impatient/aggressive drivers, and generally a lot more crime towards people especially in larger cities.
Having said that I think my GD aged 10 could easily handle the walk to and from school of just over half a mile but she’s still picked up along with her younger brother……. but then I was guilty of doing the same for both my kids til they went to senior school. It doesn’t seem to have impeded their long term development in any way.

Sarnia I agree with you. And you are entitled as the child grandparent to voice your concerns. Why are we always treading on eggshells where our opinions are concerned? My mom gave me hers often without any offense taken. It would seem kids today are too sensitive for their own good, so quick to take umbridge! Drives me mad

Whiff no we should say how we feel. No wonder today's kids have an over blown sense of their own importance. Many parents are scared to say anything to their AC! We are perfectly entitled to say if we see something they don't and give advice when we are concerned about our GC welfare

are there footpaths and lighting ? - not country lanes? then why not allow her to walk home ?
i only have fears when children are expected to walk home on unlit roads as some schools expect kids to do daily . When we lived in Cornwall, the county had no funds to bus kids in daily even though the only way was in via a country lane which had fast traffic.

The people most at risk are teen/young males.

If she’s walking alone she needs a phone

A lot will depend on the roads, are they very busy and will GD have to cross major junctions. Is the area well populated, will she be walking some of the way with friends? Her school bag, coat, could be tagged helping to trace her if needed. If her parents feel she is capable then I'd go along with it. Didn't appreciate schools can dictate when a child is allowed to walk to/from school unescorted.

MissAdventure

The people most at risk are teen/young males.

My thoughts too.

I walked to and from school from the age of 7. There was a lollypop lady at the one busy crossing, but no one in my junior school was 'taken' to school. I think year 5 is old enough to do this - if the roads are not busy.

MissAdventure

The people most at risk are teen/young males.

Agree totally.
Especially when they are going to school in cities/large urban areas. Can't help thinking that knife crime affecting young males was never such a big deal when there was a bobby on the beat. If there were more police officers patrolling areas outside schools and parks etc., after school finishes am sure we would all rest a bit easier.

I’m not sure but my neighbour’ boy walks to school on his own and the dad can track him on his own phone. It’s obviously linked to the boy’s phone.

My 2 sons didnt walk to school / home alone till year 6 and we were literally over the road from school, then after moving about 3 to 4minutes away. When they began high school bus stop was same distance.You can never be too careful these days though, as theres more in news about 'kids' attacking other kids, or teen/child stabbing incidents.the young ones are out of control more than they ever were.And all thats without the added worry of aduĺt 'stranger danger'

MissAdventure- I totally agree- and now my youngest(21, but looks much younger) has gone to live at uni accomodation,(A shared house) in one of the worst crime cities in England. I'm sick with worry.

If she is a sensible girl and it is not too far I don't see any reason why she shouldn't walk, a compromise of walking to school and being collected at the end of the day until she is used to and proved she can do it could work. And you never know - she might try it and not like it! Last time we visited the grandchildren in Australia (then aged 9 and twins of 6) they all three cycled together to and from school - its not far but still a busy road to cross. They seemed happy to do it and confident. In the late 50s I went to school in a nearby town - I walked to the corner and waited for my friend's Dad who dropped us off on the way to his job, then several of us walked to the bus stop and caught a bus back, then walked home from the bus stop - from the age of 5 to 11. On Brownies night I got a later bus by myself. With my youngest I did collect her from school until she was in Year 6, but that was because I liked the walk and meeting up with other parents - purely selfish!!!

I always walked to and from school and it was a three quarter of an hour walk. Less cars on the road and not so many dodgy people as we seem to have now. If they are walking with others that's fine when it's light but I would pick her up on the late nights. It's her parents decision. I never worried about my children, they all walked to school.

Do we all not think that there are a lot more "baddies" in UK than there used to be, when "we walked to school"?

Thanks to each and every one of you who took the time to reply. I have had a chat with my daughter and mentioned the good advice given by you all. It seems her school has a Buddy system where children who walk to and from school do so with another pupil. She is a sensible little girl and this weekend was out with her parents walking the route and telling them what to look out for and when it was safe to cross the road. I feel more settled now. I don't want to mollycoddle her but as she is the youngest grandchild all this growing up and becoming independent has come very soon. Thanks again, everyone. X

I went to school alone at age 5. This consisted of walking to the bus stop - about a 5 minute walk - catching a bus to the next town - getting off, crossing a main road and walking a long way down a leafy road to the school. Same again on the way back.

But there was a lot less traffic then of course.

It is unfortunate that your DD asked your opinion! It is always a challenge to know how honest to be ....

I think that if the parents are happy with it, then we have to presume that they have gone into it in detail and made their decision on the basis of the facts as they see them. They are the parents so that is that.

A "dead" phone might be a good idea though so GD can call help if needed.

fancythat. It would seem so. But a lot will depend on how close to school? Is the child accustomed to being driven there? are there any friends to walk with? are they used to playing and walking around there own home vicinity? Have they until now been reliant on an adult to initiate all of their socialising/parties etc.
AND
are the parents themselves strongly influenced for good or bad by their own school/home experiences? Are the parents instilling confidence or fear and anxiety?

My personal thought is that ideally all pre 11 year olds/secondary school pupils should go to a school as close as poss on foot.
But these days it is not always convenient or practical for parents work times or if the kids share time between separated mums and dads.

Simpler was best but the whole issue of how far children have to travel to primary school nowdays has been influenced strongly by political decision over the last 30 years.
Glad I had the freedom and so did my own children. We were far more autonomous.

Get her a high vis vest for the darker evening maybe?
Can you get her a dumb phone for calling you?
And an umbrella for when it rains.

My kid walked home on her own from age 6 - she had a dumb phone and we practiced road safety.

I got a bus home from school from age 4 - the nun would walk us to the bus stop, and I’d walk home after getting off at my stop.

Darkness and not having a phone aren’t lethal.
Practice road safety with her.
Support her parent’s way of doing things.

I think you can get mobile phones that don't have social media apps that would be suitable for young kids. I believe in giving children that easy means of contacting their parents as well as parental reassurance of being able to track where the child is. I don't understand the attitude that somehow phones are an adult-only accoutrement

Mollyb

Put an airbtag in her coat

I read that as airbag

What a great story Lahlah65
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Bugbabe2019

If she’s walking alone she needs a phone

Both my granddaughters are year 5 and now walk home. Their Mum and I had a conversation about this very thing. Eventually they have been given a smart watch, specially designed for younger people. They have a tracker and store 3 phone numbers, only one game and no internet connection. They have to hand the watch in at school and collect at the end of the day. It’s not like having a smart phone but does have some of the advantages.