How old was/were your kids before you let them walk to the school bus stop alone?

Question

My son is almost 10, has no brothers or sisters and has not yet made any friends in our new neighborhood. He'll be starting a new school this year and it would be nice if he could ride the bus to school (the bus stop is less than 2 blocks from our house). His step-father and I both work so the only other option is to enroll him in a before/after school program at his school and pay for that service. My husband suggested we let him ride the bus in the mornings and only have to go to after school care until we got off work. Once he shows he is responsible enough to do the before school thing, we'll consider letting him ride the bus home and be there alone until we get off work (he'd only be home alone for about an hour after school). We'll also get him a cell phone to call if anything was not right and we do have family fairly close by should he need something right away.

So how old were your kids when you let them do these kinds of things on their own? He's a very good kid and extremely smart, I'm not too worried about him getting into trouble if he was alone. If there is anything else you could suggest or bring to light that we may not have thought of, please do so... Thanks so much for your tips and advice!

Answer 1

my parents let me walk to and from school when i was in about 4th grade alone, and that was like a half mile to a mile each way.

but i had a friend with me.

if it's only 2 blocks and if there's no roads to cross and he issss 10 already  

Answer 2

I let my 8 year old and 12 year old go to/wait for the bus alone, but it is the end of my driveway! Both of them have come home alone and let themselves in. The rule is that they have to call my cell phone within the first 5 minutes after they get home. I am usually on my way home when they get off the bus, and there within 15 minutes or so.

Answer 3

Okay, he's 10. He can get on the bus by himself and stay home for a little while alone. God, cut the cord.

Answer 4

I've been walking to the bus stop by my self since the 5th grade and since the 1st grade my sister walked me to school. I really think he will be fine and if you walk him to the bus stop he is going to get made fun of alot and he wont make many friends. He'll be seen as 'momma's boy' or something worse

Answer 5

im going to middle school and i have an older brother when i was smaller my mom never let me walk to my bus stop alone and it was in my street she or my dad would have to take me and my brother wich was in middle school my mom let him go by himself so i guess middle school? im not sure

Answer 6

Yeah, he could walk by now! go for it

Answer 7

you would have to be CRAZY to let him walk alone. try dropping him off at the bus stop or driving him to school. letting a ten year old with no friends yet walk to school alone...you might as well give him a shirt that says 'beat me up'

Answer 8

that sounds like a good plan to me

answer mine?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?...

Answer 9

i think you should let him go and you and your husband seem to know a lot about your son and how much responsibility he can handle :) i was in 5th grade when i went to the bus stop by myself