what age do u allow ur child to cross the street alone?

yo'ma

Sun, Feb 01 2009, 2:49 pm

I just told my 10 1/2 year old that she could, but only on a one way and the side where cars don't turn to and only on a green and she's not allowed to cross anyone else. Now every time we go out, she crosses by herself where she's allowed to and just waits at the corner for me because I don't let her go anywhere by herself yet Rolling Eyes

. I'm debating if I should let her go to the next block which has a supermarket, so she could get me something when I need it. My dh said, we'll see and it depends what time of day. She's just so little and our oldest Smile

Raisin

Sun, Feb 01 2009, 3:43 pm

my friends let their 10.5 year old cycle home alone from school. She has to cross a few streets to do that, although quite a lot of the ride is through parkland.

shanie5

Sun, Feb 01 2009, 4:14 pm

When oldest ds was 6 1/2, I was late for his bus. He walked himself home-crossing 3 small streets. (no, I never gave him permission). I asked how his friend got home-cuz we know he isnt allowed to cross, and ds said "s/o can cross him-so I did"-umm....ds was younger than this other kid-but could not understand why he shouldnt be crossing him!!

In answer to your question, its when I feel they are ready. dd is 7 and is allowed to cross some streets herself-she knows whose house she is allowed to go to and who not cuz they are too far.

NotInNJMommy

Sun, Feb 01 2009, 4:42 pm

when ds is married, then he'll be old enough Wink

DS is currently 3. I can't imagine him doing anything unsupervised...ever....

greenfire

Sun, Feb 01 2009, 5:28 pm

8 ... I've heard that till then one doesn't have distance perception ... then again some of us never get it - even when adults ...

I too used to think I would never let one of my kiddies cross the street - she grew out of it ... (I think)(I hope)

Marion

Sun, Feb 01 2009, 10:40 pm

AFAIK it's actually illegal (in Israel) to allow a child under 9 to cross alone. Whether that includes alone but supervised (like you watching from the side of the road) is unclear to me.

RichWithNachas

Sun, Feb 01 2009, 10:49 pm

Depends on the maturity of the child. Most around 8 One of my children matured earlier so I let them at 7.

shopaholic

Mon, Feb 02 2009, 7:06 pm

DS turned 8 in June. When school started in Sept, I taught him how to cross. There are 3 streets he needs to cross from the bus stop. 2 have crossing guards, 1 has a stop sign.

SingALong

Mon, Feb 02 2009, 7:48 pm

I think it depends on where you live and what the driving conditions are. my 4 yr old crosses the street by me since I live in a culdesac and a car shows up about every 30 minutes on average. so I taught her how to look. although I prefer she goes around the circle to cross.

as a kid my mother started letting me cross 2 way streets by 10 years old. first by only using intersections that had lights and then building up slowly. most of my friends waited until age 11

raspberry tea

Tue, Feb 03 2009, 7:32 am

8-10 years old usually

Just the other day, my 5 and 7 year old did it. They arrived home before I intended. So they just did it on there own. They cross everyday with an older sibling. They know to wait for the walk signal.

Imaonwheels

Tue, Feb 03 2009, 9:12 am

Maturity or intelligence is not the issue, judgment is. There is an Israeli ad that says, "He can use a computer and send an sms, but don't let him cross the street..." warning parents not to let children under 8 cross alone. Yes, the ability to judge speed and distance requires age and experience while crossing with adults.

That said, I have seen kids younger than that crossingf with 3 younger siblings in tow.

Atali

Tue, Feb 03 2009, 9:36 am

It depends a lot on the street. I live on a quiet side street with very few cars. I would probably let DS cross it at about six. A somewhat bigger street I would probably allow at about eight or nine. A street with more than one lane in each direction I probably wouldn't allow until 10.

Streets in Brooklyn I wouldn't allow until at least bar mitzvah. Some of them I a nervous about allowing myself to cross.