Remember when I mentioned that the producers for All in a Day, CBC radio’s excellent afternoon drive show, were looking for parents to debate when it’s safe to let kids walk to school by themselves? That’s happening today at 4 pm!
Lynn from Turtlehead will argue a more conservative approach, and I will defend the idea of greater liberty. To a point. And maybe for somebody else’s kids, not my wee helpless babies. Um, this might be a bit of a lopsided debate!
Got a thought to add to the debate? I’d love to hear your opinions. At what age should kids be walking to school by themselves? When I mentioned to Tristan’s Grade One teacher last year that we were considering it, she flinched visibly and said she thought that was far too young and yet, I’ve said it many many times before, I was walking back and forth to school with no problem at age four. Have kids changed? Has the world? Is it our kids’ judgement we’re worried about, or stranger danger?
And don’t forget to tune in this afternoon, 4 pm at 91.5 FM!
I think it depends how far it is. We let The Boy walk to his friend’s house two blocks away but there are no major intersections.
He goes to a private school so there is no bus service, but if there was I’d let him get on the bus by himself, and I suspect if he went to the school down the street, we’d let him walk there. But he’s in Grade 4. Grade 1 does seem to be a bit too little but I don’t there are so many factors including where the school is, how comfortable the child is with it … and all that. But The Man and I are of the letting kids be kids variety too…
@DaniGirl Fun! RT @DaniGirl Today: on CBC "when is it safe 2 let kids walk 2 school" debate w/ @turtle_head http://tinyurl.com/ykqbzvt
RT @DaniGirl:Just talked to CBC to prep for our "when is it safe to let kids walk to school" debate w@turtle_head http://tinyurl.com/ykqbzvt
Hi Dani,
Your post on this issue got me thinking about the concept of “stranger danger.” So much so I did a post on it.
You rocked the interview today. You’re a pro.
Jules
ack!!! i didn;t have time to check in this morning:(((( and now i am all sad i missed you…how did it go??