swamp
Community Leader
Don't be a fool. Call me!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,326
|
Post by swamp on Jun 21, 2012 14:19:41 GMT -5
Is there a crossing guard where they have to cross the road? Even if there is, they are a bit young to be responsible for themselves. no.
|
|
shanendoah
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 19:44:48 GMT -5
Posts: 10,096
Mini-Profile Name Color: 0c3563
|
Post by shanendoah on Jun 21, 2012 14:19:44 GMT -5
I'm sorry - I've watched too many episodes of Law & Order SVU and I am scared of little kids running off or vanishing without a trace. I would still hire the 5th grader for a couple more years. Because having a 10 year old walk with them prevents that?
|
|
busymom
Distinguished Associate
Why is the rum always gone? Oh...that's why.
Joined: Dec 25, 2010 21:09:36 GMT -5
Posts: 28,385
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"https://cdn.nickpic.host/images/IPauJ5.jpg","color":""}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 0D317F
Mini-Profile Text Color: 0D317F
|
Post by busymom on Jun 21, 2012 14:20:11 GMT -5
I'd pay an older child to walk them. Or, have the sitter walk them home. Totally worth the extra $$. Plus, when they're that little, I worry about drivers being able to see them as they cross the street. Is there a stopsign or light at that intersection?
By the way, I've got a level 3 sex offender living within a 1/4 mile of my house....
|
|
Gardening Grandma
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 13:39:46 GMT -5
Posts: 17,962
|
Post by Gardening Grandma on Jun 21, 2012 14:25:10 GMT -5
The 6 yr old - yes, I'd let him walk. The 5 yr old is harder. What about days when the 6 yr old is sick and she has to go to school alone?
On second thought - what about the street they cross? No crossing guard? No signal? Just a crosswalk? That would concern me the most.
(I'd be tempted to allow them to walk and follow them for a few days - without them knowing. That might give you your answer)
|
|
Formerly SK
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 27, 2011 14:23:13 GMT -5
Posts: 3,255
|
Post by Formerly SK on Jun 21, 2012 14:26:28 GMT -5
The school doesn't provide crossing guards? At both my schools the 5th graders rotate as "safety patrol" and act as crossing guards.
I really fight with myself about protecting my kids - emotionally I want to put them in a bubble but I also recognize the value of them growing up "free range."
How about for the first 1-2 months, a 5th grader walks them the whole way. Then for 1-2 months the 5th grader just takes them 2/3 of the way (ie to the corner...and then maybe watches that they get to the house but allows the kids to experience going there alone). Then taper down to just crossing the street. The gradual process would probably help both parents and kids adjust to the independence.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 2, 2024 12:14:55 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2012 14:45:39 GMT -5
I went to drive by my new house this afternoon...ya, I'm geeky enough to do that ....anyway, the school a few blocks away had just let out and all the grade school kids were making their way home. I realised it has been years since I've seen that. It gave me a good feeling. I say let them walk it. That close to the school they are not the only kids on that route. From your description it sounds like they are only going a couple of hundred feet. I guess I belong to Dark's school of free range kids.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,409
|
Post by thyme4change on Jun 21, 2012 14:50:57 GMT -5
What do you mean "how?" They don't let kids walk down the street unattended. There are crossing guards and teachers who watch kids leave, and they have to have someone with them, or they get sent back to the office. As for the bus, if the door opens and no parents will vouch for the kid, the bus drivers tells the kid to get back on the bus. I guess technically I could tell my kids to jump off the bus and run home as fast as they can and lock the door behind them - and then we can just hope that they can outrun the bus driver - but I'm not going to teach my kids that they should just ignore all the school's rules. Or even just ignore the school rules that we think are dumb or inappropriate.
Our school is K-4th grade - so it isn't like they have 17 year olds on lock-down. The oldest kid at the school is 10. Given that there are states with laws that say 10 is the earliest kids can be home alone, it isn't outrageous for the school to make sure a parent is being responsible for the kid.
|
|
raeoflyte
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 3, 2011 15:43:53 GMT -5
Posts: 14,740
|
Post by raeoflyte on Jun 21, 2012 14:59:35 GMT -5
I'm not there yet, so I reserve the right to change my mind, but I would let them walk home or to the babysitters at that distance. The babysitter will know right away if they are late. If you wanted them to walk to school I would say wait since there is quite a bit longer until you know something if something is wrong.
In theory we are pro free range kids, but I tell dh all the time that he is practicing his helicopter act pretty good.
|
|
973beachbum
Senior Associate
Politics Admin
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 16:12:13 GMT -5
Posts: 10,501
|
Post by 973beachbum on Jun 21, 2012 15:28:42 GMT -5
What do you mean "how?" They don't let kids walk down the street unattended. There are crossing guards and teachers who watch kids leave, and they have to have someone with them, or they get sent back to the office. As for the bus, if the door opens and no parents will vouch for the kid, the bus drivers tells the kid to get back on the bus. I guess technically I could tell my kids to jump off the bus and run home as fast as they can and lock the door behind them - and then we can just hope that they can outrun the bus driver - but I'm not going to teach my kids that they should just ignore all the school's rules. Or even just ignore the school rules that we think are dumb or inappropriate. Our school is K-4th grade - so it isn't like they have 17 year olds on lock-down. The oldest kid at the school is 10. Given that there are states with laws that say 10 is the earliest kids can be home alone, it isn't outrageous for the school to make sure a parent is being responsible for the kid. Maybe it is because you live in the Phoenix area and have much higher crime but the parents wouldn't stand for that here. There would be a full fledged revolt and I promise you the parents would win. I wouldn't tell my kid not to follow the shcool rules but I do tell them I am the ultimate authority in their life period. I would just write the note telling the school and bus that my kid is allowed to walk from the bus home or to school or whatever.
|
|
zibazinski
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 16:12:50 GMT -5
Posts: 47,866
|
Post by zibazinski on Jun 21, 2012 15:36:56 GMT -5
I wouldn't do it. They are too young and there's too many crazies out there.
|
|
kittypuppymom
Junior Member
Joined: Sept 12, 2011 10:38:54 GMT -5
Posts: 165
|
Post by kittypuppymom on Jun 21, 2012 15:40:38 GMT -5
Are you out of your freaking mind. You are expecting a 6 yr old to watch after a 4 yr old. I see all sorts of catastrophic things that can happen here. Pay the money and get someone to drop them off to the sitter.
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
Don't be a fool. Call me!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,326
|
Post by swamp on Jun 21, 2012 16:00:17 GMT -5
The school doesn't provide crossing guards? At both my schools the 5th graders rotate as "safety patrol" and act as crossing guards. I really fight with myself about protecting my kids - emotionally I want to put them in a bubble but I also recognize the value of them growing up "free range." How about for the first 1-2 months, a 5th grader walks them the whole way. Then for 1-2 months the 5th grader just takes them 2/3 of the way (ie to the corner...and then maybe watches that they get to the house but allows the kids to experience going there alone). Then taper down to just crossing the street. The gradual process would probably help both parents and kids adjust to the independence. Nope, no crossing guards. It's a private school ,but the public school doesnt have them either. I like the graduated escort idea.
|
|
andi9899
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 6, 2011 10:22:29 GMT -5
Posts: 30,417
Member is Online
|
Post by andi9899 on Jun 21, 2012 16:08:32 GMT -5
I don't think I would let mine walk either at that age.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 2, 2024 12:14:55 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2012 16:14:08 GMT -5
You can do whatever you like. But, when i was in 3rd grade, i used to walk home from school with a friend. One day, the friend was sick. I headed off in the right direction and then was unsure of the turn so i didnt know what to do in my 7 yr old mind so i simply kept walking. The police found me an hour later 2 miles from my home.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,409
|
Post by thyme4change on Jun 21, 2012 16:20:42 GMT -5
We live in central phoenix, in a really busy area. I've never heard a parent complain about it - it just is what it is to us. Once a kid got off the bus and said his Mom told him to walk home, and another Mom walked him home and "discussed" it with the other mother. After that, there was always someone there to pick the kid up. So, peer pressure is a strong force. As far as it being about crime - maybe. I'm much, much more worried about cars. Especially around the school. There are 10 billion cars driving around that school. I wouldn't trust my children to cross **that** street at the time when school lets out.
|
|
973beachbum
Senior Associate
Politics Admin
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 16:12:13 GMT -5
Posts: 10,501
|
Post by 973beachbum on Jun 21, 2012 16:27:28 GMT -5
We live in central phoenix, in a really busy area. I've never heard a parent complain about it - it just is what it is to us. Once a kid got off the bus and said his Mom told him to walk home, and another Mom walked him home and "discussed" it with the other mother. After that, there was always someone there to pick the kid up. So, peer pressure is a strong force. As far as it being about crime - maybe. I'm much, much more worried about cars. Especially around the school. There are 10 billion cars driving around that school. I wouldn't trust my children to cross **that** street at the time when school lets out. My Mom lives in Chandler. She always talks about the crime and traffic. The highest speed limit in the "big" city is 35 MPH. The big crime that the police are always harping about is teens checking for unlocked cars to steal change left in to pay tolls/meters. So crime and crazy traffic isn't a concern. ;D I still say that completely unsupervised 4-6 is too young. But absolutely not allowing a third grader to walk across the street because of peer pressure is also an over reaction.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 2, 2024 12:14:55 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2012 16:28:52 GMT -5
Has anyone pointed out that the most likely person to harm the kids is the hired 5th grader?
|
|
Sum Dum Gai
Senior Associate
Joined: Aug 15, 2011 15:39:24 GMT -5
Posts: 19,892
|
Post by Sum Dum Gai on Jun 21, 2012 16:32:12 GMT -5
Has anyone pointed out that the most likely person to harm the kids is the hired 5th grader? No, but I'm glad you showed up so I don't have to do it. That was my first thought too. Remember that scene in The Sixth Sense, where the older actor kid shows up to walk Cole to school? He's all chummy around the mom and acts like they're best friends, then they get half way down the block and he turns into a douchebag and steals his lunch, or lunch money, something like that. I think that scenario is far more likely to happen than a 6 year old getting lost crossing one street and walking halfway around a block.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,409
|
Post by thyme4change on Jun 21, 2012 16:35:03 GMT -5
Everyone in Chandler is obsessed with crime. They think there is a criminal hiding behind every bush. That is why I hate it out there.
Well, to be fair, this kid that had to walk home was not in 3rd grade. He was a 1st grader. So...probably 6 or 7.
|
|
973beachbum
Senior Associate
Politics Admin
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 16:12:13 GMT -5
Posts: 10,501
|
Post by 973beachbum on Jun 21, 2012 16:35:56 GMT -5
Has anyone pointed out that the most likely person to harm the kids is the hired 5th grader? No it is Mom's boyfriend or crazy uncle Charlie actually. the fifth grader is more likely to just beat them up.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,409
|
Post by thyme4change on Jun 21, 2012 16:36:42 GMT -5
I think the biggest problem is that the 5th grader is no longer a 5th grader. He has most likely moved onto 6th grade. He might not be at the school anymore - or he might be getting to that age where you don't really trust them anymore. You know, the "smelly" age.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,409
|
Post by thyme4change on Jun 21, 2012 16:37:20 GMT -5
Beating them up isn't "harming" them?
|
|
justme
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 10, 2012 13:12:47 GMT -5
Posts: 14,618
|
Post by justme on Jun 21, 2012 16:38:29 GMT -5
Has anyone pointed out that the most likely person to harm the kids is the hired 5th grader? No it is Mom's boyfriend or crazy uncle Charlie actually. the fifth grader is more likely to just beat them up. Isn't that still harming the kid? ETA: Thyme beat me to it.
|
|
973beachbum
Senior Associate
Politics Admin
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 16:12:13 GMT -5
Posts: 10,501
|
Post by 973beachbum on Jun 21, 2012 16:40:17 GMT -5
Everyone in Chandler is obsessed with crime. They think there is a criminal hiding behind every bush. That is why I hate it out there. Well, to be fair, this kid that had to walk home was not in 3rd grade. He was a 1st grader. So...probably 6 or 7. Where my Mom lives they have actually had a few home invasions with youngish people home alone. She also insists that everyone learns how to drive by playing Grand Theft Auto. 6-7 is probably too young for me but if I lived across the street or within sight I might stay where I could see them but not go to the actual bus stop. Although not on a 50mph road. My son is in third grade and he likes me to come to the bus stop with him/pick him up. That way he can bring things like a soccor ball to the bus stop and the kids will play with it in the street while waiting for the bus. I did say this is a quiet town didnt I? After school I will bring a bike or scooter for him to ride home. ;D
|
|
973beachbum
Senior Associate
Politics Admin
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 16:12:13 GMT -5
Posts: 10,501
|
Post by 973beachbum on Jun 21, 2012 16:41:32 GMT -5
Beating them up isn't "harming" them? Well yeah but not enough to do lasting damage, like Mom's new boyfriend or crazy uncle Charlie though.
|
|
|
Post by jarhead1976 on Jun 21, 2012 16:43:41 GMT -5
No. Adult supervision only.
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
Don't be a fool. Call me!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,326
|
Post by swamp on Jun 21, 2012 16:47:19 GMT -5
I think the biggest problem is that the 5th grader is no longer a 5th grader. He has most likely moved onto 6th grade. He might not be at the school anymore - or he might be getting to that age where you don't really trust them anymore. You know, the "smelly" age. The 5th grade now 6th grader will still be at the school. It's my friend's daughter. She's 11, she will be 12 in October. She is a very quiet and meek kid, I don't worry about her being mean To my kids. One of her younger brothers is autistic and she is very good with him. I'll probably continue to pay her the $5 a week to walk my kids to the sitters. I think the kids would be fine on their own, but DH isn't comfortable with it. It's not a huge school, there are about 70 kids in the whole school and all the kids look out for one another.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,409
|
Post by thyme4change on Jun 21, 2012 16:52:05 GMT -5
$5 a week? Yeah, don't be such a cheap-ass. Keep the 12 year old in Lincolns, and your hubby happy.
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
Don't be a fool. Call me!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,326
|
Post by swamp on Jun 21, 2012 16:53:44 GMT -5
$5 a week? Yeah, don't be such a cheap-ass. Keep the 12 year old in Lincolns, and your hubby happy. Eh, she usually has to do it 3 times a week. Gramma works at the school and 2 days a week they go home with her.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,409
|
Post by thyme4change on Jun 21, 2012 16:55:39 GMT -5
(I forgot to add a winky-face.)
|
|