There comes a point in every child's life whenhe or shewants to roam the city alone, but what age is itsafe to let your little one be independent? While we can't say anything for certain, since every child is different, here are some helpful suggestions from the experts/local law information to help you determine what's right for your family.
The first step? School.
A lot of children want to travel to and from middle school sans adult (evidently, it’s embarrassingfor tweens to be seen walking up to the building with mom or dad). But according to a study from the American Academy of Pediatrics, children at this age just might be up for the challenge.The findings reveal that those around 10 years old are "significantly" better at detecting dangerous situations and taking in their surroundings.Additionally,a federal law passed in 2015 thatmakes it legal for children to walk to schoolby themselves, provided they have their parents' permission.
Getting toschool alone is just the beginning.
Some kids are also ready to test their independence by walking solo to nearby destinations. If your children are particularly aware of their surroundings and want to walk to their buddy’s apartment one block over or grab a treat at the corner drug store, they could be ready for this responsibility if you feel safe about the environment. A good gauge to see if yourchildrenare up for the challenge isThe Test of Twelve, a series of questions parents can ask themselves to see if their children are ready to be left home alone (which can also apply to traveling alone). Some parents turn tofree-range parenting philosophiesto see how they should get started with their children's newfound freedom.
Testyour kids' readiness with a checklist.
Can you test drive the walk to school by sending along an older sibling or a friend?How do youfeel about giving your child a cell phone for emergencies? Perhaps you canstart testing the waters withalocation that only involves one-road traffic.Baby stepsintroduce kids to the responsibility withoutleaving them completelyoverwhelmed or far from help.
If you fear that yourchildren might not be ready for the challenge, or if you worry about particular safety issues, you should feel comfortable holding them back.
However, since yourbabiesare going to have to leave the nest eventually, it behoovesyouto consistently work toward independence asyour kids enters their tween and early teen years. This means asking yourkiddos to be the navigator when you’re out walking together, talking about pedestrian safety and having serious discussions about adult predators and school-age bullies. If you have preferred streets to walk down, explain why they shouldn't diverge from the beaten path. If you worry about losing track of your kids but you don’t want to give them free range on a smartphone, consider a cheap, emergencies-only flip phone.
Whether you'rewalking the city streets with your whole family or meeting your kids at a particular destination, check outthe epic 21 things you can't miss in 2018or head to afree museum day in New York City. There's at least101 things to do with kids in New Yorkbeforeyour youngsters grow up, so get started!
