https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:46:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school/page/2#post-2354772 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 18:18:39 +0000 gingerbebe 2354772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Neither DH nor I lived close enough to our schools to walk so our parents always dropped us off. I took the bus off and on for a year or two towards the end of elementary school - like 4th, 5th, or 6th grades - but the stop was literally across the street from our house. I guess because of that experience, I'm just not familiar with walking. My parents would never have been comfortable with it anyway, so I think we'd probably lean that way. There's a public school bus pick up at the park a street over from our house and there's usually a cop escort to enforce any speeding or aggressive driving, so I think that would be fine, but I think our plan is to send our son to a private school that would require drop offs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school/page/2#post-2354752 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 17:45:03 +0000 Freckles 2354752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: whoa if my area were like that I would not be comfortable! We are 0.15 miles away from her elementary school so I would be comfortable having her walk to school. We would most likely walk with her though.</p> <p>DD's preschool is 1 mile away and I wouldn't be comfortable with her walking there (alone) if that were her elementary school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school/page/2#post-2354697 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 16:56:15 +0000 Ree723 2354697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live on the same street as our primary school - it's a crescent street, we're at the start of it and the school is at the midpoint, so about 9 houses down from us. It's also nice being a crescent as it's a narrow road and no one drives down it unless they live on the street or are heading to the school, although with limited parking, that's not really an issue either. I'll still walk her everyday until Year 3 at least, not least because parents are required to sign their children in and out of the classroom, so someone HAS to walk them. Realistically though, I'll probably walk the kids to/from school until they start secondary school.....I just think it's an important way to stay connected if one is able to do so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school/page/2#post-2354674 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 16:42:30 +0000 beloved 2354674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think I would :( But I am also a pretty big worry wart. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school/page/2#post-2354609 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 16:21:14 +0000 HLK208 2354609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The primary school is a half mile away but I wouldn't feel comfortable having them walk alone. Lots of neighbors kids do though. The intermediate school is a mile away but on busier street with tons of creepy people. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school/page/2#post-2354589 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 16:11:17 +0000 birdofafeather 2354589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe by 4th or 5th grade is let them walk that far alone. Really depends on the neighborhood/streets! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school/page/2#post-2354216 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 13:54:47 +0000 BandDmommy 2354216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: we live in a brand new community. We knew the plan was to build schools, but the lines were not determine. Currently, our neighborhood has bus service. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school/page/2#post-2354176 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 13:36:51 +0000 looch 2354176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We picked our house because of the proximity to the elementary school...our street is a cul de sac that goes directly to the back of the school. I can literally stand on my front lawn and see the play area. That is my limit for elementary school walking, it's probably less than 1/4 mile. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school/page/2#post-2354159 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 13:33:24 +0000 BandDmommy 2354159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MoreCoffee: NOVA suburb here too... Such bad drivers! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school/page/2#post-2354144 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 13:28:07 +0000 Maysprout 2354144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It depends. If there were sidewalks and low speed limit area I think I'd be more comfortable as they got older. The elementary school is about a mile from us and we might have some bike dates since their school starts so early but she won't ever be going alone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2354128 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 13:21:37 +0000 regberadaisy 2354128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: no. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2354127 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 13:20:48 +0000 avivoca 2354127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I walked half a mile to and from school for three years in elementary school. It was fine. I liked it. I would love it if my kids could walk to school, but our resides school is about a mile and a half away and crosses a busy road. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2354114 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 13:13:15 +0000 mrschickpea 2354114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Still TTC here but we can literally throw our kid over our back fence and they would land right next to the drop off lane of the elementary school :silly: we probably won't still be living here when our child is school aged though :meh: :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2354056 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 12:58:00 +0000 Kemma 2354056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my area I see kids walking home from school and they seem to be nine and up? The road is pretty busy but the schools run a controlled crossing programme so the kids can cross safely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2354045 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 12:47:49 +0000 Greentea 2354045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: :shocked: Wow! Well, I'll be walking a mile , but in Wisco people are tough :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2354008 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 12:29:31 +0000 MoreCoffee 2354008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Similar situation - I'm in a NoVA suburb and we had bus service for Kindergarten until last year, now everyone walks there via a tunnel under a busy road. Lots of parents walk with their kids and that's great. But plenty of parents drive their kids, and they seem to be the worst offenders. On my WFH days I drive or walk DS to daycare around the same time as school starts, and I have major beef with cars speeding through our neighborhood and darting across the busy road to get to the school. We've had near misses when out for walks in the neighborhood, so it's a definite concern of mine. I would not feel comfortable sending DS by himself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2353994 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 12:20:29 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2353994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure distance wise, but no more than 10 minutes at a leisurely pace. Kids have such heavy book bags I don't want them to get back pain having to lug all that stuff. We have a middle school across from our subdivision entrance. A police officer is always out there making sure people don't block the roads. I wouldn't be comfortable with a route to school that didn't entail and crossing guards and police visible. Just having those safety professional also keeps texting drivers at bay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2353951 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 12:05:25 +0000 BandDmommy 2353951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Greentea: children walking alone. I can't imagine parents here walking a mile to school, they drive to the bus stop which is a block. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2353878 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 11:40:07 +0000 Greentea 2353878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would think walking to high school a mile would be nbd.</p> <p>our hs is two miles... so she'll probably take a city bus. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2353872 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 11:35:56 +0000 Greentea 2353872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you mean you are walking with them? I wouldn't let them walk alone, but would walk them a mile. How can they stop people from walking a mile with their children, or do they mean children walking alone? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2353862 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 11:32:58 +0000 rachiecakes 2353862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I wouldn't let them walk to school unless I could watch the whole way.<br /> I walked to school and one year I had a weird guy in a pick up truck follow me for weeks. (He was way older and stopped and asked me out, I was 13/14). My grandmother started driving me to school after that. </p> <p>@BandDmommy: I drive through a school zone every morning, 4 lane road, where it's 20 mph when the lights are flashing and every morning people are zipping around me at least double, sometimes getting aggressive, honking their horns, etc. not realizing or caring that they're in a school zone. People are awful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2353838 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 11:23:54 +0000 Mommy Finger 2353838@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are too close to all of the schools (elem, jr high, and HS) for buses. I don't think I'll let my elem kids walk. I'm not worried at all about kidnapping, actually, and we do have a lot of the kids in the neighborhood who will go to that school. I'm more worried that not all of the streets on the way have side walks. I will let my kids walk to the jr high. It's a little bit closer and there is a crossing guard at the busy street. We'll deal with HS when we come to it. Although, it's all probably a moot point since they'll need to do before and after school care so we'll have to do drop off and pick up anyways. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2353668 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 10:18:34 +0000 snowjewelz 2353668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am prob on the protective side, but I can't imagine letting K walk to school in elementary unless it's in the next block (and I can see her get there, hahaha). Her middle school is actually walkable from our house (I have no idea the exact mile, or what our rules are), but if it's that close, I'd just rather drive her... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2353667 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 10:18:28 +0000 winniebee 2353667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: Yeah that's pretty busy! If it were a neighborhood of true side streets, I'd feel better about it. We won't be within walking distance of school so I don't have to make that tough decision! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2353636 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 10:04:43 +0000 rattles 2353636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our elementary is too close for bussing but farther than I'd let them walk. I'll walk or drive them. I'm more on the fence for junior high. It's a straight shot and a little less than a mile, so a lot of the neighborhood tweens bike. It's down a pretty major street though (4 lane boulevard), so I'll feel it out when we're closer to the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2353632 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 10:03:50 +0000 BandDmommy 2353632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: there's a 4 lane road which is supposed to be 30 mph but people go upwards of 60 mph </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2353622 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 10:01:31 +0000 winniebee 2353622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It depends on what that .8 mile looked like (busy area or not) and whether my kids could walk with other kids. I don't think I'd send my grade schooler alone, but if he walked with his brother or neighbors I'd probably feel differently. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2353603 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 09:53:30 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2353603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ours is at the end of the street and only across a dead end street and a minor laneway. I wouldn't have an issue for a third grade, but I wouldn't let my kindergartner walk alone. Most everyone walks here, I don't think buses are even available.<br /> It sounds like walking isn't safe in your neighborhood. I definitely wouldn't let my kids walk if the drivers were insane. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2353593 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 09:51:49 +0000 tinyperson 2353593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Where we are now, we're on a busy road with bad drivers. I saw two accidents this past week at the same intersection. I have often stood on a corner to cross the street and waited 30s-1min until a driver who was waiting to turn right finally saw me -- The driver hadn't looked my way at all in that time, and I don't cross until I make eye contact in those situations. No way will I let LO walk to school and have to deal with that craziness. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-would-you-feel-comfortable-having-your-child-walk-to-school#post-2353573 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 09:44:31 +0000 twodoghouse 2353573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Uh, maybe if I could stand on my front porch and see the school I'd let them walk to it alone. For our current house, the elementary school is probably within walking distance (a long walk, though), but I would walk with them. Maybe by 3rd or 4th grade I'd let them do it themselves? We live in a safe area and they'd only walk through neighborhoods, no businesses or anything. I don't think we'll be in this house by the time they are in Kindergarten though. </p>