Hellobee Boards

This was so adorable! I wish there were English subtitles, I would have loved to know what the siblings were saying. They are so so cute. I was a latch key kid growing up in the 80's and my parents were workaholics so I walked everywhere as early as 5 years old. Looking back I am amazed that nothing too traumatic happened. I remember my little friend and I (also 5 years old) played outside without supervision. We just walked around the neighborhood and got lost so we thought we should cross a busy street to get home and almost got ran over. Luckily, there was a police car in the traffic and took us home. We told him the name of the apartments we lived at. He just dropped us off at the front of the apartments and didn't even file a report or ask to speak with our parents. Times have really changed a lot. I am not sure when I would let my child walk to the store, depending how far it was also, maybe 13 or 14?

We're nowhere near the age yet but I'm hoping around 8 LO can go buy a treat at the corner store about 3 blocks away. She would be walking through our neighborhood to a store she was familiar with.

We don't have sidewalks the whole way so I'm not sure if that would be possible.

I read about the "popscicle test" a long time ago and it influenced where we bought our house. http://www.freerangekids.com/passing-the-popsicle-test/

How awesome. We live in a pretty safe area and it is the norm for kids to walk to and from school with friends around third grade but I don't think I have ever seen kids that young going to the store (same distance) alone. Letting them go into the ice cream shop alone while I sit outside wouldn't be an issue though.

@Corduroy: That's really interesting! I think our city would be safe enough, but the blocks and neighborhoods are so big, I think the popsicle would melt halfway!