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Not for a long long time

Yes. We picked our house's location based on the fact that the street is one where my son can walk to the elementary school without crossing a major road.

I can stand on my front lawn and watch him walk down the street to the school, which has a nice playground. I imagine that around age 8 or so, I will allow him to go there with a group of friends.

I'm not sure. DH says 8 is too old and it would be abuse. Lol. Maybe 6 if she's with other neighborhood kids and only to the playground nearby. To the forest and nearby lake, maybe older. Idk, her school is within that forest and they play outside in it, so I'm she'll be really familiar with it ... but I'd still want to be with her near water. I guess we'll gauge it in a few years.

Completely alone or with a friend but no adult supervision? Eight sounds about right. The child would have to know how to tell time and be trustworthy to stay at the park.

At 9.5 the twins I nannied for were allowed to go to the elementary school at the end of the block with friends- so there was always a group. They only needed to cross one small side street. From my house you have to go a little farther so it might not be until 10.5 or so and always with friends in the beginning. It is probably a bit young for many communities but it is a safe small community, I always know someone at the park and police drive by hourly.

In the city we live in? Never.

I have a 12 year old brother and I don't think he has ever been anywhere alone. He wouldn't be comfortable with it, though. He's that kind of kid. He hates being home alone and rarely is.

I'm not really sure how I feel about this, though. Part of me thinks I would like Liam to ride his bike to school, but part of me is nervous about it. Luckily I have a long time to decide!

I think mayyyybe 8. My DD is 5 and there is no way I would now, and not even when she is 6 or 7. Whenever the age I would feel comfortable sending her to bike to school on her own would be. Probably more like 9 or 10, haha.

I think it would depend on the kid. I remember walking home from school alone at age 4. What the hell were they thinking back then ?! This was on a busy street that busses went down. I remember how scared I was of them.

It would totally depend on the kid and how responsible/comfortable they are with it. Our house backs up to a elementary school with a playground, so I would probably consider them walking to school at some point during kindergarten or 1st grade. Our neighborhood park is about 1/2 mile away, so maybe around 7.

The world is only a different place in that we are surrounded by media and we hear about things more - and you would be judged harshly for "endangering" your child by allowing them to have some independence. The rate of abductions and crimes against children is actually lower now than it was 30 years ago.

Totally depends on the kid. Our 6 year old plays outside in our neighborhood with a few other kids unsupervised. He follows the rules and understands his boundaries. He also checks in (without being asked) quite often and will always come back in if other kids get called in. When he was 18 months I could leave him sitting on the couch while I took a quick shower and he wouldn't move. My 18 mo now, I would never leave like that. He would burn the house down. So he can probably be unsupervised outside when he goes to college.

I think for us it'll depend on LO's personality/behavior. We live really close to the elementary school, which has a nice playground. I couldn't let her walk there alone until I knew for sure that she understood dealing with strangers and I felt like she was quick thinking enough etc. So if she is mature, maybe 10. If she's less mature, maybe not until even older.