How Old to Walk Home from Bus?

I usually drop my son at school in the morning, but we, too can see the stop from our porch (about 5 houses down) and he now prefers that we wait on the porch. He's in 2nd grade.

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never. do you remember that little girl that recently was found after 21 years? she was kidnapped two houses down at the bus stop while her step dad was working in the garage. The car pulled up, grabbed her and the dad took off on the first thing he found, a bike. 21 years later she was found in a tent in the crazy kidnappers back yard with two of HIS kids that she had at a young age like 14 or 15. sorry, I am over protective but these days you have to be. Unless you walk him/her TO the bus stop and FROM the bus stop everyday, there is no way.

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Years ago my elementary school was across the street from my house. My mother would wait on our front porch until my sister and I arrived on the playground in the morning and after school, she was there waiting for us to return. We could always see her from the playground. Of course, this was years ago. We live in a different world today. Many mothers would say if you are comfortable with it then go with your comfort level. Others say it depends on the maturity of the child. I say, even adults get kidnapped so I am not a supporter of letting a young child walk alone to or from anywhere without an adult near by. The bus stop from my house is a 5 minute walking distance. My children are young and although they do not regularly use the bus, on the days they do, I am at the bus stop in my car waiting for them. I'm sorry, but children are naive, sometimes too trusting, and they do NOT have the skills necessary to get them out of a scary situation such as a stranger approaching them or worse, grabbing them and throwing them into a car. In my house, my kiddos yell and scream and throw temper tantrums but I know in my heart that if faced with a situation where a stranger is trying to take them, I know they would not yell and scream nearly as loud as they do at home. Don't trust that your child would know what to do in an extreme emergency. Treat them like children because that is what they are. Use this time to teach them and instruct them of the dangers in the world and hope that they are listening so that IF something were to ever happen during their lifetime, they might recall what you said and use it to get them out of danger.

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This will depend a lot on how well the child understands and follows safety guidelines. My grandson, now 5, is allowed to take mail to the public drop box, which is about 6 houses down and across a residential street. He's thrilled with the responsibility, and has proven over and over that he knows how to look both ways when crossing streets.

I'm not one who believes there's a pervert in every car that drives by, so I'm perhaps more relaxed about this than many parents. Numerically, yes, there are more miscreants now because there's a bigger population. But the percentage of helpful, caring, law abiding people and the percentage of child molester is about the same as ever. I want my grandson to be able to move around in the world without crippling fear, which will diminish the quality of his life far more than an unlikely event.

I walked several blocks to school by myself when I was in first grade – it was no big deal. I'm guessing the first grade is probably old enough for just about any child to walk partway down a block.

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If your child wants to do it - let them.
Watch from the door, porch or window.
LBC

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I agree, 1st or 2nd grade is old enough, as long as they are comfortable, and you can still see them from a window or porch or something. My little sister started at 2nd grade, and I would just sit on the porch and look out for her bus when she got home from school.

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5 doors down i would just watch out the window or door and let them do it about 2nd grade

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My son just turned 8 & if we lived that close, I'd let him do it. I have already started talking to him about the SLIM possibility that he might have to walk home & he doesn't seem to mind. I don't want him doing it all the way yet, but it's a couple of blocks distance & I can't see him at all.

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Last year in kindergarten, my son wasn't allowed off the bus unless a parent (or adult associated with my son that the driver recognized) was at the stop. This year, he's at a different stop, 4 houses down and across the street from us. I went with him am/pm until about Christmas. Now, I watch from the porch. We can see the bus as it goes down the next street (before his stop), so he doesn't leave our house until about 2 minutes before the bus arrives - usually getting there at the same time. Then, he has to wait for the bus driver's signal to cross the street. Same routine in the afternoon.

Next year when my youngest will be in kindergarten, I'll be back at the bus stop as required. But, I'd probably be there anyway since I don't know that I'd trust them together (though in reality, they're very responsible kids - but still 5 & 7).

I, too, think you have to go with your gut feeling and your child's maturity... and you know your neighborhood. However, I think our district goes a bit overboard with the stops... If there are multiple children on the same street, the bus will stop at *every* corner and let 1-2 kids off - even high schoolers. I understand be extra-cautious with the little ones, but it seems a little much to be behind a bus that will stop at 8 corners in a row only to let 1 HSer off each time. Just my opinion.

We live 2 houses away from the bus stop and in kindergarden a parent has to be at the bus stop or the driver will take the child back to school. In first grade much to my sons objections I stood with him every morning and waited for him every afternoon in 2nd grade I did the same thing until I had my baby at the end of March. I would sit on the window seat with the window open and watch him in the mornings and then stand at the front door when I heard the bus pull up. I probably would have walked him to the stop but I didn't want to take the baby out and I couldn't leave him in the house alone with my 4 yo. This year my kids don't get the bus so I drive them. But to answer your question I would say it depends on your child and how he/she behaves and how many other kids are at the stop and how they act. My son was the only one at ours. Letting go is so hard I hate it