I know there's a couple other threads similar to this but this is a different take on the situation and looking for honest input.

My son is 7. We live in a town of about 50,000 people (so not a big city but not a small village). We live in a very residential area. The walk to school takes about 15 minutes. Half of it is purely residential areas. There is one road with a crosswalk (push button to make the traffic stop) and the rest is side roads to the school, where there is a lollipop lady (crossing guard) to get the kids across the road.

My neighbor has three children ages 5, 7, and 9. He has already started letting the 9 year old make his own way to and from school but he and I both share turns walking the other kids (his and my son) to and from school.

Next year he says he plans to let them all walk up and back themselves as the oldest, 9 years old, will be with them. I do not feel comfortable with this and I'm already planning to take up the morning and afternoon walks in order to ensure the safety of my son at least!

Both the neighbor dad and my husband feel it's ok when school starts next year, for the lot of them to walk up and back together, as they are in a group and there is a 9-year old among them. My husband cites examples of himself walking to and from school at age 6 (when he had his siblings with him).

They both think I disagree with it because I come from the states and have lived in a big city where fear, fear, fear is drilled into parents.

I would like some honest feedback from others just to see what the opinions are...would you let your 7 year old walk to and from school if in a group with other kids?

I have a 6 year old and a 8 year old and I wouldn't let them walk up with a group tbh or together even! I just wouldn't trust them! I really don't think my two are responsible enough tbf!
I cant see a 9 year old being able to take on the responsibility of ensuring they all get to school safely if I'm being honest!
I can see why your not comfortable with it!
I would just be forever paranoid they didn't get there or one of them would get run over or something
But hey thats just me
x

I think it is to young. I didnt walk to school without my mum until i was 10 and then i was in secondary school at 11 and my brother took me.

You could let them walk but walk a few minutes behind so they have a bit of independance but you know their safe

Thank you for your input Lillipop and special_kala. I'm really being told that it's all in my head and even being told anyone on here who thinks it's not ok is also in the same mindset as me, driven by fear-based mentality, lol... I really don't think so! I am trusting my gut instincts as a mother and being told it's not that, it's conditioning of fear in society.

Either way I will do the school runs by myself if need be. I hardly feel comfortable with a group of small kids going up to the school. I just don't really don't feel it's appropriate. For traffic reasons, for safety reasons, etc.. sometimes two or more of them can get into an argument with eachother and god knows if one would end pushing at another one on the sidewalk next to the road and push one out by accident into the road, ya know?

Again, I'm being told these what if scenarios are ridiculous and it's just me being an overly protective mom. It really irritates me!

my daughter is 6 but i cannot imagine her walking to school at 7,8,9 or even 10 tbh and its only a 5 min walk through a park, just cannot trust anyone these days, i would be worried sick

I would think of it this way-if one of the children got knocked down by a car (heaven forbid) would the person in charge (in this case the 9YO) be able to sensibly and reliably deal with the situation?
I very much doubt a 9 year old knows first aid, be in control enough not to panic and be able to ring an ambulance/deal with the driver etc.......so my answer would be a definite no.
I also don't believe in letting your children look after your other children, they didn't have them so why should they??? plus such responsibility should be left to an adult.
I would say secondary school age is a good time to let a child start walking to school alone-but not with younger siblings, they still need an adult.

Where I live every kid walks to school unless it lives too far away, then either the parents bring it by car or they get there with a school bus which stops not far from the school.

I wouldnt hun,
They're too young IMO, what if something happened etc etc.

Im dreading it happening, i share waking mine and the neighbours LO's to the school bus stop.
She has a 9 year old girl and a 7 year old, she does mornings and i fetch them back, it wont be long before she decides her are old enough to go up by themselves (its only 5 mins) so i will have to walk mine both ways and i suppose i will be keeping a eye on hers too!

I wouldn't allow it either I'm afraid, so I see where you are coming from.
Especially if there was an accident or a problem could they really expect a 9 year old to deal with the situation? Far to young imo.
x

I have an 8 yr old who has been asking to walk to school on his own for a good year but i wont allow it... he will be moving school in september and will be 2 mins away from the house but i still wont allow it lol... im to much of a worrier.