There comes a point in every child's life when he or she wants to roam the city alone, but what age is it safe to let your little one be independent? While we can't say anything for certain, since every child is different, here are some helpful suggestions from the experts/local law information to help you determine what's right for your family.
The first step? School.
A lot of children want to travel to and from middle school sans adult (evidently, it’s embarrassing for tweens to be seen walking up to the building with mom or dad). But according to a study from the American Academy of Pediatrics, children at this age just might be up for the challenge. The findings reveal that those around 10 years old are "significantly" better at detecting dangerous situations and taking in their surroundings. Additionally, a federal law passed in 2015 that makes it legal for children to walk to school by themselves, provided they have their parents' permission.
Getting to school alone is just the beginning.
Some kids are also ready to test their independence by walking solo to nearby destinations. If your children are particularly aware of their surroundings and want to walk to their buddy’s apartment one block over or grab a treat at the corner drug store, they could be ready for this responsibility if you feel safe about the environment. A good gauge to see if your children are up for the challenge is The Test of Twelve, a series of questions parents can ask themselves to see if their children are ready to be left home alone (which can also apply to traveling alone). Some parents turn to free-range parenting philosophies to see how they should get started with their children's newfound freedom.
Test your kids' readiness with a checklist.
Can you test drive the walk to school by sending along an older sibling or a friend? How do you feel about giving your child a cell phone for emergencies? Perhaps you can start testing the waters with a location that only involves one-road traffic. Baby steps introduce kids to the responsibility without leaving them completely overwhelmed or far from help.
If you fear that your children might not be ready for the challenge, or if you worry about particular safety issues, you should feel comfortable holding them back.
However, since your babies are going to have to leave the nest eventually, it behooves you to consistently work toward independence as your kids enters their tween and early teen years. This means asking your kiddos to be the navigator when you’re out walking together, talking about pedestrian safety and having serious discussions about adult predators and school-age bullies. If you have preferred streets to walk down, explain why they shouldn't diverge from the beaten path. If you worry about losing track of your kids but you don’t want to give them free range on a smartphone, consider a cheap, emergencies-only flip phone.
Whether you're walking the city streets with your whole family or meeting your kids at a particular destination, check out the epic 21 things you can't miss in 2018 or head to a free museum day in New York City. There's at least 101 things to do with kids in New York before your youngsters grow up, so get started!
