At what age can your child walk alone in the street? From the first step to full independence, Famisy takes stock.
Table of contents
- At five years old, you let go of mum’s or dad’s hand
- At 7 or 8 years old, you go to school like an adult
- Prepare him well
- At ten years old, parents are no longer needed!
At five years old, you let go of mum’s or dad’s hand
As of first grade, your toddler no longer needs you to read a story, tie his shoes, and soon, to get around! In this area, he has relative autonomy, in other words, he manages on his own, but the adult still has to accompany him.
Most children begin to analyze danger and control their behavior around age five. If you feel he’s ready, let him off the hook on routes he already knows. But above all, keep him in your sights! Pitchoun can walk in front of you or beside you, but never behind your back.
It is also time to teach him to:
- cross a road when there is no pedestrian crossing or little green and red men: look first to the left and then to the right, don’t run on the road or go backward, assess the speed at which cars are coming.
- pass a garage exit or rubbish bins abandoned on the pavement.
At 7 or 8 years old, you go to school like an adult
According to a recent survey by the French road safety association, parents are increasingly worried about letting their children go to school alone. Today, a French child makes his or her first trip to school unaccompanied by an adult, at the age of 10 on average!
However, the specialist Paul Barré specifies that “at the age of 7 or 8, a child can travel alone very well, provided that he has already made the journey several times with his parents to know all the dangers”. Ask your child to guide you to school at least once to make sure he or she can handle it like a grown-up!
Two is better. Your toddler probably has a classmate who lives next door to you. Why don’t they meet on the corner in the morning and go to school together?
Prepare him well
Ensuring maximum safety for your child starts… with the choice of clothes! It is best to dress your child in bright colors so that they can be easily spotted by motorists. Another possibility (for really anxious parents): phosphorescent strips to stick on the schoolbag or sneakers that flash.
There are some rules that your child must learn at all costs, such as not running, even if they are late, or not talking to strangers. Don’t be afraid to seem pushy by reminding your little schoolboy to be careful on the road every morning!
To consult with your family: educational games for children and tips for their parents!
At ten years old, parents are no longer needed!
Some parents accompany their children to school throughout primary school. When they reach the sixth grade, they are faced with an unfamiliar environment, often further from home, and have to take a new route. It is no coincidence that there is a peak in accidents among young pedestrians when they start secondary school. By trying too hard to protect your child, you are preventing him from becoming independent. Don’t let him think that the street is the place of all dangers, but a place to learn about social life. And as the specialist says so well, we all have memories of our school trips. The secrets we tell each other with friends, the snacks we share, etc. Children should not be deprived of these things.
The beginning of pre-adolescence is synonymous with the desire for freedom. Children don’t appreciate being accompanied everywhere by mom or dad. Your toddler is old enough to venture out on his own on unfamiliar routes or to go cycling with his friends. There is only one rule: know where he is going, who he is with, and set a time to come home. This will save you a lot of anguish!
Followed closely. That’s it; it’s coming to France! A company has just put on the market a GPS box to slip in the bottom of the schoolbag. A simple phone call allows you to locate your child at any time. The object also keeps track of all the movements made by the child.
Conclusion
Only parents can truly understand what their children are capable of. You may want to wait if your kid is easily distracted and isn’t likely to remember to look before crossing a roadway. Trust your intuition when it comes to other safety and health problems; you know your kid better than anyone else.