What Is the Legal Age for a Child to Walk to School Alone

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), 10 is the recommended age for children who go to school alone. This puts a child in fourth or fifth grade. All youth and children could take the risk of encountering potential hazards such as distracted drivers or adult predators. Height – sidewalks higher than the road eliminate the risk of cars hitting pedestrians. That`s why the amendment that says parents can let their children go to school (unless local laws to the contrary) is so important. As Senator Lee wrote to me in an email: „America faces great challenges today. Children who go to school with their parents` permission are not included. Her 8-year-old son Lucan got dressed, missed the bus and decided to go to school alone. It is two miles away. It was almost halfway when a local business owner spotted this strange sight, a child actually using his legs (only about 13% of American children go to school today) and called the police.

They rushed in, drove the boys to school and turned back. Now that you know the law, you may still be wondering if your child is ready to go to school unaccompanied by an adult. Street Distance – A good rule of thumb for sidewalk safety is to keep at least 5-10 feet between a sidewalk and the street. This gives hikers space away from passing cars. Parents can start practicing child safety rules and pedestrian safety rules to prepare their elementary school students to be more independent and go to school alone. Teach your child: Basch CH, Ethan D, Rajan S, Basch CE. Technology-induced distracted walking behavior at Manhattan`s most dangerous intersections. Previous inj. 2014;20(5):343-6.

doi:10.1136/injuryprev-2013-041063 Sometimes it is still not enough to follow the above guidelines to avoid dangers. If your child was injured on their way to school, your family may be eligible for compensation. At Frohlich, Gordon & Beason, P.A., our team of lawyers has experience representing a variety of pedestrian accidents. We strive to give our customers maximum compensation for their unpleasant circumstances. When is it acceptable for your child to go to school alone? The specific details of your own situation should feed into your response. Only parents can really know what their child can handle. If you have a 10-year-old who pays attention to their surroundings, they may be willing to go to school alone. But if your child is easily distracted and probably doesn`t always think about looking before crossing a street, then you might want to wait. As with other safety and health issues, trust your instincts; You know your child better than anyone. Many of you will remember the story of Danielle and Alexander Meitiv, the couple from Silver Spring, Maryland, who were examined not once, but twice, for letting their children go home from the playground at ages 10 and 6.

The Individual Student Success Act leaves it up to parents to decide whether to go to school on their own. Most people would agree that parents know their children better and have the right to set their own family rules. But what about parents who would be irresponsible and potentially endanger the safety of their children? Child safety experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) say children ages 9 to 11 — between fourth and sixth grades — can safely attend school as long as they are able to exercise good judgment. In the summer, Nicole Jensen of Westbrook, Maine, allowed her 7-year-old daughter to play in the park within sight of the family home. Someone spotted the child alone and called 911. The police rushed in, picked up the girl and took her to the compound because, as the local WMTW TV reporter reported on this story, „mom wasn`t watching.“ The trip your child has to make to school can also play a role in deciding when to be safe. A road that does not have busy road intersections may be safer at a younger age, while those that have busy intersections require more maturity. In the case of the Every Student Succeeds Act, state and local communities have the ability to write their own laws that prevent children from walking alone.

Local communities are expected to be aware of the specificities of the safety factors associated with unsupervised children. In general, areas with higher crime rates have their own specific restrictions, while quieter neighborhoods are subject to federal law. In the house, they beat the handcuffed mother. They then took her to the compound, took a photo ID and released her on $2,500 bail. The indictment? Risk of injury to a minor. One of the policemen, Hasankolli recalls, told him, „It`s abhorrent that you`re sleeping when your child needs you to get ready for school.“ Under federal law, parents have the right to allow their children to cycle alone, walk or take the bus to school. Section 858 of the School Success Act protects the right of children to go out alone. Gunter KB, Almstedt HC, Janz KF. Physical activity in childhood may be key to optimizing skeletal health. 2012;40(1):13-21. doi:10.1097/JES.0b013e318236e5ee When is it acceptable for your child to go to school alone? The specific details of your own situation should feed into your response. You should base this decision on your child`s maturity, the safety of your neighborhood, and other related information.

However, the law has the final say, so it is important to know what the legal rules are. Another thing to consider is the number of major roads that a long distance could cover. If you are concerned that your child is crossing a busy road, it might be helpful to guide them on that particular road. From there, you can send them to school the rest of the way on their own. This eliminates all the dangers of the road, but still gives them the independence to go to school. It should be noted that according to Ohio law, a child can go to school alone at any age. However, as a parent, sending your child to school too early could have a big impact. Your child could be injured by a negligent driver or get lost on the way home. Therefore, it is important to consider these three factors: Does your child have a friend from the neighborhood to walk with? Going to school with a buddy can make your child`s outing much safer. If you are still worried about the presence of a parent, you can take turns with the neighbor`s parent to accompany the children.

This way, neither you nor the other child`s parents have to go for a walk every day. Ruiz-goikoetxea M, Cortese S, Aznarez-sanado M, et al. Risk of unintentional injury in children and adolescents with ADHD and the effects of ADHD drugs: Protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ open. 2017;7(9):e018027. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018027 Schwebel DC, Mcclure LA.