what age can children be in public alone?

Question

My son is 11 starting highschool in sept. I want to know is he allowed to travel on his own.

Answer 1

It depends on the situation. If there is nothing that you think will harm him and if someone is going to be there to meet him at the other end I say ok unless he is uncomfortable with it. You need to take all the precautions that way he will be safe and you will feel safe as well as he will feel safe. You don't want to take any unreliable chances with your son. He needs to be able to trust that he will be safe and know what to do in case of anything happening. He needs to be prepared to do anything if he feels like he is in danger. And he needs to know that no matter what he does to stay safe that you are on his side and won't be mad at him in any circumstances. also give him a code word so that he knows that he is not to go with anybody unless they know the code word and don't trust just anybody with it just the ones that you can absolutely trust and let him know that.

Answer 2

i think it depends on where you live, you'll know your area and the route he has to take to get to school. Once he is there he'll make friends and have others to travel/walk with. Its ok for kids of 11 to be out on there own as long as they are aware of the dangers, are sensible, maybe have a mobile so they can call if there is a problem and to begin with perhaps only in daylight. He's going to need to develop so allowing him some small freedoms is a good idea.
How does he feel about it?

Answer 3

This is the time you have to let them grow up a bit. I had my own house key aged 9, as my mum went back to work and some dinner times I made the short trip home, but come 11 I had to travel half way across Liverpool to get to my Grammar school, and there was no way my parents were going to drop me off and pick me up, so at 11 I got my bus pass and was away. If you wrap them up in cotton wool at that age their development will really start to suffer.

Answer 4

He is only allowed if you let him. I don't think it's a good idea for anyone at all to travel alone, it doesn't matter how old you are. People of all ages get abducted. I mostly hear of innocent kids on their way to or from school or bus stops being abducted. It's sad, but It's reality. I don't go anywhere alone and I'm grown with kids of my own.

Answer 5

Starting high-school? Don't you mean middle school or Jr. high?
At any rate... you can make special arrangements with airlines/bus lines/train lines; they make special provisions for "unaccompanied minors".
For the record, I have an 11 year-old son and I would not let him travel alone. There are just to many pervs and weirdos out there!

Answer 6

I've just now let my 12-year-old begin to have a little bit of freedom, not alone, but with friends. He's allowed to walk the 1.5 miles from school to home, and occasionally to McDonalds with friends. He has to check in when he arrives anywhere. And this applies only to boys.

Daughters must be 14 at least, and only in groups, NEVER alone.

Answer 7

no i think he is just a little bit to young but at the age of 13 he will be a teenager and i think that is old enough to be in public alone;

Answer 8

At 11 my child will not be out in public alone but that is just me.

Answer 9

He is starting high school at 11? he must be smart. But he must be twelve I believe to be on his own in public. That is without adult supervision..

Answer 10

well, these kids in junior school (ok this is an english school in holland, so yea)...i see htem every morning waiting by the bus stop for a bus or school bus...alone...so i think your son can be alone...though i think i do remember seeing some kids about your sons age travelling to and fro school without his/her parents daily when i was in england...