Police Called on 10-Year-Old Riding Train Alone

re: Police Called on 10-Year-Old Riding Train Alone

Emma — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 02:13:08 GMT

I definitely think the conductor was very out of line in this story.

I walked home from school at age 7, and even survived taking a wrong turn the first time. Took the bus around Brooklyn by age 9, and the subway around all of NYC (at all hours) by age 14. I also flew alone NYC to FL at age 9.

My parents were more permissive than most of my friends' parents, so that was a little more freedom than average I think (though in reality, by the time we were teenagers we were all doing the same things, it's just that mine were the rare parents who were told honestly where we were).

I look forward to teaching my son to walk alone around the neighborhood, and beyond. I really hope that no authority figures interfere with tat process like this.

re: Police Called on 10-Year-Old Riding Train Alone

Brett Singer — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:10:00 GMT

I took a plane from Florida to New York when I was under 10 years old. I was fine. That said, the idea of my kids doing that seems bizarre.

re: Police Called on 10-Year-Old Riding Train Alone

Laura — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:23:29 GMT

I appreciate posts like this. My sons are only 2.5 and 1 y/o, but I want to be in the mindset of letting my kids do things on their own before they are old enough and I'm way too scared. I tend on the side of being lax with rules (not right now! for the future!), while my husband is much more nervous in general. I really appreciate learning what others are doing and their general guidelines so that I know that I'm not the only one, and so my husband does too!

re: Police Called on 10-Year-Old Riding Train Alone

Lenore Skenazy — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:11:37 GMT

I love the analogy of panhandling outside a strip club. (Or worse: Inside!) Thanks for getting the word out. Yours in Free Range Kids! -- Lenore, mom of the intrepid Izzy

re: Police Called on 10-Year-Old Riding Train Alone

Larissa — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:11:22 GMT

My daughter brought home one of those "Magic Treehouse" books from the school library last month about pilgrims & Thankgsiving. We were all surprised to read about the pilgrim kids who were Jack & Annie's ages (9 and 8, I believe) who were responsible for hunting & helping to sustain their communities. Now when they start whining about not being able to do something I ask them to do I just remind them about the Pilgirm Kids and they hop to it. I'm trying to use that frame of reference to remind myself that my kids are capable of more than society (& I) give them credit for. They are enjoying the greater sense of capability and I'm enjoying the help around the house! My 7 yo daughter is looking forward to when she is old enough to take the bus to the grocery store on her own.

re: Police Called on 10-Year-Old Riding Train Alone

Jenni — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:33:40 GMT

Oh, it's such a conundrum. Several weeks ago, I gave my 6 year old boy an envelope to deliver to a neighbor's house on the next block. He got safely to her house via our alley, and returned safely home. When it seemed to be taking longer than necessary, I did get a wee bit nervous, but it turned out he was asking another neighbor a question. No harm done. And he was so proud of his errand! I know it's my job and my responsibility to give him increasing bits of freedom, to cut my apron strings little by little. I want him to grow up confident in his own abilities. I grew up in Cincinnati and took the bus all over that city from the time I was in the fourth grade. But when will I be ready to let my son walk to the park alone? I'm not sure.

re: Police Called on 10-Year-Old Riding Train Alone

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:20:12 GMT

If they aren't. 10 is way beyond the age of being able to do this.