Bus stop - how old to wait by themselves?

I'm not saying i will leave for work while they wait.. but, how old is good enough?

Is this something that depends on maturity of your specific child?

Re: Bus stop - how old to wait by themselves?

My kids are 8 and 9. They walk to the bus stop alone ( it's directly across the street from my house) but I watch them through the window.

Bus stop - how old to wait by themselves?

My son walks 2 blocks he is 11 & in 5 th grade.last yr it was 1 block & i watched from window or end of driveway.

Re: Bus stop - how old to wait by themselves?

DS is finishing up 3rd grade, he waits at the bus stop with his friends. But, it's on our property & I watch him from the window

Bus stop - how old to wait by themselves?

Most days our boys go out by themselves 7 and 9, but its on our property just the corner of the block. They know never to cross the street even if the bus is on the other side and to just come back home (some days she tries to get them on the way back and it means crossing a busy street) Other days I stand on porch or my DH will stand with them if he's still home

Re: Bus stop - how old to wait by themselves?

Mine is at the end of the block, up the road. if i stood on my sidewalk, i could see them. i started them off this year (7&8) starting to walk by themselves, then i would drive and meet them, then leave from there to go to work.

I think because i have two, not just one, that makes me feel okay with it... another kid there is in fifth grade and her mother walks her down (this kid is as tall as me!) which seems weird. At a recent Girl scouts event I told this to another mom and she said "that's crazy! there's something wrong there!"

I don't know.. i didn't want to be considered the careless mom by allowing them to go alone next year... 4th and 3rd...

THANKS!

Re: Bus stop - how old to wait by themselves?

I can't see the bus stop from my house, so probably not for awhile (he is just finishing K)

Re: Bus stop - how old to wait by themselves?

Middle school for us.

But it's also across from another middle schooler's house & that mom keeps an eye out for me.

Re: Bus stop - how old to wait by themselves?

Mine oldest is only going into 1st so this may change but for now I have to say never. Ever since I read the Jaycee Duggard story. Previously, I used to think parents were nuts to stay at the bus stop with 10 year olds.

Re: Bus stop - how old to wait by themselves?

I think NYS might require in K. For our district, they require up to 2nd grade (last grade in primary).

DS is going into 3rd. DH will probably go with him for a while. He's pretty protective though...so I'm not sure when he will stop going with him. Probably as long as DS doesn't mind.

Re: Bus stop - how old to wait by themselves?

I think it depends on the kid. SD is 10 and there is no way I would let her wait at a bus stop alone, as she is not very trustworthy in terms of doing what she's told and stranger danger. If she were more reliable I'd probaby let her wait alone.