How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

no adults?

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

Please only vote if you have an older child (k and up) thanks....our plans always change as they get older.

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

My DS is only 6.5, but I'm "thinking" maybe 10 at the very youngest...

If I lived in a neighborood that the streets were more child friendly, maybe my answer would be different. I live off a main road sort of and we get some pretty crazy drivers in our neighborhood on the side roads (which are not very wide and there are also no sidewalks)

It will also depend on his maturity level.

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

I am not in a house, but even if I was my answer is NEVER!


We live in Queens and my son is currently almost 7. But I guess we will see...

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

My son is 8 and his BFF lives around the block. I don't allow him to walk or ride there alone now and I am not even close to being omfortable with it. I'm thinking maybe around 12 years old...

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

My DS is 4. My next door neighbor and the kids up the block are 9. They play ball with DS. I am outside with him (and DD) but their parents are not.

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

it depends on the kid.

My son was allowed to go to a specific destination & back at 9. With a device that text messages. Riding around with friends started at 10 (with a friend with a cell phone) & still we know where they are. Riding around with no plan, I'm not sure when that will happen.

My daughter is 8 & I don't think I'd be comfortable with it at 9.

Message edited 3/24/2012 5:17:58 AM.

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

I'm the worst. My kid is going to be 11 in May and I still don't allow this. I live on a dead end block and he's only allowed to ride to the end of the block and back.. and I have to be there. I figure that this summer I might start allowing him to WALK around the block unsupervised... and we'll see where we go from there.

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

DS is 8, I have allowed him to go around the block with a group of 8 -9 yo friends to another friends house. He is not allowed to do this on his own or to just ride freely around the block on his own.
It will be a few years before Im comfortable with letting ride around the neighborhood freely.

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

I remember doing this at a very young age as a child, probably 6. Things are different now. I would say it depends on the child. My 5.5 year old will probably be 10 or 11 before I even consider it.

I still see really young kids in the street alone. I guess it depends on the parents as well.

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

DD is only almost 6 so its hard for me to say but I cant see myself allowing this until atleast 10..probably older. My parents were very over protective and I wasnt allowed until around 10..and that was back then when things were a lot safer than they are today. I didnt put in a vote because I honestly dont know...Im thinking 12.

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

DS is almost 7 and I'm thinking 9-10. Our neighbor across the street is around that age and he does it. He also comes to the busstop to get his sisters off the bus, so he's either really mature or that's an age kids are ready?

We live in a kid-friendly neighborhood without many cars, but no sidewalks...If we had sidewalks, I would probably allow earlier.

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

Never! I am a freak!!! I don't even want to think about it.

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

My eldest is 9 and I haven't yet. But in my defense in the last couple motnhs there has been a loose pitbull, warnings of some dude in a white van chatting up young girls, and a car crashing into an elementary school in our district. So yeah I'm kind of wary

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

I just started letting my kids do that "together" last year. They were 11, 10 and 8 at the time. I still won't let any of them do it alone -- only with a "buddy". My eldest son also has a cell phone on him.

I've seen some of my 12 year-old's friends riding on main roads (Rt 112). I think it's nuts...not happening for him.

Message edited 3/24/2012 10:02:54 PM.

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

Posted by Kidsaplenty

My eldest is 9 and I haven't yet. But in my defense in the last couple motnhs there has been a loose pitbull, warnings of some dude in a white van chatting up young girls, and a car crashing into an elementary school in our district. So yeah I'm kind of wary

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

I think I allowed my dd about 11. Since she was going to have to walk to middle school anyway, it made no sense for her not to be allowed to go around the block on her bike when she was allowed to walk to school everyday.

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

I'm clearly in the minority here....my 7 year old (will be 8 in October) is allowed to go back and forth to a few neighborhood friends houses that are within 10 houses or so of where we live. We are in a subdivision with sidewalks and a lot of kids.

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

Posted by twicethefun

Posted by Kidsaplenty

My eldest is 9 and I haven't yet. But in my defense in the last couple motnhs there has been a loose pitbull, warnings of some dude in a white van chatting up young girls, and a car crashing into an elementary school in our district. So yeah I'm kind of wary

Umm, yeah...we are in the same district. I ask because my son is begging and his friends are doing it but I think not.

Re: How old before dc ride around the block with a friend

Emily is in 1st grade, 6.5 years old, and in no way can I imagine it happening any time soon. We do live on a busy road. If we lived on a slower traffic road I'd probably let her run across yards to a friend's house with me watching out the front door, but that's about it...only somewhere that I could see. She has friends who live close and I can't imagine her riding or walking to their house until she is at least 12-13...and even at that I'd probably be tempted to follow her on my bike!!