[CupcakeSweety]

I know people are going to tell me to stop being a precious wrapping child in bubble-wrap parent or pay-up but I will ask anyway.
My 7 year old DD is about to start year 3 and is no longer eligible for free school transport. We only just miss out on being far enough away from school to qualify.
She now has to walk up to 2.3km to school or pay to go on the bus.
Do you think this is a reasonable distance for a child this age to be expected to walk alone?
I am not at all against children walking to school but this seems like a long way.

[twinboys]

Why not do some test walks with a backpack/school bag on her and see how long it takes and what roads have to be crossed and how/where they should be crossed?

Maybe she can walk to school and bus it home?

[*bibs*]

Way, way too far to walk at this age.....never.

This post has been edited by *bibs*: 07/01/2013, 12:40 PM

[BadCat]

I wouldn't let a 7yo walk that far alone. I know people who would be fine with it though.

[Beancat]

Can she ride a bike to school? I used to ride about that far from grade 3. i guess it depends what the roads are like where you live. Also, it might be a bit far to walk/ride in summer and the middle of winter. Can you not drive her?

[mum850]

I would try the walk to school and bus it home option to start with anyway.

[fillesetjumeaux]

My DD2 is about to go into year 3, and while she qualifies for free travel (school is exactly 3km away), she will be walking some mornings. The route is reasonably suburban, only two main roads to cross, and they're only a lane each way with a crossing (one manned, one not).

DD1 (just finished year 4) and her friend started walking it in 2012, and they do it in half an hour. We recently walked 2/3 of the route and back home again (so 4km instead of 3km) and DD2 did it without a problem.

Of course, she will be walking it with at least 2 other (older) girls, if not up to 9 or 10 children altogether. I would not be happy for her to do it alone at this point.

[TillyTake2]

How far can you be away from school before you aren't eligible (in nsw?) How much does the bus cost?

[Autumnal]

Never! Their are way too many crazies out there.

[Malaya]

Can you drop her to school instead? Ride bikes?

Eta - I think it's too far to walk on her own. With you carrying a back pack, maybe ok, bus it in the rain and extreme heat.


This post has been edited by Malaya: 07/01/2013, 11:52 AM