The world isn’t safe anymore, and that’s a fact of life.
Now, walking to school is something many parents would like their children to do. It increases their physical activity, familiarizes them with their neighborhoods, and even helps to build social bonds and confidence. These parents, however, expect their children to be in the company of many children or possibly an adult.
What they don’t realize is that most children who walk to school are alone or with a sibling. And the reason they’re walking is that their parents can’t be there to take them or accompany them.
Many districts have a “walking school bus” program where children meet up and walk together in groups with the supervision of one or more adults. With this program, it shouldn’t matter how far away you live because this “bus” can easily find a path to walk by the house.
So, there are solutions for parents who have children walking alone. Unfortunately, they’re not easily achieved and school systems are complicated.
However, parents with transportation issues aren’t alone. Why not make arrangements with neighbors and/or other parents? Find ways to take turns to walk the children to and from school. Or get together to find one adult/babysitter everyone trusts, and have them take or walk with the children?
There are always ways.
I’m not saying walking to school is a bad thing, because it’s not. I walked to school myself, but I was older and I had several friends with me. It’s not even an issue of maturity, because most children are surprisingly perceptive of danger. It’s an issue of strength and safety. Young children walking to school alone have neither of those things.
Article comments
1 - Dr. Juliann Mitchell, PhD
Kelsey,
You are correct the world can be a "dangerous place" for young children walking to school. I have listed a link for anyone who wants to find out if a convicted criminal lives in their neighboorhood--
http://criminalsearches.com/neighborhood/default.aspx.
Sex offenders can physically overpower a child but sometimes they will engage him or her in conversation with a promise of a favorite treat or an opportunity to look at a puppy or kitten or a new video game or just ask them about their day at school. Child are vulnerable and its feels good to have someone takes an interst in them. Its all part of the grooming process the predator uses to help the child begin to trust them and feel safe with them.
When parents warn children about strangers sometimes they forget that the child takes them literally at what they say, "Stay away from strangers." Pedophiles are usually skilled in knowing what to say to a child that is non-threatening and they know how to become the childs friend and then in the childs mind they are no longer a stranger but a new friend. Sexual predators are excellent at manipulating young minds. It is our job to keep our children safe. Thanks for the gentle reminder.
Juliann
2 - Joanne Huspek
I don't know of any children who walk to school, small or large. While it's true there is stranger danger, the bigger concern I have is that our kids don't have the luxury of walking to something as innocent as school. On one side, our kids are safe, but on the other, they are pampered and lazy.
3 - Brian Murff
@Joanne:
Hypothetically speaking (as I don't have kids), I'd rather them be lazy and still alive than independent and kidnapped/dead/scared/hurt/etc. Walking to school is all well and good, but Kelsey and I both live in Norman, OK. Kids "don't have the luxury of walking to something as innocent as school" because this is Oklahoma, which has issues with poverty, pedophiles and meth heads (the first and last have strong correlation). I wouldn't let a child walk to school by themselves until they're at least eleven or twelve.
4 - CallmeMaddy
I totally agree. When I was a kid, I refused to walk home from school. :) I was lazy. I was in daycare/CEC until seventh grade. That's where I would put my children.
And I purposely don't drive near the elementary schools when I'm driving home. Those little kids love to jump in front of cars and I'm afraid I won't see them.
Nice article!
Maddy
5 - Sofie
wow! This can help my friend with his persuasive purposal essay! i luv it it's so interesting and it definatly engages me as a reader!