s/o kids crossing streets - NYC?

[nsuhomer]

We are considering moving back to NYC in the next two years. DH and I have been discussing logistics (it was challenging as hell when my oldest two were 4 & 2 & I was pregnant). What age would you allow your child(ren) to take the subway alone in NYC? Walk __ distance? Run to the corner store to pick up some toilet paper? How about with a friend/sibling?

I used to see a lot of elementary aged kids doing these things, but they were generally in pairs or groups. I can't really pinpoint an age range I saw a lot of kids solo.

We currently live in a very safe, very helicopter parented suburb in OC. The front of our houses face each other on a communal grassy space, and we get side-eyed like mad for letting our kids play out there without constant supervision.

[meltoine]

MH grew up in NYC. He remembers very clearly the first time he was sent to the bodega across the street to get his dad's Sunday paper - he was 7.

He started taking the subway alone when he started middle school (11), and only that late because his dad's office was nearby his school until that year so they commuted together.

And this was in the late 80s/early90s when midtown was considerably less safe than it is now.

We are planning to move back after he retires from the AF, but our kids will all be middle/high school by then. They will definitely be doing all the things you mentioned at that point.

[erbear]

We live in a city (Philadelphia) and I think we'll let our kids out in the neighborhood around 8-9. They have been walking city streets their whole lives and we make a big deal out of crossing with the light, looking both ways, only crossing in cross walks, pointing out cops on the street, etc.

[laurenpetro]

My BIL took the bus to school by himself as a kindergartener. Yowzers!

If your kids haven't been raised there then I'd say 12. If they were, then maybe as young as 10.

[laurenpetro]

Ps: do you mean OC as in Cali or NY?

[MixedBerryJam]

Not NY, but Boston. My son took the subway to school starting at 11 (7th grade). The ride was long, but did not involve connections, and the far end was right across the street from his school. Within 2 weeks he was figuring out alternative routes home, riding buses, figuring out trolley connections, etc. It freaked me out, no lie, but at 18 he now knows the city probably better than a lot of life long driving residents.

[nsuhomer]

Jul 19, 2015 13:42:50 GMT -5 laurenpetro said:

Ps: do you mean OC as in Cali or NY?

Cali.

[nsuhomer]

Ok. Our age range is pretty on target then. We were thinking around 10-12. I used to see pairs of little girls (8-9 ish) taking the subway to/from ballet class. That seemed a little young to me.

[hocus2]

I think kids start using mass transit in 6th grade because there aren't usually no school buses.

[laurenpetro]

Jul 19, 2015 22:33:13 GMT -5 nsuhomer said:

Jul 19, 2015 13:42:50 GMT -5 laurenpetro said:

Ps: do you mean OC as in Cali or NY?

Cali.

dang.  i was hoping for a neighbor

[nsuhomer]

Jul 20, 2015 8:32:52 GMT -5 laurenpetro said:

Jul 19, 2015 22:33:13 GMT -5 nsuhomer said:

Cali.

dang.  i was hoping for a neighbor

I wish! I could use a good neighbor!