At What Age Should Kids Ride the Subway Alone?

[gonzo8402]

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Talk of the Nation, April 9, 2008 ·



Several weeks ago, New York Sun columnist Lenore Skenazy left her 9-year-old son at a Manhattan Bloomingdale's armed with a subway map, a metro card and $20. When she wrote about her son's successful journey home on her blog Free Range Kids, she received a barrage of responses accusing her of being a bad parent.

Despite the criticism, Skenazy stands by her decision. She writes, "The problem with this everything-is-dangerous outlook is that over-protectiveness is a danger in and of itself. A child who thinks he can't do anything on his own eventually can't."




How old were y'all when your parents let y'all go off alone to school or wherever on public transportation?

I remember my first time walking home alone was in 5th grade...Ol' boy forgot to pick me up...that sh*t felt like a 10 mile walk

 

[Duece]

Like 2nd grade, all I needed to do was catch the Galvez bus on St. Roch and get off on Desire and those from New Orleans know that, thats not a very long ride.

 

[YouLikeMyStyle]

When I saw this on the Today show I was unimpressed because there are kids the boy's age and younger who travel by themselves everyday to school and wherever they wish to go because their parents are at work.

 

[Harlem's Angel]

I was travelling between Harlem and the Bronx since I was 8 years old. Never had a problem except when my watch was stolen while I was asleep. I dont see the big deal. But I do know some teenagers that don't know their way around the city on public transportation.

 

[femmenoire]

I was travelling to my high school in the NYC at 15 and my parents weren't happy about that.

My parents are Haitian and they were very guarded and now that I'm older I think it was with good reason.

I don't think you should send your 8 year old kid to the liquor store to get a lottery ticket at 10pm at night but to go to school, sure.

If you can walk them to the bus stop or even better drop them off, then KUDOS. I hope when I have kids that is an option.

But most people have to do what they can do and pray their child comes home every day.

 

[Machete]

First time I took the train alone, I was 10. Had to travel to get to school.

First time I went to the store alone, i was 3. Different time tho.

Wouldn't let my 3 yr old go to the store.

 

[followup]

I started riding the BART & bus by myself around age 8 when I needed to go to places. It was pretty scary for me, but I didn't have a choice. I thought it was bad back then, but if I raise kids where I was raised, they are not riding any public transportation alone. Kids have no home training nowadays and I'm scared for my *future* babies