Conference moira::parenting_v3

    My son is 8 and I cant imagine him walking either.  He takes the bus to
    and fro.  I work mostly at home now, so I am here when he gets in.
    
    Before when I worked full time, his school was about 1/4 mile from his
    daycare and he wasnt eligible for the bus.  The daycare provider told
    me some kids took a taxi after school and this is what I did.  Turned
    out two other kids from his school took the same cab.  The taxi co
    assured me that 99% of the time, the same driver would pick him up
    and the taxi used had a school bus sign on it so I didnt feel too bad.
    Actually, it worked out well.
    
    Also, our public school system is now offering before and after school
    care at the high school and providing transportation from the elem
    schools to the high school.  Look into yours to see if something
    similar is available.
    
    Another option is to advertise at your childs school for after school
    care and maybe an at home parent that picks up their child will be
    interested in sitting for a few hours as well as during vacation.
    
    Good Luck........Jennie
     

    Another suggestion for before school.  When I worked, I usually drove
    him to school between 7:30 and 7:45 as someone was always there and
    didnt mind him hanging around inside (a few others did as well) until
    the first bus arrived.

    I know the stay-at-home mom in my neighborhood are real good about
    helping out with other kids of working parents. Maybe you have a
    neighbor who would be willing to drop-off and pick-up. Maybe the sitter
    would do it as well.
    
    Also ask around because there might be other children in the same
    situation. They could at least walk together (safety in numbers, Mom
    always said). Maybe your sitter has/wants kids from the same school and
    you could work out something with the other parents.
    
    Also, talk to your child and see how she feels about walking. She may
    enjoy it and meet up with friends (despite the fact that you're
    worried).
    
    Andrea 

    I was a single mother myself for several years, so I remember the
    panicky feeling this kind of problem can produce . . .
    
    Whether your child is old enough to walk to school depends on how
    she feels about it and also on how  far from the school you are
    and what kind of streets and neighborhoods she has to walk
    through.  If there are sidewalks on major streets, crossing guards
    at major intersections, and not much traffic on the other streets,
    she's probably fine. 
    
    Kat used to walk about 3 to 4 blocks just to get to her bus stop
    when she was in grade school.  She was walking home from school,
    almost a mile, occasionally by the time she was 9.  I would have
    considered letting her walk to school earlier, but there was one
    major street with no crossing guards that I didn't want her to
    handle alone.  
    
    It's frequently possible to find a granmotherly type who lives in
    the area and who is willing to pick up a child at the school and
    watch them for an hour or two until you get home.  A good place to
    advertise for this kind of care is by posting a notice in the
    local grocery store or convenience mart. 
    
    Exactly what town are you in?  We might be able to give you more
    specific advice if we knew more details.
    
    --bonnie
    --bonnie

I don't think that 7 is too early to walk to school.  Our eldest walked 
by herself after Christmas break in Grade 1 (6.5 yrs).  She has about 1/4 mile
to go.

I do have big problems with the amount of "taxi-driving" todays' parents do
for their children ... what do they have feet and legs for ?

Stuart

This note has gotten hopelessly ratholed.  I will plead guilty to having caused 
it.  I entered a note (now deleted) which, I think, caused Kristen's reaction.
I apologize for having done that, especially since my point was minor -- that 
parents drive their kids to and from school for reasons other than saving wear 
and tear on their children.

However, I now fear that the base noter is not getting what she is looking 
for, namely how to deal with a situation in which she her daughter has to walk 
home from school.  If you want to discuss alternatives to her daughter walking 
home from school, respond in this note.  If you want to discuss child 
abduction generally, please respond to note 259.

Clay