My son came home today asking if he can ride his bike to school tomorrow, because other kids do it. I said no, he's too young. My husband thinks it's ok since we are only about five blks from school. I reminded him of Jacob Wetterling and a few other abductions, but Jacob has always stuck in my mind. I also told him he's not responsible enough at 6 to always lock it up. His answer to that was "well how's he going to learn, if we don't let him try." I think I am going to win this one, but not sure about next year. Need some "ammunition" to use in my defense. My husband is from Germany and maybe there's not as many child predators there, so that could be why he is so trusting. He said he walked to school every day, about the same distance.
I would agree that 6 is too young...re-evaluate next year.
My son's elementary school actually has a rule that kids are not allowed to ride their bikes to school. I was kind of surprised but once I thought about it, it started to make more sense. The streets around the school are quite busy and even the parking lot of the school is full of bus traffic and car traffic. It isn't like when I went to school and most kids walked or biked to school. So check the school handbook, maybe they have a rule against it.
Also I think 6 is too young to be crossing even residential streets by himself. Frankly I think the threat of abduction by a stranger is very low. The media makes too much of it but the overall incident of it is teeny. He is at much greater danger from cars not watching for bikes or from him making an error while biking. Riding a bike safely requires a lot of practice and concentration (when a 6 yo sees something interesting they tend to look over at it and let the bike wander the wrong direction). Can an adult bike with him to and from school a couple times a week? I think 10-11 years old is an appropriate age to be biking around by himself.
I would be less concerned with predators, and more concerned with the "bike-ability" of the area. Is the traffic heavy? Would he be biking on the sidewalk or the street? Are there lots of other kids biking or walking the same route as your son? What are the 5 blocks like--are they residential?
I personally think 6 is too young, but not because of abduction. I'd be more concerned about traffic, crossing streets, locking up his bike, etc. I've read that developmentally kids aren't ready to cross streets by themselves until approximately age 10. They just aren't capable of judging how far away a vehicle is, how fast it is traveling, etc. Maybe you could work up to it gradually over months or even years? You go with him at first and eventually he goes with older kids and then finally by himself. At our school they don't even do the "bike rodeo" until 3rd grade and it may be that kids aren't allowed to ride their bikes to school until that grade. I think dads in general are more willing to let kids be independent, I know my husband is, and that can be a good thing sometimes, but I would try to work out a compromise on biking to school. Good luck.
You should check with your child's school. They may have a policy that will get you off the hook for a few years. The school I teach at only allows 4th and 5th graders to ride bikes to school.
Actually, Germany had that awful story about that predator who kept that girl locked in his basement for years remember? There are predators everywhere.
Can he bike with a group of kids? Otherwise, my gut says too young. You have to think of his ability to yell out if a stranger is bothering him or run away etc, not withstanding the locking up your bike thing, etc.
It's sad but our world has changed.
Personally, I think 6 is too young. Times have changed. Just because we did it as children does not mean that it is safe for our kids to do these days.
Maybe there is some sort of compromise that could be worked out. He could ride his bike and mom could follow a block behind in her car without him knowing??? Just a thought.
I'd try to find out about the other kids who are doing it. Are they older? Is a parent riding with them? Does the school have an area to lock up bikes?
Try not to live in fear of what "might" happen to your children - it takes away all the fun! I know that's easier said than done, and I know bad people are out there, but it's our job to find alternatives to saying no all the time.
Good luck!
W.
Would your son be on his own riding to school? Are there any mom's in the neighborhood who travel with the kids to school or any groups he could ride with? I agree we want our kids to be safe, but in our neighborhood, the kids travel together to school. There are usually a mom or two along the bike path that watch the kids as they travel. It is a good way to learn responsibility. You have to do what you feel is best for your family though.
