6 year old walking to the bus? (1 Viewer)

[NCCommish]

I walked to and from the bus at 6. By seven I was staying at home alone after school. By 8 I was walking to school and back. The world isn't really any different than it was then. Stranger abduction is still exceedingly rare. Your child is much more likely( and I mean exponentially more likely) to be taken by a non-custodial parent or friend of the family then some pervert they never met with a van cruising the street. I saw a stat somewhere that said a child was more likely to die of a heart attack than to be taken by a stranger. And heart attacks in children are so rare no one even talks about it. But let one make the news and that will be the big thing all the "good parents" are worried about.

 

[Mile High]

School year just started. Walk with her for now just to get a feel for things. Then later you can let her walk home by herself some.

 

[StrikeS2k]

I walked to the bus stop a few blocks when I was five years old and in kindergarten, but that was back in the 70s. It's a different world now - what can you say?

Not really. It's only different because every case becomes sensationalized. But statistically, if anything a child is safer now than in the 70's.

 

[cstu]

Well when I was 7 I wasn't old enough to be walking a few blocks home from the bus stop and that was 1979.

We had crossing guards (supposedly) but I walked 3 blocks to school at age 5.

 

[snellman]

I guess throw me in jail. My 7 year old walks to and from school 1 block away and I can't see him the whole way. My 7 yr old and 11 yr old rode their bikes to the park to play last night after supper. (3 blocks away, told them they had to be home by 8).

Get a grip people. It is no wonder our children are turning out to be either A) sociopaths or B) 20 somethings who still live at home.

I understand it has a lot to do with where you live. I am lucky enough to live in a small town of 750 people in NW Iowa where all of our neighbors know each other and watch each other's houses.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I walked to the bus stop a few blocks when I was five years old and in kindergarten, but that was back in the 70s. It's a different world now - what can you say?

Not really. It's only different because every case becomes sensationalized. But statistically, if anything a child is safer now than in the 70's.

That's mainly because they outlawed Jarts.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

No problem as long as you don't live in a ghetto.

 

[El Floppo]

What is the "real bad" that could happen? Until we define that, hard to answer.

The list of things that could happen is endless.

Sure, but that list exists with everyday life.

In all honesty, I see 3 things that would give the most cause for concern.

1) Getting hit by a car/accident.

2) Wandering off/getting lost

3) Getting abducted.

Seriously, what else is legitimately going to happen walking ONE block home?

As for getting abducted, the chances of that are so ridiculously small, especially given the distance covered here, that it's not something I would worry about. Yes, we hear about stories, but that's more an issue of the availability of media reporting than being a real danger that should be factored into this decision. If that is truly a reason driving a decision, then you shouldn't let your child swim alone, bathe alone, play on a playground, eat alone, or really do anything alone as well as put them in a car, etc.

As for wandering off, getting lost, or getting hit by a car, that is why I said above that it depends on your 6 year old. If you have a "mature" six year old that those items aren't a concern, then I see no issue with walking. If they are remotely a concern, then I don't see any way you allow them to walk alone.

To me, it's a pretty simple question that a parent should be able to answer about their kid. Then it's a matter of their comfort level. But I think there are certainly 6 year olds that are capable of walking one block unattended.

ETA--In 1999, there were 115 "stereotypical kidnappings" across the nation for the entire year. This is out of 72 million children. You can feel free to base your decisions on those numbers but I like to be a little more realistic about the actual threat.

I agree with assessing the risks... I'd add the more likely risk- going off to play with little Skippy Jr instead of coming home.

All of these are up to the OP to determine if the risk outweighs the independence gained by the 6yo. I keep thinking about the Orthodox Jewish kid here in NYC who had the exact same wish a few years' back... "Kletzky had begged his parents to let him walk home from the camp instead of taking the school bus.[2] It was the first time that his parents allowed him to walk alone and they had practiced the route the day before". Of course, that's statistically exceedingly rare exception... but hard to forgot- for me at least.

My experience with my own kids- 6 is too young to be able to handle any of even the lesser situations should they occur. 7-8 seems like they have enough common sense to handle some things on the fly. My wife is going to want to walk both of them everywhere until they're in their mid-30s.

I agree with the poster who recommends letting them walk home solo, but only within eyesight.

 

[jandyt]

I walked to and home from school at 5 and it was a block away but required going out of parents sight. Although I live in very safe neighborhood probably better than where I grew up, I still wouldn't have my 6 year walk to bus by herself. Different mindset these days I guess.

 

[jonessed]

It all depends on your neighborhood. I live in a safe area but there are a couple of crosswalks between ourselves and the school that are really busy and there are no crossing guards. The same distance from a different direction and I would have no problem.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I walked to the bus stop a few blocks when I was five years old and in kindergarten, but that was back in the 70s. It's a different world now - what can you say?

Is it? I mean, in any relevant way? I doubt that child abductions are really more prevalent. I'm sure we're more aware of them.

If anything, my guess is that the world is actually a safer place for kids than it was in the 1970s. There's certainly less street crime, we have amber alerts, and there are cell phones and cameras everywhere.

 

[dgreen]

I think things today are undoubtedly safer than they used to be for kids. However, the way I think things have changed "in today's world" is parental involvement. There are stats that show parents spend more time with their kids than they used to. Despite women entering the workforce in large numbers, moms still spend more time today with their kids than they used to. There has clearly been a shift in parenting philosophy. And, I'd say if a parent happens to do things a bit differently, they are looked down upon by others. I wonder if there was as much parenting judgement 25 or 50 years ago.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

I walked to the bus stop a few blocks when I was five years old and in kindergarten, but that was back in the 70s. It's a different world now - what can you say?

Is it? I mean, in any relevant way? I doubt that child abductions are really more prevalent. I'm sure we're more aware of them.

The relevant difference in the world is parental attitudes. If everybody's kid is walking around unsupervised, it's fine to have your kids do the same. If you're the only parent that lets your kids do it, you will be judged by other parents.

 

[=Smackdown=]

Had the same problem with my 3 kids - almost the same - bus stop was a block or two away - kids are 10-7-5.

Had a lovely chat with the bus driver, (made it worth his time) and now the bus magically stpos in front of our house.

 

[FUBAR]

Just for frame of reference.

4400 = Your child dies in a car accident, potentially while riding that bus to school

1100 = Your child strangles him/herself on something like a drawstring for those blinds your wife made you put in

1000 = Your child drowns in a pool or bathtub or a puddle/lake/river/ocean

850 = Your child eats/drinks something poisonous and dies

350 = Your child dies in a fire

130 = Your child accidentally shoots themself with your gun

100 = Base Rate for the likelihood of your child being snatched while walking home from school.

50 = Likelihood your child dies from a bee sting while walking home from school

30 = Likelihood your child is fatally mauled by a dog while walking home from school

20 = Likelihood your child is trampled to death by a horse while walking home from school

1 = Likelihood your child is eaten by a mountain line while walking home from school

These numbers are rounded a bit, but they're generally correct. Where do you draw the line? Do you not let your child outside for fear of bees? Not keep a gun? Keep your child away from water?

We're on constant watch for Mountain Lines.

 

[NCCommish]

Just for frame of reference.

4400 = Your child dies in a car accident, potentially while riding that bus to school

1100 = Your child strangles him/herself on something like a drawstring for those blinds your wife made you put in

1000 = Your child drowns in a pool or bathtub or a puddle/lake/river/ocean

850 = Your child eats/drinks something poisonous and dies

350 = Your child dies in a fire

130 = Your child accidentally shoots themself with your gun

100 = Base Rate for the likelihood of your child being snatched while walking home from school.

50 = Likelihood your child dies from a bee sting while walking home from school

30 = Likelihood your child is fatally mauled by a dog while walking home from school

20 = Likelihood your child is trampled to death by a horse while walking home from school

1 = Likelihood your child is eaten by a mountain line while walking home from school

These numbers are rounded a bit, but they're generally correct. Where do you draw the line? Do you not let your child outside for fear of bees? Not keep a gun? Keep your child away from water?

The base rate for stranger abduction should be a lot lower. The odds of being kidnapped by a stranger are roughly 1 in 610,000. The odds of a child dying in a plane crash are roughly 1 in 300,000. The odds of a child being hit by lightning are roughly 1 in 240,000. So your child has nearly 3 times the chance to be hit by lightning than they do being abducted by a stranger. More children will die from heart disease this year than will be kidnapped by a stranger. About 93% of all abductions are by family, friends of the family or someone the child knows.

 

[(HULK)]

Just for frame of reference.

4400 = Your child dies in a car accident, potentially while riding that bus to school

1100 = Your child strangles him/herself on something like a drawstring for those blinds your wife made you put in

1000 = Your child drowns in a pool or bathtub or a puddle/lake/river/ocean

850 = Your child eats/drinks something poisonous and dies

350 = Your child dies in a fire

130 = Your child accidentally shoots themself with your gun

100 = Base Rate for the likelihood of your child being snatched while walking home from school.

50 = Likelihood your child dies from a bee sting while walking home from school

30 = Likelihood your child is fatally mauled by a dog while walking home from school

20 = Likelihood your child is trampled to death by a horse while walking home from school

1 = Likelihood your child is eaten by a mountain line while walking home from school

These numbers are rounded a bit, but they're generally correct. Where do you draw the line? Do you not let your child outside for fear of bees? Not keep a gun? Keep your child away from water?

We're on constant watch for Mountain Lines.

Doh! Mountain Lions obviously.

 

[dickey moe]

I walked to the bus stop a few blocks when I was five years old and in kindergarten, but that was back in the 70s. It's a different world now - what can you say?

Is it? I mean, in any relevant way? I doubt that child abductions are really more prevalent. I'm sure we're more aware of them.

I think that's the perception, if not the reality. Parents just seem much more fearful to let their kids loose these days - at least until they are bike-riding age. Seems like back in the day, it wasn't a major concern.

 

[Josie Maran]

Had the same problem with my 3 kids - almost the same - bus stop was a block or two away - kids are 10-7-5.

Had a lovely chat with the bus driver, (made it worth his time) and now the bus magically stpos in front of our house.

Going for the Apache-level of helicopter parenting?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Just for frame of reference.

4400 = Your child dies in a car accident, potentially while riding that bus to school

1100 = Your child strangles him/herself on something like a drawstring for those blinds your wife made you put in

1000 = Your child drowns in a pool or bathtub or a puddle/lake/river/ocean

850 = Your child eats/drinks something poisonous and dies

350 = Your child dies in a fire

130 = Your child accidentally shoots themself with your gun

100 = Base Rate for the likelihood of your child being snatched while walking home from school.

50 = Likelihood your child dies from a bee sting while walking home from school

30 = Likelihood your child is fatally mauled by a dog while walking home from school

20 = Likelihood your child is trampled to death by a horse while walking home from school

1 = Likelihood your child is eaten by a mountain line while walking home from school

These numbers are rounded a bit, but they're generally correct. Where do you draw the line? Do you not let your child outside for fear of bees? Not keep a gun? Keep your child away from water?

We're on constant watch for Mountain Lines.

Doh! Mountain Lions obviously.

For kids that are small for their age - add large birds.

 

[Otis]

I'd give her an uzi just to be safe.

 

[Wrigley]

Do you let her play outside unsupervised?

 

[Pots]

You said you work from home. What's the downside in walking with your kid to the bus stop besides laziness?

 

[gianmarco]

You said you work from home. What's the downside in walking with your kid to the bus stop besides laziness?

Your reading comprehension seems to be top notch. Here, I'll help. Taken from the very first post in the thread: See the bolded.

Our daughter is now in full time 1st grade. We live in a quiet neighborhood. The bus it about 1 block away but she needs to turn a corner and the stop is out of sight from our home. My wife was talking to a couple moms at the bus stop today and mentioned that our daughter wants to walk back home from the bus by herself. Judging from the reactions, this is tantamount to child abuse apparently.

Obviously we don't want to take any unnecessary risks but either my wife or myself are home when she gets there (we both work from home). I grew up like most of us here walking to/from school or the bus. Is this just not the case anymore?

 

[Pantherz]

All these statistics on how unlikely it is for a child to be abducted today vs , say, the 70's. Is anyone considering the fact that in the 70s there were about 1000 times more children running around unattended? I was one of them. Starting in 3rd grade I rode my bike to school a couple of miles away. I have a 12 year old now and live about 5 miles from there. No way I let her just take off like I used to. IMO today, very few children are left to chance like they were then, so there should be less abductions.

 

[Jayrod]

My wife and I disagree on these kinds of things.

If it was solely up to me and I knew the child could handle it? I'd let them do it and not worry a bit.

My wife still wouldn't allow it even if the kid was a boy genius with a black belt in Karate.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that people are seriously worried about stranger abductions. This is a classic case of folks wildly overestimating the probability of extraordinarily rare events.

Of all the things I would worry about if I was the OP (e.g. getting lost somehow, getting hit by a car), being kidnapped by a stranger hardly even registers.

 

[Wrigley]

Letting them make their own choices is part of being a parent.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Letting them make their own choices is part of being a parent.

Not really. Setting appropriate limits is part of being a parent.

 

[shadyridr]

Letting them make their own choices is part of being a parent.

do you let them choose what to eat? So if they want chocolate donuts for dinner you would let them make their own choices? If they want to watch Saw you let them make their own choices? If they choose to play video games instead of doing their homework, do you let them?

 

[T J]

What is the "real bad" that could happen? Until we define that, hard to answer.

The list of things that could happen is endless.

Real bad to me means abducted, molested, and killed. There. I said it. I think that's what real bad means to most of us.

And no way do I let my child make that walk alone. Because most little girls you hear about this happening to seems like they were just doing their normal thing, then, boom, gone.

Nope. I only have boys, but I wouldn't let my boys make that walk at that age either and definitely not a 6yr old daughter.

 

[Wrigley]

Letting them make their own choices is part of being a parent.

do you let them choose what to eat? So if they want chocolate donuts for dinner you would let them make their own choices? If they want to watch Saw you let them make their own choices? If they choose to play video games instead of doing their homework, do you let them?

Well no, but we're talking about a child that is trying to walk home from the bus stop. It's a friggen block. Give the kid some space, let them be an individual.

 

[dgreen]

I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that people are seriously worried about stranger abductions. This is a classic case of folks wildly overestimating the probability of extraordinarily rare events.

Of all the things I would worry about if I was the OP (e.g. getting lost somehow, getting hit by a car), being kidnapped by a stranger hardly even registers.

I'd be interested to learn where this comes from. It seems like such an irrational fear, yet so many people worry about it. Everyone probably has an irrational fear of something.

 

[Jayrok]

Letting them make their own choices is part of being a parent.

I agree that letting children make choices for themselves is important for their development. To me is comes down to time and a place sort of thing. She is 6 years old in her first year of school. Next year she'll be a year older with a year of school under her belt, and the next year and so on. There is a time and a place for her to be given the independence to make her own choices in such matters. Again, to me, this is too young to just tell her "be home by such and such a time." She is learning new people, new places, and new responsibilities with the activities at school. I want her focused on those things as opposed to her being excited about walking home by herself. Won't affect her? maybe, maybe not.

Having said that, I do agree that each child is different. If she really wanted to do this, I would make a deal with her. Let me meet you at the bus stop for the first few weeks or so, so that I can see your routine and your mother ( ) can be assured that you are being safe and responsible. Then we'll let you walk home on your own.

 

[Jayrok]

I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that people are seriously worried about stranger abductions. This is a classic case of folks wildly overestimating the probability of extraordinarily rare events.

Of all the things I would worry about if I was the OP (e.g. getting lost somehow, getting hit by a car), being kidnapped by a stranger hardly even registers.

I'd be interested to learn where this comes from. It seems like such an irrational fear, yet so many people worry about it. Everyone probably has an irrational fear of something.

In my view, it isn't so much about parents being worried about stranger abductions as it is about parents deciding what is appropriate for their children at this age. As someone posted earlier, the statistics support the fact that abductions are very rare. As rare as they may be, I still have to take that into consideration if it is a possibility, however remote. But even if I decide that an abduction just isn't feasibly going to happen, I still would not let her do it until I am satisfied that she can do it safely. Once I am satisfied then it is no longer an issue. That could be one month into the first grade or the beginning of her second grade year... it just depends.

It may be an irrational fear and the numbers suggest it is very rare... something like 115 in 6 million or something like that. She is most likely not going to be approached by a stranger. But somewhere there are 115 sets of parents that would tell us all to go to hell.

I just don't think it is being a bad or smothering parent if one chooses to simply take this one block walk out of the equation, for those statistics, until she is a little older.

 

[dgreen]

I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that people are seriously worried about stranger abductions. This is a classic case of folks wildly overestimating the probability of extraordinarily rare events.

Of all the things I would worry about if I was the OP (e.g. getting lost somehow, getting hit by a car), being kidnapped by a stranger hardly even registers.

I'd be interested to learn where this comes from. It seems like such an irrational fear, yet so many people worry about it. Everyone probably has an irrational fear of something.

In my view, it isn't so much about parents being worried about stranger abductions as it is about parents deciding what is appropriate for their children at this age. As someone posted earlier, the statistics support the fact that abductions are very rare. As rare as they may be, I still have to take that into consideration if it is a possibility, however remote. But even if I decide that an abduction just isn't feasibly going to happen, I still would not let her do it until I am satisfied that she can do it safely. Once I am satisfied then it is no longer an issue. That could be one month into the first grade or the beginning of her second grade year... it just depends.

It may be an irrational fear and the numbers suggest it is very rare... something like 115 in 6 million or something like that. She is most likely not going to be approached by a stranger. But somewhere there are 115 sets of parents that would tell us all to go to hell.

I just don't think it is being a bad or smothering parent if one chooses to simply take this one block walk out of the equation, for those statistics, until she is a little older.

Several people have flat out posted that they are concerned about abduction or sexual predators. And it's something that parents will mention as a safety concern of theirs. That's the mentality that I'm wondering about. Worrying about your kids running into the street without looking for cars or wondering off in the wrong direction can be a much more rational concern, depending on the child.

As for the "so you're telling me there's a chance" argument, I mentioned earlier that we all have a line somewhere. We all, at some point, decide to stop adding safety precautions because we no longer consider the risk to be large enough. For example, I'm guessing nobody is suggesting that the 6 year old should wear a helmet on her walk to the bus despite the fact that there is a greater-than-zero chance of it being useful. Assuming the kid already has a helmet she uses while riding her bike or scooter, we can only assume it's pure laziness on the part of the parents to not put a helmet on their child, right? (The "laziness" argument has been mentioned in this thread a few times in regards to the bus stop.)

I don't say any of that, though, to indicate that I think a parent is bad for walking their 6 year old to the bus stop. Either decision isn't going to have some huge affect on the child's future. Walk her. Don't walk her. I don't care. I'm fine with saying that I find it to be an irrational fear, though. And, if 115 parents want to tell me to go Hell for that, I'll just shut my mouth and apologize for offending them. But, for them, I understand where they are coming from and I'd never say to their face that I think they are irrational. That would seem a tad inappropriate.

That's really all I'm wondering: where does the fear come from for many people who haven't directly experienced abduction? I'm honestly not trying to judge anyone for their fear. Like I said, I'm sure everyone has a (statistically) irrational fear.

 

[NCCommish]

I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that people are seriously worried about stranger abductions. This is a classic case of folks wildly overestimating the probability of extraordinarily rare events.

Of all the things I would worry about if I was the OP (e.g. getting lost somehow, getting hit by a car), being kidnapped by a stranger hardly even registers.

I'd be interested to learn where this comes from. It seems like such an irrational fear, yet so many people worry about it. Everyone probably has an irrational fear of something.

In my view, it isn't so much about parents being worried about stranger abductions as it is about parents deciding what is appropriate for their children at this age. As someone posted earlier, the statistics support the fact that abductions are very rare. As rare as they may be, I still have to take that into consideration if it is a possibility, however remote. But even if I decide that an abduction just isn't feasibly going to happen, I still would not let her do it until I am satisfied that she can do it safely. Once I am satisfied then it is no longer an issue. That could be one month into the first grade or the beginning of her second grade year... it just depends.

It may be an irrational fear and the numbers suggest it is very rare... something like 115 in 6 million or something like that. She is most likely not going to be approached by a stranger. But somewhere there are 115 sets of parents that would tell us all to go to hell.

I just don't think it is being a bad or smothering parent if one chooses to simply take this one block walk out of the equation, for those statistics, until she is a little older.

Several people have flat out posted that they are concerned about abduction or sexual predators. And it's something that parents will mention as a safety concern of theirs. That's the mentality that I'm wondering about. Worrying about your kids running into the street without looking for cars or wondering off in the wrong direction can be a much more rational concern, depending on the child.

As for the "so you're telling me there's a chance" argument, I mentioned earlier that we all have a line somewhere. We all, at some point, decide to stop adding safety precautions because we no longer consider the risk to be large enough. For example, I'm guessing nobody is suggesting that the 6 year old should wear a helmet on her walk to the bus despite the fact that there is a greater-than-zero chance of it being useful. Assuming the kid already has a helmet she uses while riding her bike or scooter, we can only assume it's pure laziness on the part of the parents to not put a helmet on their child, right? (The "laziness" argument has been mentioned in this thread a few times in regards to the bus stop.)

I don't say any of that, though, to indicate that I think a parent is bad for walking their 6 year old to the bus stop. Either decision isn't going to have some huge affect on the child's future. Walk her. Don't walk her. I don't care. I'm fine with saying that I find it to be an irrational fear, though. And, if 115 parents want to tell me to go Hell for that, I'll just shut my mouth and apologize for offending them. But, for them, I understand where they are coming from and I'd never say to their face that I think they are irrational. That would seem a tad inappropriate.

That's really all I'm wondering: where does the fear come from for many people who haven't directly experienced abduction? I'm honestly not trying to judge anyone for their fear. Like I said, I'm sure everyone has a (statistically) irrational fear.

It's largely driven by the media and other parents IMO. Kidnappings happened when I was a kid. They got press. But it wasn't this constant grind 24/7 with hours and hours of coverage. And the constant insinuation that maybe the parents had some fault. Why weren't they hovering over the child that very second? Lots of judgement IMO on a national stage. So while my parents knew kids got took it was a rare occurrence and I was expected to know better than to talk to strangers, get in a strangers car or fall for the help me look for my puppy thing. They taught us that in kindergarten. Do they still teach that stuff today? Anyway so my parents decided the risk was too small to make the centerpiece of my out of the house rules. But now they'd be under a microscope in the neighborhood. My other friends wouldn't be allowed to roam so i probably wouldn't. There's a bit of herd mentality to it and I mean that in the nicest way possible. We are social animals we want to be accepted within our peer group. If your peer group is parents you want to fit in with those expectations to some degree.

 

[Jayrok]

I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that people are seriously worried about stranger abductions. This is a classic case of folks wildly overestimating the probability of extraordinarily rare events.

Of all the things I would worry about if I was the OP (e.g. getting lost somehow, getting hit by a car), being kidnapped by a stranger hardly even registers.

I'd be interested to learn where this comes from. It seems like such an irrational fear, yet so many people worry about it. Everyone probably has an irrational fear of something.

In my view, it isn't so much about parents being worried about stranger abductions as it is about parents deciding what is appropriate for their children at this age. As someone posted earlier, the statistics support the fact that abductions are very rare. As rare as they may be, I still have to take that into consideration if it is a possibility, however remote. But even if I decide that an abduction just isn't feasibly going to happen, I still would not let her do it until I am satisfied that she can do it safely. Once I am satisfied then it is no longer an issue. That could be one month into the first grade or the beginning of her second grade year... it just depends.

It may be an irrational fear and the numbers suggest it is very rare... something like 115 in 6 million or something like that. She is most likely not going to be approached by a stranger. But somewhere there are 115 sets of parents that would tell us all to go to hell.

I just don't think it is being a bad or smothering parent if one chooses to simply take this one block walk out of the equation, for those statistics, until she is a little older.

Several people have flat out posted that they are concerned about abduction or sexual predators. And it's something that parents will mention as a safety concern of theirs. That's the mentality that I'm wondering about. Worrying about your kids running into the street without looking for cars or wondering off in the wrong direction can be a much more rational concern, depending on the child.

As for the "so you're telling me there's a chance" argument, I mentioned earlier that we all have a line somewhere. We all, at some point, decide to stop adding safety precautions because we no longer consider the risk to be large enough. For example, I'm guessing nobody is suggesting that the 6 year old should wear a helmet on her walk to the bus despite the fact that there is a greater-than-zero chance of it being useful. Assuming the kid already has a helmet she uses while riding her bike or scooter, we can only assume it's pure laziness on the part of the parents to not put a helmet on their child, right? (The "laziness" argument has been mentioned in this thread a few times in regards to the bus stop.)

I don't say any of that, though, to indicate that I think a parent is bad for walking their 6 year old to the bus stop. Either decision isn't going to have some huge affect on the child's future. Walk her. Don't walk her. I don't care. I'm fine with saying that I find it to be an irrational fear, though. And, if 115 parents want to tell me to go Hell for that, I'll just shut my mouth and apologize for offending them. But, for them, I understand where they are coming from and I'd never say to their face that I think they are irrational. That would seem a tad inappropriate.

That's really all I'm wondering: where does the fear come from for many people who haven't directly experienced abduction? I'm honestly not trying to judge anyone for their fear. Like I said, I'm sure everyone has a (statistically) irrational fear.

As NCC said, I also think it stems from horror stories on the news and the like. Of the scenarios where the child can get hurt, getting abducted is certainly one of the worst, but there are others as mentioned in this thread. Parents want to mitigate risk as much as possible I'm sure. Each parent is different. My wife likes to watch forensic files, criminal minds, and shows like that. So it is easy to see why such a horrible scenario would be in the back of her mind.

I would think that the parents who are genuinely concerned about abductions are also genuinely concerned about their children running into the street without looking for vehicles.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I think the chance of abduction is exceedingly rare. I'd be more concerned about her saying she's ready, but not really being ready. Kids do that. You'll know when it's time. And she'll be pleased that you know it. I had about as much freedom as it's possible for a kid to have, and six is still a bit too young.