You’re walking home from school one day with your child on a sunny afternoon - the same walk that you and your little one have done together for years now. They’re in a noticeably reserved mood, but you can’t figure out why. And then, just as you’re about to open your front door, they say - My friends have started walking to school on their own. Can I walk on my own tomorrow?

A lot can change in the four years from the ages of 7 to 11. At 7 they’re holding your hand on the way to school, and then at 11 years old they may be walking to school on their own.

Understandably, the first few times your child wanders the pavement and roads on their own is a scary occasion for most parents. Regardless of your child’s age, it is crucial that your child is ready to make the step.

But will you know if my child is ready? Let’s take a look at some of the essential things your child needs to know or do before they start to walk on their own. Before we begin, we want to say that, even if you are the slightest bit unsure, speak to a road safety expert before making your decision.

On the pavements:

Make sure to teach your child the following about safety along the roads:

Always walk on the side of the pavement furthest from the road.

If there is a pavement or a path, use it! Never stray on the road.

If there is no pavement or path, walk in a single file on the right side of the road facing the traffic. If there is a sharp bend, take extra care or find an alternative route if possible.

They should not use scooters or bikes when walking alongside roads, especially not when they are on their own.

Crossing roads:

Before allowing your child to walk on their own, they must know all of the following:

At a light-controlled crossing, they must only cross if the green man is showing.

At a zebra crossing, they should wait until all vehicles have come to a complete stop.

They should cross at a pedestrian crossing where possible. If there is no suitable pedestrian crossing, then cross on a quiet street and take extra care. They should not cross between parked cars.

At all crossings, they must stop and look both ways before crossing, and remain alert while crossing.

When there is an island in the middle of a road, they should treat it as two separate crossings.

They must never - yes, never - use a phone while crossing, whether texting, calling, or scrolling. If you don’t think your child can do this, then they probably aren’t ready to walk on their own.

They should know not to follow other people. Other people often cross dangerously, so your child needs to be able to make their own road-crossing decisions.

They should know that, if they are ever in doubt about a road safety situation, they can always contact you.

When you’re out with your child, talk to your child about road safety. Also, try to engage your child in the decision-making process when it comes to crossing roads. This will help them learn, as well as give you an indication of their road safety knowledge. For instance, you could say, “What do you think, should we cross here or over there?”

How can I keep my child safe around roads? (7 - 11 years)

Road safety education is a parent's responsibility. Here's some help.