Surrey
Please see inside for this week’s Surrey Herald
Incorporating
Chertsey, Addlestone and Byfleet edition
15 August 2013
When is it right to give a child more freedom? Surrey
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from Walton, Weybridge, Hersham and The Moleseys advertise call mum: 01483 508852 or email surreymotorsreps@trinitysouth.co.uk feature editionToAdvice motors BACK TO SCHOOL Advertising When is right to
their own after the age of 12 that they IT’S always hard for parents to ‘let go’ wouldn’t let them do before, and 36% of their children but is there a ‘right’ age when kids should be allowed to do said walking or getting to school was one of them. The other top answers things independently, such as walk to were: stay at home alone – 58%; look school? Lisa Salmon reports. after younger siblings - 53%; cook – Judging when children are old 45%; go to the shop – 29%. enough to do things on their own is The findings echo those of a often a tough call for parents. They Netmums survey earlier this year, worry about what could happen to which found 71% of parents felt their their youngsters if they let them do child was no longer childlike by the something independently, be that age of 12. walking to school, making a cup of tea Cathy Ranson, Netmums or simply staying home alone. stresses there is no AllSunbury, too often, modern parents err on editor-in-chief, Lower Sunbury and Shepperton edition appropriate age for children to do the side of caution and supervise kids things independently, as every child who, in reality, are more than capable is different. “Parents are in the best of acting responsibly on their own. place to decide what’s right for them Now, a new survey suggests that and their child, and when they feel more than half (54%) of British ready for a little more independence. parents consider their child to be “Children enjoy the independence ‘independent’ at the age of 12. and trust you show as they start to do The study of 1,355 parents, by things for the first time, such as a walk discount website MyVoucherCodes, to school, making toast or a meal or asked what the main things were that running an errand – and you can build parents would let their kids do on
Surrey
Staines & Ashford
allow your children to walk to school on their own.
up to each milestone in small steps.” She suggests it’s a good idea to try to get a friend to accompany a child the first time they run an errand or walk to school without an adult, pointing out: “It’s lovely for your child to share the
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experience and it will set your mind at rest that they’re not alone.” However, Cathy says looking after siblings alone aged just 12 is putting too much pressure on youngsters. “You’re effectively asking
a child to look after other children,” she says. “Although there’s no law against it, most parents prefer to wait until their child is 16 and more mature before giving them such a big responsibility.”
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