Is my child old enough to walk to school alone? Here’s what California law says

As students head back to school across California, some are embracing a new level of independence by walking to and from class on their own.

While it’s common for older kids and teenagers to travel to and from school without adults present, younger children might have to wait a bit longer before they can commute solo.

What’s the best age for children to head to school alone?

Here’s what our journalists with How To California — a community-driven series to help readers navigate life in the Golden State — found:

What does the law say about children walking to school alone?

There is no federal law that sets the minimum age for when children can travel to and from school alone.

Section 858 of the Every Student Succeeds Act — which passed in 2016 — protects the federal right for parents to permit their children to walk to and from school independently.

This includes parents in California.

When should parents let kids to commute to class solo?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children are typically ready to walk to school without parents, grandparents or other guardians present at around age 10.

“Younger children are more impulsive and less cautious around traffic,” the medical association said in an article published in 2023.

When deciding if a child can make the journey to and from school independently, parents should consider the child’s age, maturity, travel distance, on-street parking and traffic volume and speed, the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Each child is different, the group said, and parents should assess their child’s developmental progress to determine if they are ready to travel alone.

How can I prepare my child for traveling on their own?

According to Care.com, an online marketplace for families to find child care, parents can help prepare their children for walking to and from school on their own.

Parents should start by teaching kids to look left, right and then left again before crossing the street at an early age, medical professionals told Care.com in June.

To keep kids safe when walking to school, it’s important to teach them the following:

• Never get in the car with strangers.
• Use sidewalks and crosswalks.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the road.
• Be visible and attentive while walking.

“I would recommend parents drive part of the way and have the child walk a short distance in the beginning, or accompany the child but from a distance to ensure safety,” Dr. Sara Siddiqui, a pediatrician at NYU Langone’s Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital in New York, told Care.com.

At what age can you leave a child at home alone in California?

In California, there is no legal minimum age a child can be left home alone, according to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.

However, the maturity and emotional level of a child are “factors that should be taken into account,” the agency said.

In a 2015 survey conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 458 members of the National Association of Social Workers were asked what they thought was an appropriate age for child to be left home alone.

Most social workers agreed a child should be at least 12 years old before being left home alone, the survey revealed.

This story was originally published August 30, 2024 at 6:00 AM.

Angela Rodriguez

The Modesto Bee

279-386-2738

Angela Rodriguez is a service journalism reporter for The Bee. She is a graduate of Sacramento State with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. During her time there, she worked on the State Hornet covering arts and entertainment.