Outside the way to school and school, children have the opportunity to travel independently. Whether it`s a bus ride in the countryside, by train or London Underground, walking or cycling, children need to be able to handle it and be ready to use it safely. Does your child have to travel alone from a region of Quebec? Why not take advantage of the Unaccompanied Minor program set up by the Bus Carriers Federation and its members who are long-distance bus operators to travel safely? But how do you know when to let go? Is there a minimum age for your child to go out alone? Hooper suggests turning eight, and Spungin agrees: “Most children aged eight or nine should be allowed to go home home alone after school or to friends.” Hooper says, “At this age, a child can have a conversation with an adult and ask questions if there are problems.” Note: When the bus is attached, the child seat can be used as long as a seat is available for the child seat. A ticket must be purchased at the reduced child fare if you use a child seat Have we already arrived? Are we there yet? Here are some tips to make the journey easier when traveling with children: Guests fifteen (15) years of age or older are considered adult travelers. Dr Pat Spungin, a family psychologist and author of several books on parenting, said: “The biggest danger to children is trafficking, not pedophiles. Parents` fears are disproportionate to the actual dangers, as the reality is that most cases of harm to children come from adults they know. Children between the ages of 12 and 16 are only allowed to travel alone under the following conditions: A small number of parents – 3% – drive their children 200 miles per week. If you include the school run, these numbers would be significantly higher overall. Why do parents so often offer a taxi service instead of letting their child travel alone? The main reason is the concern for safety. But how realistic are these concerns and do we run the risk of wrapping our children in cotton wool so that they never stand on the streets? The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents – RoSPA – recognises that it is sometimes difficult for parents to determine risks. Their guiding principle is: “Life should be as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible.” Cassius Francis, RoSPA Youth Liaison Officer, said: “For many years, RoSPA and many of our safety education partners have championed the philosophy that children and young people develop important life skills by giving them the opportunity to experience risk, not by being wrapped in cotton. The program is for children aged 8 to 12 who travel alone on public transport.

If you haven`t made the trip yourself, you`ll have to find out. Letting go and allowing your child to travel independently is never easy. As Dr. Spungin says, “If they don`t ask, they`re probably not ready. You know your child best. Children under the age of 8 are not allowed to travel alone and must be accompanied by a person who is at least 14 years old. An easy-to-follow guide to guidelines and restrictions when travelling with children: If you are travelling on a bus with a seat belt, a child seat is allowed for the bus. You must ensure that your child seat is approved for use in a motor vehicle and is used according to the manufacturer`s instructions. As parents, we often advise our children not to talk to strangers – but does that make sense? There may be cases where they need help and a stranger is the only person around. It`s about learning to read the situation, Hooper says. “Children need to develop their intuition. They need to be able to talk to strangers without encouraging conversation to grow and walk away when they feel uncomfortable.

Unaccompanied minors are never left with strangers or alone in the terminal. Children 17 years of age and older may travel without restriction *Trailways reserves the right to refuse carriage of unaccompanied minors. Please also note that child rates only apply to rates that allow such a discount. This means that we are not allowed to offer discounts for children at certain fares and destinations. A child under two (2) years of age does not require a ticket to travel, but must be secured on the lap of the adult/guardian for the duration of the trip for safety reasons. If you are travelling with more than one (1) child under the age of two (2), a ticket for the second child must be purchased and the child must be securely secured in the seat next to the guardian. Travelling by bus or metro carries other risks. Bus rides can be problematic for a young child. Does the bus stop at the same place on the way home – or a few hundred meters away? Is it an application stop if you want it to end? They will also have developed some ability to know if a stranger is showing an unhealthy interest in them. Dr. Spungin says, “Children who make a long journey should be after puberty, about 12 years for girls and 13 years or older for boys.” She adds: “Parents need to know their children.

A shy child may not ask for help if something goes wrong, while a younger but more confident child does. RoSPA recommends that children under the age of 11 learn how to choose a safe place to cross the street and use crosswalks. According to educational psychologist Jeni Hooper, the best way to protect children is to make them confident. Yes, if the intercity carrier uses this program. However, we recommend that you contact the carrier as some may have different regulations than those described here. The bus is the most environmentally friendly means of transport among those that consume fuel. The following regulations ensure the smooth running of the program: Simply request it from your intercity carrier or an agent at the terminal counter. Customers under the age of fourteen (14) must be accompanied at all times by a passenger seventeen (17) years of age or older. Want more information and inspiration from Independent School Parent? Like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and join the conversation on Twitter.