Is my child old enough to walk to school alone in WA? Follow these guidelines

It’s back-to-school season, which means parents are focused on getting their children to class.

While some parents and guardians prefer to drop off and pick up their kids, others may be wondering whether their children are old or mature enough to walk to and from school alone.

What does Washington state law say about children traveling without parental supervision?

How old should kids be in order to walk home by themselves?

Here’s what to know.

What does Washington state law say about kids walking to school alone?

Washington state does not have a law specifying at which age kids can walk to school alone, The News Tribune previously reported.

Federal laws also don’t provide any specific guidance on the matter.

Under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, parents have the right to let their children travel to and from school by themselves.

This includes parents in Washington state.

However, experts recommend waiting until children have reached a certain age to commute on their own.

When should parents let kids travel to school by themselves?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children are usually ready to walk to school without an adult when they’re in fifth grade — or around the time they turn 10.

That’s the age when “children can begin to apply all the skills needed to safely navigate traffic environments on their own,” the professional association said.

Children under 10 “are more impulsive and less cautious around traffic, and they often don’t fully understand other potential dangers they could come across,” the American Academy of Pediatrics said in a 2009 policy statement.

How can I tell if my child is ready to walk on their own?

Every child is different, the academy said, and parents and guardians shouldn’t decide whether children are ready to commute to school solo based on age alone.

You should also consider your child’s maturity level, as well as the distance they’ll travel, the amount of on-street parking and the volume and speed of nearby traffic, the American Academy of Pediatrics said.

Other factors to consider include your kid’s sense of direction and sense of safety, Dr. Sara Siddiqui, a pediatrician at NYU Langone’s Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital in New York, told online caregiving platform Care.com.

“A child’s ability to communicate and ask questions if they’re unsure of anything is a good quality as well,” Siddiqui told Care.com. “Also, take into consideration the distance and types of roads on which they’ll be traveling.”

“If a child is unwilling or does not feel comfortable, then they may not be ready to walk to and from school by themselves,” she said.

Safety tips for walking or biking to school

The American Academy of Pediatrics offered safety guidelines for children walking or biking to school.

According to the academy, students who walk to school alone should:

• Stick to a safe route, with as many crossing guards as possible
• Cross only at designated intersections
• Stay off their phone as much as possible and avoid other distractions
• When possible, walk with at least one other child
• Wear brightly-colored backpacks, jackets and accessories
• Reject ride offers from strangers
• Run and yell if they need help

Students who ride bicycles from home and back should:

• Always wear a helmet
• Follow all traffic laws
• Stop at every intersection and look both ways before entering streets
• Ride on the right side, in the same direction as traffic
• Use proper hand signals when turning

This story was originally published August 27, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Is my child old enough to walk to school alone in WA? Follow these guidelines."