[steve86]

I guess it depends a lot on the city/town. Would be nothing unusual about 10 year olds (4/5th grade) walking downtown and back in my smaller town, and I know I did in first grade. Have to be a little more careful nowadays, though.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

True - we walked to school as kids but unlike the unfortunate hikers on this thread, it was not uphill both ways and miles each way.... and almost never snow, at least in the summer. ;^)

People just don't take those kind of chances these days with their children.....