Quote:
Originally Posted by will1530
...At six five I walked to school without my parents and by nine 12 I was riding my bike to the beach nearly every day during the summer (about 5 miles from my house). Also, you are laughably wrong saying it wasn't normal for 3rd and 4th graders to go off on their own... I grew up in San Diego btw, and this was completely normal for everyone in my neighborhood.
I'm guessing we grew up in the same 'hood.
I agree that it was completely normal for 3rd graders to go off on their own... to school, or the school yard after hours, or the neighborhood park, or the nearby canyons, public pools, stores, movies, etc (but you'd sure better be back prompt for dinner time).
However, leaving the 'hood, including biking to the beach, or hiking ~5 miles away in the canyons, wasn't normal until... I'd say after 6th grade.