For some Singaporeans, going to school alone was a normal part of growing up. Others were not allowed to travel without an adult, even after reaching their teenage years.
A recent Reddit discussion asked a simple question: When did you all start going home from school alone?
The post quickly sparked memories of school buses, public transport, mama shops, playgrounds and, for some, very protective parents.
Some Kids Started As Early As Primary School
Several commenters said they started travelling to and from school alone around Primary 2 or Primary 3.
One person said their mother stopped sending them to school after Primary 2 because they did not have a car. Taking the bus alone became part of their daily routine.
Another commenter started travelling independently in Primary 3 after getting tired of waiting for the school bus. They began taking public buses to school using their own pocket money while still taking the school bus home.
Their mother eventually found out when the bus attendant mentioned that the child had not been using the morning service.
The result? The family cancelled the school bus completely and let them commute alone.
For many commenters, travelling alone also meant freedom.
They remembered stopping at the mama shop, buying Milo, bundung, ice pops or snacks, playing at the playground and heading home afterwards.
Basically, peak childhood freedom before smartphones became everyone’s location tracker.
For Parents, Maturity Matters More Than Age
Some commenters said there is no single “right age” for children to commute alone.
Instead, parents should look at whether the child can handle the journey safely.
One commenter said the biggest concern was not Singapore’s general safety, but whether children could cross roads properly and use buses and trains without getting distracted.
Another shared that their friend trusted one child to travel independently but not another, even though both children took the same route.
The difference was simple: one child actually looked where they were going when crossing the road.
That sparked agreement from others who felt independence should come after children show they can handle basic safety and navigation.
For younger children, knowing the route is not enough. They also need to understand traffic, crossings, public transport and what to do when something goes wrong.
Some Parents Are Still Very Protective
Not every childhood story involved early independence.
One commenter described growing up with an extremely protective mother who believed letting children travel alone was irresponsible.
The protection continued well into adulthood.
They recalled having to pick up their 24-year-old sister from the MRT and walk her home because their mother believed it was unsafe for her to walk alone.
Another commenter shared that their mother once waited for them to come home until 3am, even when they were already 26.
The stories were funny, but some commenters also pointed out the emotional side of being raised with heavy restrictions. For them, becoming independent was sometimes viewed by their parents as rebellion rather than a normal part of growing up.
Meanwhile, other parents in the thread are taking a more gradual approach.
One parent said their Primary 1 child sometimes walks five to 10 minutes to school alone. The parents occasionally walk with him, while an AirTag provides extra reassurance.
For them, Singapore’s relatively safe environment is an opportunity to let children experience small amounts of independence early. Ultimately, the Reddit discussion suggests there is no magic age for going home alone.
For some, it starts in Primary 2 or 3. For others, it happens much later. The bigger question may not be “How old is my child?” but “Can my child handle this safely?”
And for many Singaporeans, those first solo trips to school were not just about getting from A to B. They were some of their earliest tastes of freedom.
See the post here:
When did you all start going home from school alone?
byu/piggyb0nk inaskSingapore
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