Though there was some pushback that the mother did not know where the kid was, this still seems confusing given rules around school commutes. Many schools do not provide bus service within half a mile up the school, expecting kids to walk or bicycle. In Alaska, it was 1.5 miles even though it got down to −40°! And there generally does not appear to be an age limit where parents are required to go with their kids, so it sounds like it’s okay for a 5-year-old to do this.
Though there was some pushback that the mother did not know where the kid was, this still seems confusing given rules around school commutes. Many schools do not provide bus service within half a mile up the school, expecting kids to walk or bicycle. In Alaska, it was 1.5 miles even though it got down to −40°! And there generally does not appear to be an age limit where parents are required to go with their kids, so it sounds like it’s okay for a 5-year-old to do this.