Letting your child walk or cycle alone to school could make them more confident, says study

If you allow your child to walk or cycle to school, unassisted and without adult chaperoning, they're likely to be good decision-makers, have a better sense of safety and possess far greater confidence, finds a new study. Their self-governing skill would be progressive as well.

In addition, active commuting such as walking or cycling can foster a healthy lifestyle for these kids.  "This increases physical activity and cardiovascular health in children that commute actively, especially in those that go cycling," said Manuel Herrador, a researcher at the University of Granada in Spain.

Previous studies have also derived a link between active commuting and an enhancement in the cognitive skills and academic performances. For the new study, published in the journal Acta Paediatrica, the team studied over 745 school children, aged between six to 12 years. 

The children were questioned regarding who accompanied them to school and the safety measures undertaken while travelling alone. The findings showed that children above 10-12 years are more likely to commute to school unaccompanied by anyone.