Is it right for kids to go out alone?

A row's broken out in America over whether a boy should have been allowed out and about on his own in New York.

At the age of nine, Izzy's mum gave him a map and some money to explore New York City, and find his way home.

Lots of people are worried, because they say it's dangerous for Izzy to be using trains and buses on his own, because he's too young.

Freedom

But what do YOU think? What age do you think kids should be allowed out on their own?

How much freedom to you get, are you allowed to travel by bus or train to school or to see your mates, or would your parents go mad if you went out on your own?

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Your comments

"I think you should be allowed out on your own if you want. I prefer going out with friends and it is much safer."

Samantha, 12, Renfrewshire, Scotland

"I think it is very dangerous because he is too young to go to the city by himself."

Abdifatah, 10, London, England

"Travelling on your own is perfectly ok. Since I was seven I have been walking to school on my own."

Ellie, 12, Essex, England

"It certainly isn't right for a nine year old to go around New York by himself, he should be with mates or an adult!"

Brad, 9, Rotherham, England

"It's up to the parents, different places in the world have different safety. If Izzy felt he wanted to do it and he was allowed, then why not?"

Kate, 15, Devon, England

"Yes, because they need freedom earlier, for later life. Because they will live on their own in the future. I go out on my own quite a lot."

Sammy, 11, Herfordshire, England

"I am only allowed around the block and to the corner shop on my own. New York is not a place for a nine-year-old!!"

Claudia, 10, Berkshire, England

"I don't think they should because they are too young, it's just stupid! My brother doesn't do it and he's 12!"

Lauren, 9, Northamptonshire, England

"I think you should be allowed to go out on your own, but only if you're over 10, otherwise you should go with a couple of mates."

Charlotte, 10, Leicestershire, England

"I go out on my own a lot but prefer it when I'm with friends and when I can call my parents at any time on my mobile."

Hannah, 12, Surrey, England

"I think it is perfectly OK as long as you know the dangers of the outside world."

Saffron, 12, Kent, England

"Most of my friends aren't allowed out on their own, but me and my friend are. We've never used public transport though because we don't really need to."

Lauren, 10, South Glamorgan, Wales

"I think nine years old is too young. I think you should be a teenager before you're allowed."

Chris, 12, Somerset, England

"I am 11 years old and I get on a bus on my own to school and back. I also go out to the park myself."

Amy, 11, Fife, Scotland

"I think it's a good idea. Parents are very over protective these days. Letting a kid fend for themselves is the best way to boost confidence and help them mature."

Ronnie, 13, USA

"I lived in New York for most of my life and even though I lived close enough to school to walk, my mum would have never let me walk to school alone, no matter how much I begged her. All the other adults I knew agreed that it was too dangerous, because it IS."

Liz, 12, San Francisco, USA

"I think you should go with your friends and on your own, just don't talk to strange people."

Rebecca, 12, Essex, England

"That is fair because I'm seven and I get to meet my mates on the bus. I go with my mates to school."

Clara, 7, Surrey, England

"WHAT?! I live in the USA and NYC is NOT a place to be exploring at the age of nine... ALONE! My parents are overprotective."

Lilli, 10, USA

"I think everyone should be allowed out when they go into secondary school. I go to school by myself and go home by myself. I find it calmer because your parents aren't there to tell you what to do."

Joana, 13, London, England

"I think children should be allowed to travel on their own providing they know the area. It's a way of gaining independence. Anyway, it's the parents decision not ours."

Laura, 13, Kent, England

"He's too young...he is one year older than me!"

Eleanor, 9, Cambridge, England

"I think that children aged nine and over should have freedom because if they don't, they will always rely on their parents/guardians."

Rebecca, 11, London, England