How much independence should a school-age child have?

More than most urban Indian children currently get, within genuine safety constraints. Independence builds competence and confidence, and the practical approach is graduated: small responsibilities at home, then short supervised errands, then unsupervised ones within a known area. Teach the skills explicitly — crossing roads, what to do if lost, who to approach for help, their address and a phone number — rather than assuming they will absorb them. Assess actual local risks rather than inherited anxiety. The goal is a child who has practised handling small problems before they face larger ones alone.