We’ve all heard the tragic story of Leiby Kletzky, the 8-year-old boy who became lost on his way home from summer camp, asked a stranger in his tight-knit religious community for directions —and subsequently was abducted and murdered. While cases of child abduction in the U.S. are actually rare—only 1 in 1.5 million children are kidnapped annually—what can you do to protect your child when you’re a working mom and can’t always be there to walk him home from school or summer camp?

Since there are no official age guidelines that mandate when a child is independent enough to walk home alone, it is ultimately up to the parents to make that personal decision. Factors to consider include the maturity level of your child and how complicated the route home is—if it’s more than a few blocks, you might want to consider hiring a babysitter instead. While it’s also important to consider the safety of your neighborhood, Leiby’s family lived in a Hasidic Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn with almost no crime rate, which is partly what is shocking and alarming many parents around the country about this story.

When you decide to let your child walk home alone, do a dry run first, experts suggest. This way, your kid gets to practice and thoroughly know the directions ahead of time. (You can even write them down and draw a map together that he can carry with him.) Observe your child and then offer encouraging feedback so he’ll be prepared. And if he’s old enough, stay connected by having your child call you from his cell phone as he walks home. Even before your child is old enough to walk alone, he should be taught your address and phone number, and know that if he ever gets lost, it’s safest to ask a police officer for help finding you or getting home.

Working Mother wants to know: How old was your child when he first walked home alone? Or, if your child isn’t old enough yet, at what age do you think you’ll trust that he can find his way safely?