An Austin 8-year-old was found within an hour Thursday after she was reported missing.

According to Police Chief Brian Krueger, Southgate Elementary School reported the girl missing at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday after she didn’t come home right away after school. A bus driver reported the girl got off the bus and was walking toward her house, but no one had seen her since.

Police found the girl at about 4:30 p.m. about three blocks west of her southeast Austin home, at a friend’s house. She had reportedly decided to go play with a friend and hadn’t told her parents, Krueger said.

About six police and one or two detectives canvassed the neighborhood looking for her, which included going door-to-door to ask residents about her.

Though she was found safe, Krueger emphasized the importance of knowing where children are.

“Children need to communicate well with their parents so we don’t have reoccurring events like this one,” he said. “Thankfully, she was found safe.”