To consider leaving my dds on their own for 30 mins in the morning?

[BoBoo]

DDs currently year 5 and 6 and at the moment, I need to leave for work just after 8am and they go to breakfast club. I am considering letting them stay at home by themselves for half an hour after I leave, when they would then walk themselves to school.

Both are very sensible, especially the eldest. She has a mobile, so could contact me if needed and our neighbour works from home so would be there if needed in case of an emergency. This would save us around £200 a month, which would be lovely, but I am also keen to increase responsibility and independence in preparation for secondary school next year. They are both comfortable with the idea. Do other people do similar, or AIBU?

[MrsTerryPratchett]

No Way. And mine is 7. Admittedly not sensible but still.

[Nicknacky]

I’m sorry,I’m in Scotland so what age are they?

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Shit I read 5 and 6. I thought you were utterly irresponsible!!!

[BoBoo]

They are 9 and 10 (nearly 11).

[Deadbudgie]

I think much depends on what the route to school is like, I’m guessing they are 9/10 and 10/11. Provided the route is safe and they will leave on time (maybe you call them when they should leave) I’d say fine

[Nicknacky]

God it’s borderline but my gut says give it another year. And I say that with a very sensible 11 year old that I may be doing similar with soon.

[BoBoo]

The route is short and safe and they are comfortable with it. They already do the walk by themselves on the days when things don't quite go to plan and I would miss my train by dropping them off. I was thinking about maybe an alarm clock to make sure they leave on time.

[BigSandyBalls2015]

Fine if they're sensible.

Another year and the eldest will be at secondary!

[Cheeseandapple]

Agree that it's probably fine BUT maybe quiz them on worst case scenarios. When I was 17 and leaving for school the door broke on my way out and I couldn't close it! My Mum was at work and I was a bit scatty and clueless in the moment. Is youngest ok to get to school alone if oldest is ill? Will they have a key to get back in if they close the door without pe kit?

[midnight1983]

I stayed at home before school alone and walked myself to school (in a busy city) from year 5 onwards, but I was a very responsible child. So I think it's fine if they are sensible.

[Biologifemini]

I think it is fine. I would also inform the school in case they are late/forget.

But I would double check they can lock up and also ensure they have had breakfast and a good drink before leaving.
But they need to get in well. I’d put on the tv and ensure they are 100% before you leave.

[greensnail]

I think it is fine. My two are year 4 and year 5 at the moment and I hope to be able to do similar next year.

[WeakAsIAm]

My middle DS is 10 ; very sensible and walks himself home each night met by eldest DS 15.
I usually do school run in morning, but if I'm needed in work early I still put DS 10 in breakfast club with DS 6. It's not that I don't trust him but think the responsibility of locking up the house before school is a little too much.
I wouldn't say a def no but I'm not ready for him to do this yet.
For reference I have left ds15 home alone during school holidays since he was 12.

[MrsPnut]

My daughter started doing this after October half term in year 6. To begin with she set the timer on the oven to off when she needed to leave but she soon could do without it. There are lots of friends nearby who could help her in an emergency and we practiced what to do.

[Disfordarkchocolate]

My youngest would have been fine with this apart from sometimes forgetting to lock the door when they left.

[bridgetreilly]

I would be okay with it, I think, though I would talk them through scenarios like being locked out, losing phone, or one of them feeling ill during the half an hour on their own. And I would ask the eldest to always text you when they have got to school. An alarm clock for leaving the house is a really good idea.

[BoBoo]

I would absolutely go through what do if things go wrong and give a key, although I don't think they would need it. They both already take charge of PE kits and packed lunches and have a better grip on it than I do. If the eldest was ill then one of us would need to be home with her so would then take youngest to school. And if we decide we are all okay with it then would do a couple of dry runs where they go through the process and take charge, but with someone home.

[MammaSchwifty]

Could you give them a call to check they've left for school ok instead of the alarm? The first few times you could even keep them on the line the whole time they are at home, if you have a mobile tariff with unlimited minutes.

[Nanna50]

Im not sure I would leave my 9 and 10 year olds to lock up the house, switch everything off and remember all of their school stuff. How long would it take you to get back if they needed you?

[More2Fly]

Age 5 and 6?

[More2Fly]

Oh sorry! 😂😂 I think age 9 and 10 is fine

[DropZoneOne]

If you can rely on them to leave on time and lock the door, go for it. I have no quibbles about my DD in year 6 walking to/from school, she lets herself in after school and I'm home about 30 mins after that. But she's away with the fairies in the morning, no way would she remember to leave the house on time or lock the door behind her!!

[BoBoo]

Thank you for your replies, this is reassuring and it is helpful to run through things I may not have thought of. The door will lock when they close it behind them, so don't need to worry about that.

[SleepyMcEdie]

How will you know they have made it to school safely? If something happened it could take the school office a few hours to go through their attendance and alert you to their absence.

[Josiebloggs]

I think its fine to do this, my one massive issue would be that if something catastrophic happened you wouldn't know until after school which is much too late. You need to have something in placr to ensure they have both reached school safely.