Would you leave your kids alone...

[MaryJaneParkers]

For 12 minutes, day time. (timed it previously). Age 5 to 11. All engrossed in Disney film. Eldest has home phone and mobile number.

For a quick bread/milk shop run, when it's raining and they're in PJs?

[ChalkHearts]

Yes. Of course.

[Flossieflower01]

11 year old yes, 5 year old no. Age 9 would be my lower limit and only then if very sensible.

[zombiesarecoming]

Yes

[MaryJaneParkers]

Phew. Ok. I did this first time ever and worried I was awful. Was only because I was caught out with illness previous days so had no shopping.

[attheendoftheday]

I wouldn't leave a 5 year old, no.

[pinkcan]

No I would not leave the 5yo. Yes the 11yo with a sensible 9+ yo.

[Natsku]

Oh yes, no worries.

[Sirzy]

11 year old yes, 11 year old with siblings aged 8 or over probably. 5 year old in the sole care of 11 year old no. Not fair on the 11 year old imo

[longdiling]

I leave my 9 and 11 year old for short periods but not the 5 year old. She's too young to be expected to be responsible and the older two are too young to be expected to be responsible for her imo.

[Diamogs]

Yes I would

[monkeyfacegrace]

I would too. My kids have been playing 'out' since 3 and 5 (we live rurally) and are very sensible.

I know when mine become 11 they will be more than capable of watching a 5 year old. Can't be said for all kids though.

[FATEdestiny]

No way.

11 year old - yes.
10 year old - probably (if sensible)

But to leave older children being responsible for younger children - that is completely unfair on the older sibling to be given no choice in accepting that responsibility.

Unless children are an age they can be left home alone (ie on their own), then they should be left without an adult for this length of time.

Would you leave a 5 year old alone?

[willconcern]

Yes for 12 mins!

[Candycoco]

No because an 11 year old doesn't have the maturity or experience to deal with something that goes wrong and it's not fair for them to have sole responsibility of a 5 year old.

[HarrietSchulenberg]

Yes, I've had to in order to walk the dog when they won't come with me.

[DancingDinosaur]

Depends on the 5 year old. I think twice before leaving my 6 year old with anyone as he's such a handful. Definitely the 11 yr old though.

[ILoveACornishPasty]

Yes, totally would.

[uhoh2016]

I've left my 8 and 5 yo downstairs for longer than 12 mins when I've had a bath!!! I know I'm in the house but I can't see or really hear what they're up to. I suppose it depends on how sensible your children are

[yomellamoHelly]

I would have (but would have taken the one in between). Depends on the children.

[Sirzy]

Presumably you would jump out the bath in seconds if something happened though so Hardly the same!

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

As a one off, not regularly.

[Obs2016]

Depends. On the child. I've spent longer than that outside hoovering my car!! Ds2 is year 2 and can be left for ages playing x box with ds1, or ds1 off doing his own stuff.

[BeverlyGoldberg]

I wouldn't but I am very over protective. I'd be worried if something happened to the five year old (choking, bad fall etc) the 11 yer old wouldn't know what to do.

[jollyfrenchy]

For that short a period of time, yes. I've left my 9 and 7 year olds for a similar period of time eg while picking up other child from a club. The oldest walks home from school alone so I figure she is safer in the house staring at a TV screen than she is walking just under a mile on the streets. We have discussed rules about answering the door, no using anything hot in the kitchen etc and what to do in case of emergency. I wouldn't leave any of them for longer than 15 minutes yet.