Ok to leave a 16 year old?

Well, what’s your concern, why wouldn’t you? You must have some concerns to be asking the question. If he is happy to be left and you’ve left him overnight before which you say you have, and he’s sensible etc then what’s the issue?

A few days home alone is surely safer than a weekend at Reading or Leeds festival, which thousands of 16 year olds do every summer.

I couldn’t do it with my 16 year old. They can be very careless but oblivious. Also they can panic if something goes wrong eg when we had a power cut they could not cope. They are fine when I am around but I would not trust them. If they had a sensible friend to stay fine but they don’t!

Surprised at so many nos I think it’s fine. I’d just caution him telling anyone at college he’s alone don’t want gatecrashers trying to party. He knows where to ask in an emergency.
Assuming he’s lower sixth he will be at uni in 18 months.

Christ at 16 I was routinely home alone when my mum went on holiday (as I'd rather have died than gone), and went on holiday with my boyfriend and friends.

I have ASD and ADHD and was always absolutely fine!

I'd be concerned about a 16yr old who couldn't be left for a few days, or who would feel too sad!!

Yeah I'd let him. I stayed on my own for 2 weeks during the summer at that age as I had a new part time job (full time in summer) that I would have lost if I had to go

I think this is a MN thing. It's not something people irl given a second thought tbh.

I think he'll be fine if he's happy with it. You've left him overnight before, so you know he can cope with that. He has someone local to call on if there's some kind of emergency.

You've said you're not worried that he'll have a mad party.

I guess the only thing is what happens if he gets to night 2 if he's unhappy? Could he sleep over with a mate or your friend if that happens?

Blimey, I was hoping that DH and I might be able to get some solo mini breaks away together by the time DD2 hits 16, so I hope they can be left alone at that age.

My mum went away with her partner for two weeks when I was 16 and my sister 15. Yes we did have parties etc, but we were also sensible enough to limit the numbers, tidy up afterwards and still go to school. I guess with video calling nowadays teenagers might not even dare try the parties!

DH is trying to convince me that at 16 we will be able to leave ASD dd for a couple of nights.

now rationally, I, who also am ASD, know that are same age I stayed by myself for a week at a time more than once at it was not a problem. My parents even left me in charge of a 12yo, though that part I think in retrospect was crazy.

Each to their own, DD wouldn’t have wanted to come home to sleep in an empty house and that’s fine. I know plenty of adults who don’t particularly like that either! As I said in my previous post it’s different if he’s able to have friends over to stay with him

He has a lot of support around him-tea at his friend’s every evening and your best friend checking on him every evening-I think he’ll be fine.

Re. Turning off the hob, locking doors, etc. I’d ask your friend to pop round at say 8 and go through these things with him, to make sure that he doesn’t forget. A couple of nights doing that and he won’t forget.

We left DD (nearly 19 now) home alone for a weekend at 17 and she was fine. Her friend stayed over one night and otherwise she chilled with the dog. DS is 16 in the autumn and we’ll probably wait until next year- until he’s a similar age to your DS.

As PP’s have pointed out, even nowadays, many teenagers are living away from home by 18. DD started uni last year. They need to learn how to manage.

Not a chance I would. I think it's way too long to leave a 16 year old. And yes I was living away at 17 when I was uni but I was living in digs with a family.

Depends on the child. My younger dd was absolutely fine, so sensible her older sister wouldn't have coped

It depends on the 16 year old, but generally yes they should be fine. My parents went away for a week when I was that age and while I did have a party, it was fairly chilled. We knew our neighbours well (I babysat for them) so I'm sure they kept an ear/eye out but it really wasn't an issue and I enjoyed the independence.

Yeah, I think this is completely fine unless there's a particular reason why not. Clearly you've already encouraged independence so it's not like you're going from never-left-alone-or-made-a-meal to a week away.

He sounds sensible, independent, experienced at sorting himself and has plenty of support around etc. I'm pretty sure my brother and I were left at home alone for the odd night at around that age. And my mother had left home AND moved country at 16 so really, no problem.

I know they weren't suggesting that. I just think it's irrelevant in this situation and it irritates me.

Only you know if your ds would be ok. I wouldn’t leave my teens at that age because of my own anxieties & I’d end up stressed. I expect they would be fine though!

This 16 year old will be at college so why should he be lonely. And no one's stopping him seeing friends TBH I don't know many 16 year olds who sit in the room with parents each evening

I have done this with my kids from 16 - I also have a neighbour who stops by and get my dog walker to come too. Couple of mishaps over the years - one where she told school she was on her own at home and they panicked and when she needed to go to A and E but she went with my neighbour and we were able to go back if needed.
it’s good for them - gives them independence and a chance to practice for moving out!

I don't think the poster was suggesting that OP chuck her teenage son out. Just giving a bit of perspective, that it would be perfectly reasonable for him to be left in the house for a weekend.

Yes I would be happy to do that.

As with all these questions, really depends on the 16-year-old. My parents left me alone for a few days at that age, and I know they left my brother too. He and I were both very calm teenagers who would have just enjoyed having the place to ourselves for a few days and would have done nothing more sociable than having a couple of mates over to watch a film or sunbathe in the garden.

They would not, however, have done the same with my sister because she was not remotely trustworthy as a teenager and would 100% have massively taken the piss, had a huge ill-advised party and wrecked the house.

I would say if he is comfortable with it and is clear who to contact if he needs to then no problem.

He’ll be fine. My friends and I went on a camping holiday for a week as soon as we finished our GCSEs in a couple of old tents, 1 dodgy Nokia between the 6 of us and a bunch of fake ID’s. Teenagers are pretty resourceful when they have to be. Enjoy your time away!