Ok to leave a 16 year old?

Well, when I was 16 I had my own flat & a baby!

Hate it when posters say this, like we should be aspiring to chuck out our young teens as soon as poss because "I managed it".

Anyway - I think it's fine. I stayed home for a week when my family went to France and I didn't want to. You're not even going out of the country so you'll be easily contactable.

I possibly wouldn't leave mine because - as we pack for holiday - they have proven themselves absolutely ridiculously dense when it comes to common sense!

I was thrown out at 16 and lived alone. It's fine for a few days

I definitely would, and have left a then 16 yo DD for a week - she had various friends of mine nearby she could call on in an emergency, and had friends to stay over during the week.

When DS was in y11 we left him for a week and went abroad, again he had various phone nos in case of emergency, but had an older friend (uni student from our church) move in for the week for a bit of company. No problems, worked well.

At 16 I was travelling hundreds of miles on buses and trains on my own, I had mates with their own flats, I was going to all night raves in fields, all before mobile phones.

I was working at weekends and left alone while my parents went for weekends away from about 14. He will be fine, he's got lots of adult support nearby should he need it, and he sounds very capable of making himself a fishfinger butty and remembering to clean his teeth.

I was the same age when my mum left me Monday to Friday to take my younger brother on holiday and I don't think any of us thought twice about it!

From reading your updates, I'd have no qualms leaving him with the support network and other arrangements you have in place.

I was left while my parents went away for 2 weeks at 16 but I was very sensible and I had dogs/horses to look after. My sister lived nearby too if I'd needed help. I think it does depend on the individual 16 year old though.

I have 3 sons.
Each of them has had their first week home alone at 16. All were fine, none of them missed us.

My biggest concern would be remembering to do things like turning off the oven/hob, close windows, lock up, don't lose keys etc...but then my ds is incredibly absent minded!

I had a 16 year old who certainly wouldn’t have wanted to be left for days on end as she would’ve been lonely, therefore I respected her wishes. That doesn’t mean that she can’t function as an adult! Now aged 19 she’s miles ahead of her friends in terms of maturity and independence - every single evening I come in from work to a lovely home cooked meal.. no pot noodles, burnt eggs or culinary disasters here

Presumably he's 2/3rd's of the way through Y12 if he's at college so yes with what you've said I would. During Covid we had no option but to leave similar age DC for longer on their own. I know my DSis wouldn't be able to with her similar age DC - some are just more practical/capable/less likely to have or cause an accident at that age so you just have to risk assess for yourself based on your particular DC & circumstances.

Is he happy about it? If so, it's fine. If not-not.

Yes a 16 year old should have been taught the skills and knowledge of how to look after themselves. They are young adults , not toddlers .
Don’t want them getting to 18 and being that one at uni who doesn’t know how to cook an egg !

Any specific reason why not?

It seems like quite a long time. My ds has just turned 16 and no way would I do this. A sensible 16 year old who is nearer to 17 might be fine.

Yes! I was left home alone for a week at 16 (& no mobile phones either). He'll love it!

DD lives with her grandparents Mon-Fri so they she can get to college (we live rurally and are counting the days to her turning 17 and being able to learn to drive). Two of her friends also board with them for the same reasons, so three 16yr olds together. MIL and FIL went away for a fortnight recently and the three of them stayed alone Mon-Fri. We checked in with them 3 times a week and they were so domesticated. They cooked dinner, cleaned, watched documentaries together and even did some gardening unprompted. They messaged us morning and evening on a shared WhatsApp with us, MIL and the parents of the other two and they had a thoroughly lovely time.

I teach secondary however and can confirm that it depends on the DC. I've taught a few who've been left alone for a weekend and they've taken part in some very risky behaviours.

I wouldn't personally.

If he is ok with it I think he’ll be fine op. In fact it will be a good learning experience for him. I would be more worried about a wild party in my house tbh!

Edited to say: apologies just read that you are not worried about parties! In that case, go for it!

He will be fine. 16 can be very mature.

Maybe do a checklist of things needed to be done before bed. Doors, windows, oven etc. And make him responsible for it from now on so it becomes second nature by the time you leave.

Also get him to cook some meals, and do the clean up so he knows his responsibility

It entirely depends on the 16 year old.

Based on your description it sounds fine.

I think that sounds fine and very controlled. I presume he could stay with his/your friend if something came up. I moved out at just 17 (I have ADHD) so have plenty of faith in most people's ability to manage some independence at that age.

Of course, he's almost an adult! He'll be fine.

How does he feel about it?

My DD would be fine, she’s just turned 16 and so far I’ve only left her 1 night but she’s more than capable of looking after herself and cooks her own food every day anyway.