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AIBU?

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Original poster

What age is ok to leave a child at home for short periods?

70 replies

schg · 18/07/2024 13:40

I have a 10 year old daughter, would it be unreasonable to say leave her at home while I nip to a shop nearby? What are peoples thoughts? And if not yet, when?

OP posts:
outofcoffee · 18/07/2024 14:20

My 2 are 6 and 8 and while I'd trust the eldest completely, my 6 year old would be up to all sorts so I couldn't leave them.

primitivepainters · 18/07/2024 14:20

My 8 year old has been sensible enough to leave at home without him getting into trouble for a while, but I still wouldn't do it because he doesn't have his own phone. What if I didn't come back? Who would he call?

Itiswhatitis80 · 18/07/2024 14:18

10 years old are year 5/6,they can walk to and from school at that age,leave clubs without an adult collecting them,it’s fine.

onemorenow · 18/07/2024 14:13

She's obviously comfortable and wanting to stay at home so if she's happy to, I'd leave her a very short time.

LadyDanburysHat · 18/07/2024 14:08

i have left all f mine from around 10 years old. Starting for 20 mins and building up to an hour perhaps. Then as they get older longer times.

Raggydollz · 18/07/2024 14:08

Can't see why not if she is sensible type.. just remind her to not answer door to anyone, how to get out in emergency etc

Vettrianofan · 18/07/2024 14:07

Around 11/12 yo.

FraterculaArctica · 18/07/2024 14:04

We leave DS aged 10 alone as long as we're not leaving the village or staying out long. If either of those - he comes with us like it or not. He doesn't have a phone yet.

Poachedeggavocado · 18/07/2024 14:00

By 10 I was leaving mine to pop to little shop for milk for 20 mins or popping next door for 30 mins chat. He started walking to school on his own at that age too. 5 min walk and a big road to cross.

BaselineDrop · 18/07/2024 13:58

We started when DS got a phone, so his 11th birthday.

HippeePrincess · 18/07/2024 13:56

Yes depending on the child 9/10 is fine.

11weekstogo · 18/07/2024 13:55

I'd leave her at home for 10 minutes while I pop to a shop but reading your update I wouldn't leave her outside a shop in a car for 10 mins no.

seagullsky · 18/07/2024 13:53

My daughter is 9.5 and we have started leaving her for around 10 minutes (eg to drop her sister to a local activity or pop to the shop at the end of the road. She is under strict instructions not to answer the door or do anything like use the toaster or oven. She is a sensible child - basically just wants to sit and read a book during that time.

I think if she is a sensible child who will follow instructions and you are just going somewhere very local and short, it is okay.

Ponoka7 · 18/07/2024 13:51

My granddaughter can be left at 9/nearly 10. We have neighbours that she could knock on if she needed to. She walks ahead to school. I follow some way behind with her younger sibling. Just build it up her being left. My GD used to phone me for a chat at the start, sometimes staying on the phone while I was in the shop.

DinnaeFashYersel · 18/07/2024 13:50

At 10 I was happy leaving mine at home for about 30-60 minutes.

Original poster
schg · 18/07/2024 13:50

She's very sensible and just sits and reads, watches tv, plays on her phone.
She moans and says why do I have to come if I have to nip out, sometimes I collect my nephew from nursery in the next street and she'll ask when she can stay at home.
The car is the other thing if I need to run in and buy milk or something she'll ask if she can stay in the car.

OP posts:
Chickenribbon · 18/07/2024 13:48

No set age can be given. The NSPCC have some guidelines but only you know your child’s level of maturity, ability to cope with a minor / major emergency .

my eldest I could leave at 10 for 5 /10 minutes to pop to local shop.

my youngest at 10 you couldn’t trust to lbw left in a room on their own let alone a separate floor if the house / different building!!!

you need to judge based on their maturity / ability to cope / able to use a phone / not likely to set the house on fire / obey the set rules you leave (no answering the door / cooking etc while I’m out)

CocoPlum · 18/07/2024 13:47

Yep I was doing this when mine were that age, I'd get them to set a timer for a little longer than I thought i should be and if I wasn't back when it went off they had to call me/their dad/my parents.

JollyGreenSnake · 18/07/2024 13:45

You know your daughter better than anyone else, but yeah, 10 sounds OK. Would she be able to contact you/another adult family member/neighbour if required? Would she be likely to open the front door if someone calls, or would she be liable to lock herself out by playing etc?

ErrolTheDragon · 18/07/2024 13:44

It depends on the individual child, obviously.
At 10 - some yes, some no🤷‍♀️