5.5 year old gets up on own

Really ?? How many of us positively interact with our children at 6.00am in the morning ??? I’d say if a 5 yo can play by themselves for 90 minutes, then it is fantastic. I’m sure if the OP’s DD is feeling lonely, she knows she can go back upstairs. It would be different if she was on an IPad or looking at TV. Though when my children were at that age, it was a Saturday morning treat to look at TV for an hour. One of us would go down with them, switch on the TV, etc and go back upstairs for an hour or so. And my children, now young adults, have no issues with social skills, vocabulary, friends, relationships, independence, they have always felt loved by us and we all talk about anything and everything and gave a great relationship, etc.

To the OP, the only thing different I’d do is try encourage your DD to stay in bed/her room until at least 7am, for me getting up before then is too early. Have a clock or something in her room so she knows the time.

What is your worry about a child occupying themselves? It’s really healthy and normal for a school age child to be capable of surviving without interaction for a short period of time.
Can I ask how many children you have and their ages? It may be that you’re at the ‘PFB’ stage which is why we have differing views.

I used to leave a ready poured cup of milk in the fridge and a banana out for early morning s. Bit of telly and we got a lie in, result!

Choking? Is it normal for a 5 year old to regularly choke

I'm flabbergasted by some of the comments on here. Make her stay in her room - sure lock her into a small space for an hour and a half. That's better than giving her freedom and independence in her own home. I guess bedrooms have anti-choking magic, so that would be better.
If you live in a standard sized house and would likely hear a crash or bang and be there as soon as you would if you had just popped to the loo then, as long as she can clearly manage, then do whatever works for you. I was allowed to make toast by climbing on the sideboard when I was 5. Obvs a different time and I wouldn't allow my 5 year old to do the same. But we are active in encouraging our children to do as much as is reasonably possible by themselves as well as supervised chores at 3 and 5. As a result they are very capable and resilient. That's a good thing. Don't let your kids become my uni housemates that would burn everything and didn't know how to use a washing machine

My DS pulled the kettle off the side and over him (thankfully not boiling but still hot). I was up and able to deal with it quickly so he was fine but imagine something similar happening and parents being asleep. Even if you are awake it will still take you time to get to your child.
I don't know why parents risk it. And people of any age can choke. Might be rare doesn't mean it can't happen.

My mother said one of her best mornings was when I figured out how to do cereal and a cup of water for me and my younger brother. I must have been around 4-5. She would have heard us yapping away but was able to stay horizontal. We were early risers.

It’s fine, make sure you are half awake / your door is open and make sure dd knows what is and isn’t allowed in the kitchen (not allowed to use the big knives or microwave.

My dc did something from a similar age - would get up and dress, come downstairs to play. Usually just 30mins or so before we got up and not every day. Ds liked to make himself a cheeky milkshake! I had to buy smaller bottles of milk as the massive ones were too heavy for him to pour without making a terrible mess.

Independence is really a good thing and they love pottering around on their own.

There is absolutely no way DS1 would do this. He struggles being on his own for 5 minutes. I am amazed any child that age is happy to be on their own for 1.5 hours tbh. If she’s happy and your confident in her abilities though I don’t think it’s a problem.

I've always let mine get up on their own / together - from about 4/5 - but I still don't let them eat snacks. Too worried about choking. I've no doubt I'm being ridiculous but I just feel better if they wait for breakfast which is usually pretty bloody early anyway!

Children like adults are individuals.

One of my nephews could not be left alone like that until he was 11 there as my DD could at 5.

She has no interest in chemicals etc there as he nearly always wanted to experiment. This even though both are/were encouraged to help with DIY.

No issue, if this is a sensible child. My kids were simial ages.
BUT, they're not allowed to eat anything, ever, if there's not an adult around.

Completely normal. I wouldn't have a snack box either, mine could access the normal cupboards by 5.

Ha, mine has done this since age about 4.5. He lets the cat in, plays, gets a piece of fruit, sometimes manages to spill cat food over the floor in an attempt to be independent and feed the cat (dry food), occasionally does something slightly cheeky like eating some icing off the birthday cake leftovers :) Sounds like a dream though to have a kid who is happy to be up for an hour before demanding attention!

Would you be happy for a childminder to leave your child in her home unsupervised while you take a nap? No of course not, so what makes your home so much safer?

Despite your assertion that she is sensible, she is not fine with chemicals, running water, electrical appliances, sharp objects, matches/lighter, cooker. If she has an accident and you are asleep, you cannot assist her.

She should stay in her room, with a snack, toys and books.

It's not even early. Wy do you not want to get up with them?

Choking is really rare at that age, a knock at the door you'd hear (and if you lock the door at night and put the key out of reach, they can't open it anyway), falling you'd hear and deal with - and however much you hover you won't prevent falls.

We're not talking about the parents leaving the house for 1.5 hours.

Better to allow it with strict rules and taking precautions, than for it to happen without you realising.

They don’t have much time with parents at that age any way why wouldn’t you want to be positively interacting with your child, making them feel loved, developing their vocab and social skills, helping them develop and explore their interests rather than them just playing by themsleves for what is a big block of time. But their not "just playing by themselves". They're learning the ability to amuse themselves, to self-motivate, resilience, problems solving.

Absolutely not. And I am a relaxed, laid back parent.

Choking hazard.
Someone knocking the door
Falling/slipping
5 year old alone for an hour and half.

Absurd. I am shocked how many people think that is ok!!

Imagine if someone thing awful happened. Headlines would not read favourably on someone who has left a 5 year old alone for that long.

I wouldn't have done this. 5 is too young imo.

Nope. I have always got up with them all over the years. I wouldn't leave them downstairs on their own at those ages.

I would worry they could be touching stuff they shouldn't.

Ds at 4yo would go downstairs in the morning, grab his ipad and a brioche and just get on with his day 😅. I loved it. Our house was fairly open plan at the time so we could hear him. He's not one of those children to open all the cupboards or try and stick fingers in the toaster etc (I hide his Xmas presents in his divan drawer, he's so easy in that way 🤣). If you think she'll be OK, then let her!

Ours did this from 5 & 3. Like a PP, we'd stopped DC1 from doing it as we didn't think we'd allow DC2 to do it but then we found him downstairs one morning eating his cereal in front of the TV with Rice Krispies all over the kitchen floor and him sitting on a dining room chair as he knew he wasn't allowed to sit on the sofa and eat so had dragged it through. We decided it was safer to let them go down together and set up some food so they could access it without making a mess. They'd usually come in for a cuddle first so one of us was semi-conscious at least but it was bliss to still be in bed.

I put one of my college training videotapes on once to find 5 year old DS had taped over it so he could get up and watch Terminator every morning.

My DD has done this from a similar age. She's nearly 7 now. Initially she'd wake up and bring her tablet into bed with me, snuggle and maybe have a breakfast snack in bed (she liked to munch on dry Cheerios). As she's got older she'll come to the living room on her own and put the TV on, play in her room, or maybe do some crafts. She's an only and a bit old for her age, though.