5.5 year old gets up on own

I would wonder how they would feel. 90 solid mins is a long time in a young child’s eyes. 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.

Sounds fine OP, honestly you're the best judge and as you say she's sensible etc. I'm sure she knows she can come and wake you if needed.

Do you not feel the ability to amuse yourself without parental interaction is worth cultivating?

Mine did this from age 4. We would leave out some cereal and put some milk in a metal jug in the fridge so they could pour it on. I think it is important to help children take small steps towards independence- otherwise they go from not being trusted to do anything to being expected to manage too much at once.

My DM let me join Brownies at 7 because they taught you to lay and light a fire. From being not allowed downstairs on your own to matches and fire lighting in two years is a big step.

I imagine today 7 would be considered young for matches.

That’s a good question. For me the bigger issue is neither interacting with their child for an hour and a half a day.

I wouldn't have done this at 5.5 but thinking back to when I was a child my brother and me used to get up and watch kids tv when we were about the same age and nobody batted an eye in the 80s!
So I guess it's fine as long as you're absolutely confident she wouldn't decide to make toast and burn herself or something

How old would she be before you she is safe to avoid choking?

It's totally fine and quite sad to hear that so many parents would crush their child's independence because of their own anxiety over choking, falls down stairs and any other catastrophe they can think of.

Providing unsafe things lighters k Ives etc are out of reach and the snacks are low risk choking ie no grapes /raisins etc I'd say it's fine. Make sure they know to get you if there's a issue and keys are out of reach

Yes. If you wouldn't allow it, how would you stop it anyway? My youngest was an early riser and would take herself downstairs to watch telly quietly and eat cereal on the sofa (not allowed, but she did it anyway). This is a child who first made her way downstairs on her own when she was maybe aged 2, still in a sleeping bag and had to hurdle a gate on her bedroom door. I took the gate away and showed her how to take off her sleeping bag for safety because there was no stopping her. As for choking, cereal is not much of a hazard. If she was heading down to gorge on grapes and hot dogs I might have had a different view.
This is a school aged child in the OP's case. I think a bit of independence is a good thing.

When my DC were that age I would have been happy if they were downstairs on their own for a short time,but this never happened as we have a security alarm and they would have been too young/short to use the control panel to switch it off.

Absolutely fine. Mine would do this from the age of about four.

I do know people panic about the possible but imperceptibly likely chance of choking. But in weighing things up the thing I do is recognise how much I have known this to happen with people in my own boundaries of life. Throughout my entire lifetime I have never known this to happen and the only reason it ever makes the news is that it is so rare. At five they’d probably do what any adult would in that situation anyway ams come and find help as soon and they realised they were struggling.

This is giving your child a step towards independence which is our job as adults. Let them.

I think an hour and a half is too long at that age, especially if you aren't awake. It's not just choking but she could fall and hurt herself or trip on any stairs you have. Also doesn't she get bored waiting for you to get up? What does she do once she's eaten?
My children were 7 before I let them go downstairs alone and even then I was usually awake. I'm usually quite relaxed about things but this would be a no from me.

My eldest has always woken early, by age 6/7 he often came downstairs before us on a weekend. 5.5 is a whisker young but every child is different - you know if your child is the type to be getting into things they shouldn't, or the type who will quietly get on with that lego kit/magnatile fort.

We've had some rules though. Firstly, stay in bed, lights off, til 6.30. Turning the light on just tells your brain its morning. Secondly, no coming downstairs until 7am. By 7am I'm usually awake if not out of bed & will have my door ajar to hear him. One of DH or I is usually up by 7.30.

A 6/7 year old should know not to touch the hob etc & should be able to amuse themselves for a bit.

@Jellyrose20 I couldn't do it with my 5 year old as he has some additional needs, but I know a couple of parents with kids the same age who have started doing this at weekends and it's fine. As long as stuff is set up so it's safe and you'd be able to hear/react if something did happen, then I don't see an issue to be honest.

One mum I chat to had to stop it though as it got to be more trouble than it was worth - she has twin boys and although they're very well behaved, they took "independent" to a new level and they started trying to use the toaster and kettle by themselves - they were 4 🤣

Perfectly fine and normal if the child shows they are capable.
You will get a variety of answers based on the fact children vary massively with their independence and skills.
You know your child.

Yanbu. I used to do this. My house is tiny so I could hear DS had put cbbc on. Carton of juice in the fridge and some cereal.

I wouldn't at that age / the risk of choking is too great and she wouldn't be able to shout for you if choking.

It's not super early in the scheme of things and it won't last forever

DS does this on weekends and it's fine. I'll leave a couple of bananas/satsumas, his water bottle and a brioche out.

I wish my 6.5 yo would do this but she wouldn't have the confidence sadly.

Although to be fair over the past 6 months or so 90 per cent of the time my 3yo wakes first anyway.

Absolutely fine and a testament to your parenting that they’re already so independent and capable. Good for you!