To leave DC home alone at midnight?

I disagree. Maybe ask the 12 year olds what they want to do, instead of speaking for them?

I absolutely loved babysitting for other families when I was aged 12.

I loved the families. I loved the children and I loved earning a bit of money.

It was my favourite time of the week.

12 year olds choose to babysit. Because they want to

Actually I agree and think asking any child this age to take on responsibility for a younger brother or sister is asking too much. Parents need to sort out babysitting or not go out.
I also dislike that girls are disproportionately lumbered with looking after younger children. It's not their job.

You see this is problematic. Assumption girls are responsible and appropriate to undertake childcare. It’s a frequent and recurrent stereotype we expect very young girls to step up and into care roles as children. 12 is too young for that responsibility

The parents need to make adjustments and

moderate their behaviour.Twelve year old Children aren’t there to fill gaps when parents want to socialise

I wouldn't. I would not have a problem leaving them alone for the evening but leaving them alone till 1am is pushing it. Would they be awake till 1am? Would you pop over to put them to bed or expect them to go to sleep by themselves?

This is a boy. Less responsible. And not a baby but a younger brother - who might not do as older brother says etc?

No way, and I’m quite relaxed about stuff like this. I would say 15 and 12 at a minimum.
i wouldn’t hire a babysitter under 15, therefore I wouldn’t leave my own child in charge at younger than this.

No.

No way

I remember babysitting for a family that had a five year old a six year old and a 2 year old when I was 13.

The 2 year old was in bed when I came so I didn't have to do anything with her. Just keep an eye on her.

It was fine. You're never totally alone. I had their number for emergencies

I asked my cousin there and she told me that she used to babysit for her neighbours when she was 11. She had a phone number for emergencies and other neighbours she could run to

Some people think it's fine though.

I was babysitting a young baby when I was aged 12. I stayed in the house by myself.

It was fine.

At 12 girls are very responisble

Yes, it's a common misconception, I agree. But if there was an accident a child of 12 would not be considered competent, I think. Anyway, I wouldn't leave them alone. When I was the mother of a 12 and 8 year old I would not even leave them in the house after dark when we were in the garden - we had an enormous garden and they could have left the house without our knowledge, had we done so. As for leaving them on their own in the house while we went out - no way.

Neglect would be judged on a case by case basis, you can't extrapolate from one horrendous instance of 4 pre schoolers being left alone to every other time children are home alone. I'd imagine the number of cases that end up with prison sentences is tiny

I don't know where you live, I was clarifying the position in England as it's a common misconception

@Strokethefurrywall that was your decision. I think most would disagree though and think 10 is too young to be putting them selves to bed while you are out partying.

She will be faced with charges of child neglect if anythig goes wrong - a woman has just gone to prison for leaving her children alone for half an hour. They all died in a fire. A twelve year old is much too young to be left responsible for a younger child - and it may not be against the law in fact, but in practice it's considered neglect to leave them alone.

I wouldn’t. My parents left us regularly when I was very young. Although I hid it, I can still remember how terrified I was.

Don't be so tight. Get a babysitter or stay in. Perhaps we did babysit at 12 years old in 1999 but times have changed.

No. I'd get a babysitter.

I wouldn't. 9 and 12 - too young imo. I'd be waiting a couple of years before doing this. Maybe when oldest is 14 or 15. You have lots of options aside from leaving the kids at home...

1: take the kids with you
2: get a babysitter
3: take turns at the party and swap out every half an hour or so
4: you go, DH stays at home
5: DH goes, you stay at home
6: neither of you go

Can't believe you've even considered it.

Why not? Unless your 15 is ND why could they not be left alone for a few hours at night?

This is quite a timely thread as we have a 13 & 10 year old and went out for a friend's birthday dinner last night, got home after 11pm.
The boys put themselves to bed, FaceTimed us to say goodnight and are sensible kids.

We don't live in the uk, are in a new house (low risk of fire) in a secure neighborhood so I accept my view is skewed but I don't see what difference it would make waiting a year before doing that.

Certainly I'm sure my kids wouldn't be happy being left if we lived rurally or in the sticks, but at what age do they suddenly morph into responsible teens?

Thinking back on my own teen years I was far more sensible and responsible before I turned 15 and morphed into a drinking, smoking, hormonal selfish ratbag.

Kids same age and great neighbours. Absolutely no way. Far too young and they could panic if anything small happened.

You're mad even thinking this

I am super relaxed but no way on this one. Just get a sitter it’s not worth the worrying

No.. it’s not fair on the 12 yo if there’s a fire or accident - too much responsibility.. plus I think it’s illegal under the age of 14.

I wouldn’t and I consider myself quite a relaxed parent

Get a grip, of course it's not OK!!!