to leave ten year old twins in a cafe while I swim?

I think it is fine. I am sure if they do play up the cafe staff will let you know not to do it again.

Oh since I took so long to type that more sensible people joined in! Cool, we can all be in the negligent club together 😁

I think people saying the OP is crazy are going a bit OTT. There will be children who turned 11 4 days ago making their own way to secondary school this week. I let my 10 year old walk to our local shop on her own so instinctively sitting in a cafe shouldn’t be any different. That said, I’m not sure I’d be as comfortable doing open water swimming outside the cafe. I have no logical reason why but would probably feel better we doing something inside the building.

By the time I was ten I used to take a sandwich and cycle a mile or two to a woods where I used to play with my friend, including <shock horror> paddling in the stream and be gone for hours. And this was only in the 00s so I'm not as old as Methuselah or anything.

So I don't quite know why leaving two ten year olds in a cafe for 30 minutes would be a catastrophe.

They would definitely need to be sensible kids though, and not the type to egg eachother on.

Perhaps ask the cafe staff if they happy for it to happy without them being responsible?
But yes, my 10 year old is walking to home from school. If they are trustworthy and staff are ok then yes.

I’d ask the cafe, it completely depends on the children and if they can behave while waiting though.

Totally different. YOU were in an enclosed space with friends. Your parents hadn't gone off swimming in lakes and leaving you.Jeez

At ten years old? For crying out loud, they’re off to secondary soon at that age! People on this thread need a reality check, they’re not five!

I'm in a minority but I don't see the problem with doing this. My 10 year old could be left in a cafe for 30 mins, surely most could!?!?

My 10 year old walks to and from school, stays home alone after school (some days, just for 45 mins max) goes to the shop alone, asks for from shop assistants if he can't find something, plays out unsupervised with his friends, rides his bike places, can vacuum (badly), can cook a (very) little bit, and could be trusted to behave in a cafe while eating a bacon roll without me by his side! I consider these all the sort of minimum of what a 10 year old can do!!

I'd go for it and would think nothing of another mum doing the same. We're in a minority though it seems...

This. At that age children are old enough to go out and about on their own. Make sure they have a phone incase there is an emergency, talk them through anything they may need to know and they will be absolutely fine

If they’re sensible of course it’s fine. They’ll be at senior school in a year. Why would another adult need to be actively responsible for half an hour? They’ll sit there, eat and chat surely.

My 10yr old goes to the local cafe with her friends for lunch completely on her own. Ignore the fretters op, safe independence is a good thing to teach children. And there’s a massive lack of it in UK.

Why on earth not?

Is this a joke?

Lots of weird answers. My ten year old goes to cafes with his friends (and even manages to order food and drinks!) I’m at home!
They might be happier at home but as long as they are buying something in the cafe I don’t see a problem for half an hour.
Does everyone else really think 10 is too young to be in a cafe alone? Aren’t they walking to school, playing out etc?

Yeah 8 is y3 or y4 which is also not ok

I’m not understanding the first few responses!! It’s surely absolutely fine? I would imagine safer than the ten years olds going to the park etc in their own which surely people allow their ten year olds to do?!?

op , do it, I don’t get the responses at all.

Year 6 and sensible? I'd say that's fine personally. My only concern (and I say this as the parent of now 15 yr old twin boys) would be if the two of them either had an argument or got a bit 'silly' and started mucking about and annoying other cafe users. But if you're confident they won't do that then I think it's fine :-)

🤣🤣

This thread is wild. I do similar with my 8 year old. He sits and waits while I have a sauna and a dip then we have lunch together. He is totally fine for 30mins sitting chilling. Better than leaving him at home and I would have to rush back.

In this day and age?

Certainly not.

I think it’s fine. I used to get dropped of at age 8 with my friends to go to the swimming pool. 8 year olds were allowed in unsupervised.
if the kids are sensible then I don’t see the issue. At 10 my dd was walking to the shop or outside playing with her friends.

I suppose it might be a bit traumatic for them if you drown, OP ... but apart from that, it sounds fine to me.

Can you book them into an activity there, whilst you swim?