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Original poster

Leaving 6-year-old home alone

110 replies

Tailfeather · 11/04/2023 20:22

Would you leave your sensible 6-year-old home alone for 10 minutes with strict instructions of watching tv and not eating or going into the kitchen?

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Georgig · 11/04/2023 20:38

Im sure 6yo's walk to school on their own in most European countries..so I'd leave a 6yo for 10 minutes to pop to the shop. Unless you have a particularly unruly child I think most 6yo would be perfectly fine for 10 minutes on their own!

liveforsummer · 11/04/2023 20:35

Depends a lot on the context and the individual child. As of was many years ago probably much more acceptable too

PuttingDownRoots · 11/04/2023 20:34

Where would you be?

It used to take me 10mins to put all the bins out sometimes (they had to go to the end if the road) but you couldn't do it before 7pm which was their bedtime... so yes I'd leave them to do that (from 4&6)

Driving a mile away? No chance.

GirlInTheDryShirt · 11/04/2023 20:33

Just to be a dissenting voice, I absolutely would. But it really depends on the child. A very sensible and mature six year old can be trusted to sit quietly with a tablet for 10 minutes while their parent pops out, I don’t think that’s at all unreasonable or dangerous.

Original poster
Tailfeather · 11/04/2023 20:32

Thanks all. That's my strong gut feeling too. But wondered if I was overreacting as I was definitely left home alone for short periods of time at that age and stuff I've been reading online said an absolute NO for leaving toddlers and babies (obvs!) and recommends not leaving under 12s for long periods of time, which made it sound that a few minutes was fine. By 8 I was going on the tube with friends on our own! But that was the 80s.

OP posts:
mumu54 · 11/04/2023 20:31

No

Greentree1 · 11/04/2023 20:31

We have a really big garden and I did say to my child about that age I'm going to water the greenhouse, pick veg or whatever, probably didn't take 10 minutes, but it was never a problem. They were probably watching a film or something, not roaming around the house, and obviously doors locked nothing dangerous left on.

OhMyCherriePie · 11/04/2023 20:31

No way

MrsRickAstley · 11/04/2023 20:31

Nope.

I don't leave my 10.5 year old alone either.

Pinkywoo · 11/04/2023 20:30

BraveMaeve · 11/04/2023 20:26

No I wouldn't, I've only just started leaving my 10yo for 10 minutes at a time.

Really, they'll be at high school soon?!

GoodChat · 11/04/2023 20:30

Absolutely not. Why would you even need to if you'll only be gone 10 minutes?

custardbear · 11/04/2023 20:30

No way

iwantawisteriathisyear · 11/04/2023 20:30

I know someone who did exactly this. Child got a crayon stuck up nose and phoned 999. Police came and mum was prosecuted for leaving child. In Scotland

RampantIvy · 11/04/2023 20:30

No.

musicinspring1 · 11/04/2023 20:29

No. I don't think they are old enough at all for even 10 minutes. What if someone knocked at the door? What if the phone went and scared them? What if they got scared and left the house ? Put the oven on? Left a tap running ?

Franklin2000 · 11/04/2023 20:29

No way at all, and I’d say I’m quite a relaxed parent with what I let my children do. Popping to the bin at the top of the drive is my limit to leave my 6 year old alone.

RudsyFarmer · 11/04/2023 20:29

We need more information.

Weallgottachangesometime · 11/04/2023 20:28

No. I’d have a bath, be in the garden etc, but not leave the house to go anywhere. Too risky if they decide to do something silly suddenly need help.

I have a very sensible nephew, age 11. Last week he couldn’t open a tin because the tin opener broke. So he tried with a knife and cut his finger badly. Usually a very sensible and intelligent lad, but even the most sensible kids still do silly things.

Winter2019 · 11/04/2023 20:28

To be honest I know plenty of people leaving their 6, 7 years old at home alone for a short period. Mind you, I'm not in UK. I wouldn't leave my 6 year old and I know she wouldn't even be willing to stay by herself.

Newuser82 · 11/04/2023 20:28

If I were in the garden yes, if I was going to the shops or something definitely not.

hoophoophooray · 11/04/2023 20:27

No. I am very lax by many peoples standards but 6 is too young. Mine were on about 5-10min at the age of 9 (as in I was next door), rising to about half an hour by the end of primary

Superstar22 · 11/04/2023 20:27

No, definitely not. but I have left sensible 8-9 yr olds for 10 mins. They were fine & I felt fine & everything has been fine. Most people I gather wouldnt have done this. They’re now 11 and left for up to one hour; in prep for coming home from school in sept etc

CheeseMcKnees · 11/04/2023 20:27

It depends, mine stay home alone whilst I’m outside on the yard or getting horses from the field, but they know where I am and can safely come out and find me, we are very rural, if someone came to the house I’d see them before they got to the front door.

TheEarlofButties · 11/04/2023 20:27

No

Ohdearwhatnow4 · 11/04/2023 20:26

Not a chance.

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