At what age would you/have you left your DC on their own??

[CPtart]

My eldest son is 9 and although I absolutely wouldn't yet, I am beginning to find myself wondering at what age is it right to start leaving a child unattended, even for short periods? What is the law on this? What would you/have you all done? I would be interested to hear opinions and experiences......thanks

There is no law

At our school year 6 Children walk home alone and some let themselves in until a working parent comes home about an hour later
Any longer than that, say if the parent doesn't go come home until 6pm year 6s still go to cm's or afterschool club

Secondary school kids do stay home alone until working parents get in where I live

My eldest ds is 10 next month , i have been leaving him alone for up to 30 minutes for the last couple of months. He has my mobile and i lock the door with strict instructions not to open it.

There is no law on when you can leave kids nor is there clear guidance.

I started leaving my DS1 alone for ten mins while I took DS2 to school just before his 10th birthday. (He'd had an op which meant weeks off school and I was running out of favours to ask people to take DS2 for me and DS1 wasn't allowed out due to infection risk). First few times I phoned him from the playground in the middle of the 10 mins!

Gradually I started leaving him more and now at just turned 11 I'll leave him for up to an hour if we're local and could get home quickly. I wouldn't go miles away and do a big Tesco shop though.

I have left the two DSs together (now 11 and 8) for ten mins while I pop to the shop in the village but that is 10mins max from leaving te front door to be back at it.

Everyone has their own views and those views will depend on the maturity of the kids involved. I feel safe and right with my choices for my boys.

There is no law on this, it is up to the parents' discretion.

I have started leaving DS, who is 8, for up to an hour occasionally, and I feel he is perfectly old enough and capable enough to be left alone.

He has a mobile with him and strict instructions on what not to do, and also on what to do in an emergency.

We discuss what he would do in different scenarios together, regularly, and do little role play scenarios too.

DS1&2 when they were 11/12.

DD (10) i have left with DS2(15) for 2 hours max.

overmy.. We have done the scenarios thing as well.

Depends on the child really and the situation. I used to live in a street with lots of houses and felt comfortable leaving an 11 year old for an hour. Now I live in the middle of nowhere I feel less comfortable leaving him even though he's older. Knowing you have decent neighbours, counts for a lot.

My son was walking home from school from age 11 alone, was left home alone for an hour (I was 2 mins walk away - at work) for an hour 3 times a week from age 12.

From about 8, IIRC. Now he's 10, he goes out (to the park, shops) by himself, walks to school by himself and I leave him at home alone up to an hour or so.

He enjoys his independence. He'll be going to secondary school in a year and a half-it makes sense to allow him to become confident as he'll have to take a bus by himself etc.

My friend used to leave her 9 year old at home one her own for very short periods, my daughter is 9 this year and I would trust her at home on her own if I popped to the shop down the road for example.
The only thing that worries me is not anything she would do at all she is very sensible and mature but what if something happened to me, like if I had a car accident or something. Not that it's likely to happen but you never know..