Leaving a 13 and 10 year old alone for 2 hours

[kittenfun]

Would you?

Depends on the children, I can leave my 12 year old son for a few hours during the day but I couldn't leave my 10 year old son with him as he doesn't understand many dangers.

It would depend on them as individuals. If you’re happy they are fairy responsible/sensible and won’t be lighting fires in the living room then I would. I have a 10yr old and she’s a sensible soul and I’ve left her for a few mins here and there. My other dc - well that’s a different matter, she’d be off trying to find the car keys or planning a rave, so no, even
at 16 I’d not leave her alone (or 21 I reckon)

Absolutely, yes I would if I felt I could trust them.

Surely the 13 year old is on their own getting to and from school etc so should be ok? Depends on how far away you are.

As long as you know they won't fight, yes.

Not the 10 year old.

It depends on the individual children and their relationship, but in principle yes, it's a non issue.

Obviously if they fight or one or other is more than averagely reckless or naughty or if you've always wrapped them in cotton wool and never left them alone at all or let them have any independence or encouraged any self reliance it might not be a brilliant idea to go from being babies to left alone in one leap.

If you've left them for shorter periods before and they're averagely sensible it's fine. Emphasise that each child is responsible for themself but can ask the other for help and you're trusting them. The age gap is too small for a babysitting relationship.

I have left my 12 and 9 year old dds for almost that long, but had my phone on the whole time and could have been home in ten mins. I trust them together and I know my children. Elder one has also collected dd2 and dniece from school when there was no other childcare for them in the summer, my db was (obviously) also happy with this arrangement.