Quick poll... leaving child home alone...

[ziggiestardust]

DS is 9 and wants to stay home and read his book rather than come for a walk in the park with DH and I. In fairness, it’s pretty muddy and soggy down there but I’m trying to shift the last bits of a cheery cold so I want to get out and about. We’d be gone for about 45 mins, DS has been left before whilst I pop to the corner shop in the rain for example (10-15 mins?) and is very trustworthy. What would you do?

Does he know how to contact you?

How far away is the park if you had to get home quickly?

Park is end of our road but quite big. We have a landline with our phone numbers saved as favourites, although he knows them off by heart anyway as we taught him just in case.

He has been irritated with me recently and tells me I treat him ‘like a baby’ because I remind him of what he needs to remember for school and football club (ie ‘DS don’t forget your gloves/book/etc’). So the whole ‘independence’ thing is more at the front of my mind than it normally would be.

I was doing similar starting from when my child was 8, 9 is fine.

Go for it. You know your son. If you can trust him not to burn the place down/shove a screw driver in a plug socket/flood the house etc then he'll be fine. We've been leaving our dd home alone since she was 9. She always has our numbers and is a sensible kid. If he's asking for independence he's probably ready for it 👍

I would leave him for the hour. Don't blame him at all, I'd rather stay in and read than go for a walk.

Personally I think it's fine.
It's only 45 minutes.
He can contact you.
He knows the rules on the front door.
You aren't too far away,

But would be interested to hear other people's views.

And yes, start off with small stretches of time, like it sounds you have been doing, and go for an hour.

Perfectly fine. Most NT children without behavioural issues are fine to be left for short periods from age 8. Lots of parents don't because they don't need to but equally lots do.

Many children will be left before and after school and for some whole days at age 11. There is a huge leap in independence from 9 to 11 but you still have to start somewhere.

Well this is what I’m thinking. If we’re expecting him to walk to the local secondary school in a couple of years’ time, then we should probably start somewhere! It’s always a worry though isn’t it? Thanks everyone

You know your child.
My dd would have been fine ay 8 or 9, no issues at all. My ds there is no way! He would do something the minute I was put of the door. In fact he would have it planned whilst telling me to go. He has to stay with me till he's 37