How old before you could be out on an evening and leave your DC?

[TeethingAgain]

My best friend has been offered a weekend evening job a 10 minute drive from where she lives (bar work). She is a single parent and her ex has the child every other weekend so if she took this job her child would be home alone (no one else to help and she lives far away from me) on two nights every other week. Her DC is 11. She would be out of the house 6pm - 11pm and isn't sure whether or not to take the job. I said I'd ask the hive mind of MN! Her DC is sensible but only 11. What age would you leave your DC in the evening?

I'd say 13. Minimum.

I wouldn’t. I have an 11 yo and a 13 yo. I wouldn’t leave the 11 yo at all on a night and I would only leave the 13 yo if I was at friends or a local where I could be home in less than 5 minutes if I needed to be. To be honest my 11 yo wouldn’t want to be at home on their own for so long when it’s dark outside.

Hmmmm I think that's too young.

Think 11 is a bit young to leave the whole night. Couple of hours maybe but 11pm is too late.

A bit too young I think.

On the odd occasion, till maybe 9pm latest, 11. To leave them till 11pm, then 14.

Can she not find a sensible 16 year old locally who'd like to earn a few quid 'babysitting'? Just someone else in the house to help him cook dinner and be there just in case

Too young imo

I leave my 11 year old for a couple of hours if I'm going to the cinema or something, and his older siblings are out, but I wouldn't do this.

My DS has relatives within a 5 minute drive and we are home around his bedtime. Also, we are available to contact throughout.

This feels very different. It would perhaps be different when he's around 13 if I needed to.

I cant answer for everyone but I was nearly 12 when my DM had a similar set up. Work place was across the road, I knew my neighbours and didnt try to cook, answer the door etc and it was fine.

My sister however is 14 and I wouldn't trust her with a pet rock, so it's down to the individual child.