Do you think this is ok: 11-year old left in charge of 7-year old for 1-1.5hrs

[GlassOfProsecco]

I'm in the process of separating from DC's dad. We are still living under same roof, both working full-time. I'm an NHS worker so am physically in work; he is WFH.

DS (11.5) told me earlier tonight that their dad left them alone together in the house last week. It would have been for just over 1 hour, to go to a physio appt locally.

DD just turned 7 in April. I have started leaving DS (11 but young for his age) alone for around an hour - he is happy with this. I have never asked him to look after DD alone.

I'm really not happy about this; I feel he is too young to be responsible for her & she is too young to be left in his care. I would not have left him with her & felt he should have arranged his appointment for a day when I am off work.

Before I go off on one - would you be ok with this? Or am I over-reacting?

Well yes. My 13 year old can look after her brother but lost a bottle and a tablet at school, so she is not getting a mobile.

Interested in the replies as I have an appointment that I really need next week and I've been told I have to go alone, due to COVID/social distancing. I had been planning on taking my 9 year old and leaving my 12 year old at home.

12 year old gets left home anyway and likes it. I've left them once together for half and hour, as a test really, and they were fine. I'd be gone half an hour to 45 minutes in total but as there are times when they just don't get on I'm not sure. Other times they get on really well though!

I think it's totally fine - I did it .. they barely noticed id gone!

We leave my 11yo alone for that length of time occasionally. Always during the day. We started with 10 minute bursts when she was 10 and have slowly worked our way up in time.

she absolutely has a way to call us or the emergency line. Even young children need a way to make that phone call. If you only have mobiles like us, but you think your child is too young for a phone, you need a house Mobile that lives somewhere central.

When I was 10, I was left to care for my 6 year old sister for 9 Hours a day while my parents worked. We were perfectly fine, but it is not a choice I would make for my own child.

See I would leave my 12 year old alone (was 11 when I did it) for a day (with regular phone/text check ins) but I would not leave her with my 8 Yr old as they would fight and it is not fair on her. I would not leave my 8 Yr old alone for more than 10 mins

The issue here is that the 11 year old was not happy about it ? Maybe the op could confirm that

I think it's fine
How much looking after does a 7 yr old need for an hour and a half? Just being present is probably enough. I was often left to look after 2 younger sisters at that age.

We leave 14 year old in charge of 7 year old but never for more than an hour or so.

It's not something I'd do regularly but I'm a single parent and have had to do it.

Did 11.5 yo mind?
Are the 7yo and 11.5 yo likely to argue?
Or did they just watch screens /play computer games?
If it was around meal time did Dad make them food before he left?
Does the 11.5 yo know his Dad's number?
Is the 7yo likely to be compliant or create trouble for the 11.5yo?