Teenagers left overnight - how old?

[JasperTheHungry]

How old would you be happy for your teenagers to be left overnight? Mine are 16 and 14.

To add - I don’t have plans! But I’m a single mum and as the world is opening up again, I’m curious.

14 no, 16 maybe if they were highly responsible and confident that they could safely take care of themselves... but definitely not at 14

So the 16 year old on their own but not both together?

Thank you, btw

17 alone - yes
14 alone - no

Both together depends how well they get along.

It would only be both together, they get on really well.

We faced this recently and decided we would leave (very responsible) 16yr old, but in the end did not need to. I don't think I would leave our 14yr old. Might leave a 15 & 17yr old.

This is all very helpful, thank you.

We did at 17 and 15. Both get on well and were allowed a small gathering which happened and had to agree to us FaceTiming during said gathering Neighbours alerted and family half an hour away on standby.

It is 16.

DS1 was just short of 17. He had a couple of mates stay over too.

Tbh we would have left him probably a year earlier but never really the need!

This is all so useful, thank you. I had a chaotic upbringing and can’t always rely on my own experience of what is okay. Which sometimes leads me to be over-protective.

I thought the recommended or legal age you could leave children overnight was 16.

Ah, is it? I hadn’t researched properly. In which case, my question is void anyway.

There isn't a legal age, technically you would not be breaking the law to leave a 3 year old alone overnight, however it would almost certainly be considered neglect which you can be charged with.

The NSPCC recommend 16 as a minimum age. I personally disagree with their recommendations not to leave a child under 12 alone or to let such a child walk home alone from school simply because it is not the lived reality of most children with both school and parents encouraging independence in year 6 (10-11 yrs). We left ours for short periods from the age of 10. I do though think that 16 is about right but as I said upthread I would consider a 15& 17yr old. I would though also consider who their friends are and the likelihood of parties. My 16yr old we would have been leaving just for their work reasons and at the moment I think the chance of a party is very low considering her small, tight friendship group.

Yep I agree with Cat, I'd consider friends and the chance of parties etc

I'm with @Cattitudes on the ludicrous NSPCC guidelines.

16 and 14 fine IMO op.

We left ds2 aged 17 for a week last Sept (he could have gone but didnt want to). A few years ago we left all three DC for a night away, they were 14, 15 and 17. All fine.