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Original poster

How long would you leave an 11 year old home alone?

35 replies

Supercal00 · 31/08/2022 20:52

I do around 30 mins if going to the supermarket or a dog walk. No other siblings. Knows the boundaries as in not answering the door etc. Would you do longer?

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 31/08/2022 20:54

2-3hrs. She mostly just reads!

Her sister is 9yo and I only leave her for 10mins. (Pop to the corner shop etc)

PainsandAches · 31/08/2022 20:55

3 hours regularly

After school until we get home

NoSquirrels · 31/08/2022 20:56

Yes, longer if the 11 year old is OK with it.

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Original poster
Supercal00 · 31/08/2022 20:56

I was thinking about after school. If I worked in the office and got him 5.30ish. He would be alone from maybe 3.45 until then.

OP posts:
Original poster
Supercal00 · 31/08/2022 20:57

As long as he had snacks in the cupboard he would be fine and just game!

OP posts:
Stompythedinosaur · 31/08/2022 21:32

20-30 mins here for my 11yo.

Playdoughcaterpillar · 31/08/2022 21:37

Not more than 1hr unless his older sister home too. But he's not a very mature 11yo. His sister would have been fine for longer same age.

greywinds · 31/08/2022 21:38

2-3 hours, but my dd is absolutely reliable.

arethereanyleftatall · 31/08/2022 21:40

Up to 3 hours. I've picked up full time work again since she got to year 6.

Longdistance · 31/08/2022 21:47

Dd12, nearly 13 I leave for 3 hours. She messages me throughout.
Dd11, I can leave for 1 hour, but keep tabs on her as she has been known to make plans and meet friends in the park when we’ve left 🤦🏼‍♀️ She’s starting Senior school next week.

takeagamble · 31/08/2022 21:54

3 hours at the moment just about to go into year 7. Although I have friends who have had to leave their children all day for work this summer as childcare at our school stops at 11. Am lucky my parents are able to pop in when am in work. He's very sensible and actually goes out with his friends alone in the local area most days for longer than 3 hours.

It's tough one when they start to grow up especially this stage between primary and secondary!

JessicaBrassica · 31/08/2022 21:55

11yrs - dd was home during the school day when her dad's and brother's schools were open and hers wasn't. She was high school. Holiday clubs etc round here stop at y6. She's also v sensible and survived lockdown at 10, sitting down stairs doing all of her work whilst I worked online upstairs.

LionessesRules · 31/08/2022 21:55

Going into Secondary in September? I'd be working at increasing the time.
My 11 year old will do an hour rather than sit in the car while I transport his older brother around.

I'm expecting him to do quite a lot of maturing over the next 3-6 months. DS1 was left for a 9-4 day during lock down occasionally towards the end of Y7. Can't imagine doing that with the 11 year old right now.

liveforsummer · 31/08/2022 21:57

Imma single working parent - at 11 dd would stay home from school (once started high school) if she was unwell while I worked 8.30-3

Dinoteeth · 31/08/2022 21:58

An hour tops but that will change in the next year when he tops out of after school care.

TopGolfer · 31/08/2022 22:04

4 hours
Once my DC were in secondary school I left them at home a lot in their own during the day, not so much in the evening or when it was dark outside.

mountainsunsets · 01/09/2022 00:05

I stayed home alone all day during the holidays from the summer after I turned 12.

So for an year old I would say 3-4 hours.

solarbirdscalm · 01/09/2022 00:12

Regularly about 2 hours but staying local eg taking younger sibling to sports practise 10 mins away.

Valhalla17 · 01/09/2022 00:22

Regularly 2-3hrs if he doesn't want to come to the supermarket with me, or if I want to go to yoga class or something. I recently left him for half day as nipped into the office. I always check he's 100% comfortable and I know he is sensible. He barely moves from the spot he's left in 😆he doesn't like me being out if it's a bit dark though (early eve), so I don't do that yet.

Galaxyinmypocket · 01/09/2022 00:25

A few hours as long as they have stuff to eat and their phone is charged

UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 01/09/2022 00:29

I used to babysit my younger siblings for a few hours when I was 11. Probably 3-4 hours? The next year I started babysitting for other families for 6+ hours.

Sunnytwobridges · 01/09/2022 00:48

I would leave mine for about three hours. Never was an issue.

AlwaysLatte · 01/09/2022 01:05

2-3 hours here but not at night.

avamiah · 01/09/2022 01:08

AlwaysLatte · 01/09/2022 01:05

2-3 hours here but not at night.

Yes same with me and my daughter is 12 going into year 8 secondary and 13 soon.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 01/09/2022 01:23

DD loves being home alone. Admittedly my parents live on the same street so if she needed anything she could go to theirs or ring them.
I left her from 10 years to go and do the shopping (covid) and once she started high school she would pop her head in to my parents to let them know she was back as she crosses a busy road and might have a tea or snack but more often shed go home and be alone until I got there so 2:50 -6 pm some nights.