Would you leave a 6 yr old home alone with a 13 year old?

[Barrenfieldoffucks]

For 15 mins or so?

Oldest child, DD, is saying that she thinks she is old enough to sit with our youngest, who is 6 for a short time while I go and collect another child.

I'd like external opinions, what're your thoughts?

Mine are this age and I’m borderline about it. DH will leave them together to nip to the corner shop but takes the 6yo if he’s doing a big shop.
15 minutes is ok I think.

Next year when they’re 14 & 7 I feel like longer would be fine.

Yes, dd1 was fine with ds at that age.

Yes for short periods of time.

Absolutely

Thanks all. On my return they were happily ensconced on the sofa still watching Minecraft videos, so all is well. 👍

Those saying no, I presume the 13 yr old gets themselves to school so why can't they be left alone for 15 mins with a sibling? MN is a strange place sometimes, I can see why these useless teens struggle at uni.

Every scenario is different.

My kids were never in the house alone and still manage to grow into independent, educated adults. 21 & 22 - one lives alone and the other with partner.

Never? even at 17,18?

No, never

But why not?

Yes.

@Smartiepants79

Becsue someone was always at home. Detail not necessary.

Yes.

This is quite strange and seems borderline controlling without context

Yes

@BlackBean2023

This is quite strange and seems borderline controlling without context

Don't be so bloody ridiculous.

Hi, I know things are very different now, but when I was just turned 9 in the December, my older sister was 10 (11 in few months) my younger sister born in Jan following my birthday. My Mother and Father both worked - father on shift work, Mother very early starts and also had 2nd job. We needed the money and both parents worked extremely hard. There was not all the maternity leave there is now so you were 10 days in hospital and then home. Mam returned to work about 2 weeks (if that) following discharge from hospital. Supposed to be elder sisters job to look after younger but she was not interested and was always disruptive and off with her mates. So at just turned 9, I washed, dressed, fed my baby sister and took her to neighbours to look after while we went to school and Mam returned from work at her first job. I used to babysit for neighbours at that age on an evening. At 13 I took on a Nanny job at weekend and school holidays. The money I was paid covered my busfare there - it was approx 38 miles round trip on bus and about 3 hours in time and I had about a shilling to myself. The children were girls 4, 7 and 9yr old boy. Boy and youngest fine but 7yr old was a nightmare. Anyway not only did the parentss expect me to feed the kids - without making a crumb in mess, she also expected me to "dust the venetian blinds". I stayed about a year. It put me off ever having children of my own. I suppose I was classed as sensible so it depends on your children, only you really know them. For all those people who think that my life and childhood was disgraceful, true, but plenty of kids were doorstep kids because we and our parents had no choice - you worked - we had a mortgaged house which not every working class family did, but it instilled a work ethic in me but not my 2 sisters who both spent their lives on benefits. If they are both agreeable and the house and neighbourhood is safe, I see no reason not to.

Of course.