Leave dc 16 for three nights home alone?

[CarryOnCharon]

He’s sensible, mature. Not a party boy.

Views..??

Nope.

There are plenty of 16 year olds who live on their own, so he should be fine, assuming he knows how to make dinner and has emergency contacts if needed.

No. I wouldn't. I have 3 teens, youngest is now 16 so have had 3 experiences of teen this age! MAYBE one night, definitely not 3.

How does he feel about it?

Have you ever left him overnight before? Maybe start with just that.

Do you have backup nearby, family or friend who can drop in or go and stay if need be at short notice whilst you are away?

Monday to Wednesday yes I probably would.
Friday to Sunday probably not a great idea.

Depends on the 16 year old- and where you live. Great neighbours who he can call on or relatives:

What does he or she think about it.

1 night maybe. 3 nights I'd be less keen. Though if you have good neighbours and family near by....It's hard. I think dd was nearly 17 when we left her one night, with a friend staying over. Then you blink and they've gone to Uni....Only you can say how trustworthy he is.

Depends totally on the child tbh .
My ds would have been absolutely fine but was really responsible and a rule follower .

Not if it would be during GCSEs.

Sensible, 16 year old, with people nearby to help out if needed, I'd be ok with.

At 16 my mum and stepdad went on holiday for 2 weeks. I stayed with a family member for the first week, but went back home for the second week. I was very sensible and totally fine. I went to school every day and didn’t have any wild parties etc. This was during the October of yr11 and I’d not long turned 16 so was probably quite young to be left, but I was ok xx

Of course. Unless seriously impacted with ND.

This is my DS

I wouldn’t leave him during exams!

He’s indifferent to the prospect. He’s quite self sufficient.

And can cook

Of course it’s fine. You people need to let your children grow up.

I had a weird childhood, I struggle sometimes to know what’s ok. Hence asking. I was very much in my own

Only you know your child. It was pretty normal in my millennial friendship group.

If he’s happy to be left, then from how you describe him, it seems fine to me.

We left our son at 16 for a week and he had a week away with friends at that age after GCSEs with no problems.

My daughter is 15 and we’ll do the same next year as she’s also sensible.

Don’t worry, I wasn’t referring to you. It’s always ok to ask.

I would check with him, how does he feel about it? What does your gutt instinct say?

Does he know the neighbours if he needed help with something? Is there anybody nearby he could contact? In an emergency what would he do? Will he be able to get hold of you if needed/ potentially come back?

I think I would run through some scenarios to prepare him and you can normally gage from his response whether he is ready or not.

At the end of the day all kids are different all 16 year olds are different. I was left alone frequently at 16 and was fine on the other hand my friend was left for 1 night had a party and smashed the kitchen window.

Thanks all! It would be Sunday to Wednesday , and he’d be at school so not alone all day. There’s no way he’d have a party: he hates them. Neighbours are lovely. He’s happy, and has declined to come away with me!

He’d be fine. My parents went off for a 4week extended holiday when I was 16.5 and my brother lived 3miles away I’d just started 6th form so had that as my day time routine plus my Sat job at C&A. I think we definitely molly coddle kids more now. Me included as now my eldest is same age I was saying we should have a weekend away but was doubting myself despite knowing she’d be fine

I think this is exactly it. I know he’d be fine. But doubt myself

Of course I would, why not, so long as he is comfortable with being home alone.

I stayed home alone for a week at 15, by (late) 17 I had left home altogether. (and that was 4 months later than I would have left for uni, if that had been my plan).

I also left my son home alone at that age, for a week, and this was pre mobile phones.

You trust him
He's comfortable
He has (preferably) local people he can contact if he needs to.

Let him know you trust him not to do anything stupid, and then give him responsibility. It can only be helpful to his confidence and coping abilities.

I wouldn’t but our dc (16) is not a huge fan of being by themself in the house when it’s dark.

They’d be fine with getting themself to and from school, cooking and tidying up, putting some laundry on etc but just doesn’t like an empty house in the dark.