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Original poster

What age for being home alone

145 replies

justanotherboymum · 16/12/2024 17:08

Am wondering at what age do people tend to leave a child home alone if you are quickly driving to the shops (gone 10-15mins)?

OP posts:
KnickerlessParsons · 16/12/2024 17:10

8/9/10ish. Depends on the child really.

HPandthelastwish · 16/12/2024 17:12

DD was 10 during COVID so I started then. Once she started High school for more prolonged time.

TickingAlongNicely · 16/12/2024 17:14

Year 6 (10) on a regular basis for any decent length of time.

10 mins popping to the corner shop... they were 8&9.

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MerryChristmasYaFilthyAnimals · 16/12/2024 17:15

Year 5 for ten mins down the road
Year 6 for up to an hour/two in the day time.
All depends on the child.

Chowtime · 16/12/2024 17:19

It's not an age thing, it's a maturity and sensibleness thing and a time thing.

JimHalpertsWife · 16/12/2024 17:20

By year 5 we are / have left ours for 10-20mins alone max if essential but by year 6, up to an hour and for non essential.

Reason being they didn't get a phone til y6 and we don't have a land line, so no way for them/us to contact each other before then.

If we had a landline I'd have been happy to start at 8.

ARichtGoodDram · 16/12/2024 17:22

Depends entirely on the child.

I could have left DD1 from about 4 (obviously I didn’t until she was 8/9) as she was such a sensible kid, but DD2 still causes concern in her 20s!

puzzledlife · 16/12/2024 17:23

I would leave my 8 yr old as he is very sensible and very unlikely to move from his console, with the usual advice, what to do in emergency and not to open the door. He is also able to use a phone to call or message me

TheLittleOldWomanWhoShrinks · 16/12/2024 17:23

Mine were 9 when I first left them for approx 20 min.

WhatIDoIsEnough · 16/12/2024 17:25

Eldest was 9. The shop was opposite our apartment. So gone 5 min. They usually just sat on their consoles gaming

kiraric · 16/12/2024 17:26

I leave my 8 year old for 5 mins or so - usually for dropping my younger one off to his friend round the corner for a playdate.

I wouldn't do it if I was driving as it feels like more can go wrong there and you're further away

SantasBeardTrimmer · 16/12/2024 17:33

Depends on the maturity of the child.
A 10 yr old girl might be very sensible, but a 10 yr old boy maybe not as they mature more slowly.

You need to have sensible conversations about 'what if' before leaving a child
Not to answer the door to anyone unknown, not to tell anyone who phones they are home alone, what to do if there is a fire , not to use the cooker etc.

The danger of leaving your child if you're going out in the car is, God forbid, you're in a accident and your child is on their own and you can't contact them.

The NSPCC mentions age 14 as an age to leave a child alone in the house. Obviously this is subjective.

DecafDodger · 16/12/2024 17:34

The danger of leaving your child if you're going out in the car is, God forbid, you're in a accident and your child is on their own and you can't contact them.

Better if they're safely at home and not in the same car accident though, isn't it?

SantasBeardTrimmer · 16/12/2024 17:34

JimHalpertsWife · 16/12/2024 17:20

By year 5 we are / have left ours for 10-20mins alone max if essential but by year 6, up to an hour and for non essential.

Reason being they didn't get a phone til y6 and we don't have a land line, so no way for them/us to contact each other before then.

If we had a landline I'd have been happy to start at 8.

I think that is far too young.

At 10 they ought not to be alone for 20 mins.

Year 6- aged 11- an hour. Seriously?

SantasBeardTrimmer · 16/12/2024 17:35

DecafDodger · 16/12/2024 17:34

The danger of leaving your child if you're going out in the car is, God forbid, you're in a accident and your child is on their own and you can't contact them.

Better if they're safely at home and not in the same car accident though, isn't it?

Oh come on. We're talking about what may happen if you're in a car crash and your child is at home.

Totally different.

DecafDodger · 16/12/2024 17:38

Oh come on. We're talking about what may happen if you're in a car crash and your child is at home.

yes exactly. So if you decide it's not safe to leave the child at home, but you take them with you instead, they would be in the same car accident, no?

SantasBeardTrimmer · 16/12/2024 17:38

justanotherboymum · 16/12/2024 17:08

Am wondering at what age do people tend to leave a child home alone if you are quickly driving to the shops (gone 10-15mins)?

I think you have to imagine if the quick drive turns out to be much longer.

A flat tyre.

An accident to another car that holds you up.

An accident in your car.

Held up at the shop for some reason.

Although these are worst case scenarios, they can and do happen.

What would your child do if it turned into an hour+ or you didn't come home due to being in a bad accident?

If you are sure they'd be okay and there is a Plan B, carry on.

SantasBeardTrimmer · 16/12/2024 17:41

DecafDodger · 16/12/2024 17:38

Oh come on. We're talking about what may happen if you're in a car crash and your child is at home.

yes exactly. So if you decide it's not safe to leave the child at home, but you take them with you instead, they would be in the same car accident, no?

I'm sorry but you are missing the point and being completely illogical.

What you're suggesting is that a parent never takes their child in the car on the basis there is a chance both would be involved in an accident so should leave them at home.

The thread is about the risks of leaving a child at home when the parent goes out in the car.

The option isn't 'Don't take your child with you in case you're in a car crash'.

Real1378262 · 16/12/2024 17:42

Age 10/11 for running out to the local shop in the day time for 20 mins, only happened once. Sensible child though and not scared or worried about being left alone. We do have cameras, told not to answer the door etc.

KittenPause · 16/12/2024 17:43

I was left at home at 8 and was perfectly safe and well behaved

DecafDodger · 16/12/2024 17:43

The NSPCC mentions age 14 as an age to leave a child alone in the house.

Where? The page I'm reading says they don't recommend leaving children under 12, particularly for longer periods, but every child is different.

Me and my friends were all babysitting when we were 13 - so nowadays, 13 year olds would need babysitters?

NovemberMorn · 16/12/2024 18:21

My own son would have been 10 before I left him alone, and only for a few minutes.
Age 11 he matured into a quite sensible boy, so longer then, and that's when he started getting the bus to school and being trusted to go to the shops etc without supervision.

GreenGrass28 · 16/12/2024 18:26

We started for short times out the house at 8 (almost 9). He is very sensible, knows what to do if any issues arise (go to neighbours / call us).

TorroFerney · 16/12/2024 18:30

KittenPause · 16/12/2024 17:43

I was left at home at 8 and was perfectly safe and well behaved

I was left for hours at 11 whilst they were at the pub, so 8pm til half 11? I was sensible, and petrified. Mine's extreme but pity the sensible child sometimes, it's not always a good thing to be.

theeyeofdoe · 16/12/2024 18:49

10 here (year 6).
I’ve also run a brownies unit for many years - 7-10yrs and I’ve had very few under 10’s who don’t need watching.