What age for being home alone

[justanotherboymum]

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 am Ireland not UK and no not in my school not peer group do children have phones, active choice to ensure they are protected.

They are fully digital literate can code so they are tech savvy. They don't have a mobile E won't until 14. I did the same with my oldest and it has meant he and his friends have a lot better child/,teen hood. They are out playing sports, socialising and better for it.

what risks? Seriously, please tell me about all these extra risks at home? Sorry, I know probably seem to be hounding you but I cannot get my head around this mindset. I know plenty of fpeople who don't allow their children to be at home alone OR to be out and about alone and while I think that's ridiculous, I can understand it. But this mindset makes no sense to me at all.

I have named the report it's on Tusla website if you search what age it will come up it's short enough.

Bit silly to think 13yo boys will get into less trouble together. But ok.

No atually, you said there's a report abotu age appropraite activities. And I don't want to google it and sift through whatever comes up (I did do a quick google and ddid not get this magic report). I'm interested in the specific risks that YOU think are greater at home than when out and about without parental supervision.

He is 11 it's a mixed group and they are all very well behaved with plenty of people I know seeing them on the way. I have a sixteen year old the same, they are good kids with nice friends. Well able to call out anyone who behaves like a twit

I have given the reference I am not summarsing it!

Lol. Ok. I'm sure your teen and pre-teen boy never do stupid stuff. It's definitely not more likely that you just haven't caught them...

Tusla short guide for parents for child newly arrived in Ireland.

I'd say 9-ish. I wouldn't rely on a 9 yo to successfully corral or supervise children much younger though. It depends on their level of maturity. But kids of 11 need to be able to get to and from secondary school alone, and socialise alone with mates to an extent, so they need practice.

I sort of wish I lived in the perfect world which is totally and utterly 100% safe and boys between 11 and 16 never do anything the slightest bit silly.

Except for the bit where I would have to live in a deathtrap full of terrors

Secondary is at different ages in different countries. Also walking to school generally with a group of children is hardly the same as being left alone at home.

@Marblesbackagain ok well I still think kids of secondary age, which in the UK is 11 should be able to make their own way to school. Not necessarily in a group. Being home alone is safer than that anyway.

What do you anticipate happening at home that is worse than anything that might happen to a group of unsupervised preteens crossing roads and interacting with strangers?
Can you please explain your thinking?

his friends have a lot better child/,teen hood. They are out playing sports, socialising and better for it.

That's a bit of a sweeping statement, isn't it? My son and his friends are out playing sports and socialising, they use their phones to organise that.

In Switzerland, 13yo are allowed to officially work as babysitters, Red Cross offers a full babysitter training for them, everything from preparing bottles to child development and first aid.
So in theory one can hire a Swiss 13yo qualified babysitter to babysit an Irish 13yo, who has never been left home alone before.

Why,? I have referred to my national guidelines which seta out the rationale.

Well no that wouldn't work because either would be subject to the jurisdiction they are in. And to be quite blunt if you've considered in appropriate to have a child babysitter in most jurisdictions.

So you don't actually have a reason beyond a vague recommendation? That seems a little daft. I can't imagine why your child would be in more danger at home, but perhaps your home is awful.
Would love to see this recommendation for 13yos to never be left alone, because I can't see it anywhere. Do you have a link?

if the Irish kid is visiting Switzerland, it would be totally legal to have a 13-year old babysitting them.

If you want there is a great report by Tusla about age appropriate activities and the rationale behind.

I'm reading the report you keep referencing (Tusla-Shortguideforparentswhoarenewlyarrivedin_Ireland) but I don't see any rationale or explanations there. Only general statements in passive voice that 'in Ireland it is not considered that..' and 'it is recommended that..'. No sources, no explanations why and who exactly has come to those conclusions and based on what. Do you mean a different document where this rationale is?

Well yours is obviously missing manners. Your cousin my home is appalling and disappointing.

It isn't a vague guidelines it is a national child safety document.

I don't engage with rude idiots. Do better, your poor children !

There is no chance I would hire a 13 year old child to care for very young children with or without training.
Perhaps if I lived in a tiny alpine village and booked a restaurant a few minutes away. Otherwise absolutely not.

It's amazing you can't, off the top of your head, come up with a single risk at home that is more concerning than the many specific risks me and other posters have highlighted exist outside of the home.

But then, you seem.to think that being with friends protects children from all risks out of the house and that because you live in a nice area there is no risk from adults so ..
.

Fire, burglary, asthma attacks, leaving ovens and such like on. Feeling frightened of the dark, noises etc. delivery drivers, floods from taps being left on, inappropriate screen use, loneliness etc