Would you leave a 14 year old and 9 year old alone for an hour?

[RVectensian]

As per the title really, would you leave a 14 year old and 9 year old boy home alone together for an hour to collect another child? Both insist they just want to watch TV and play xBox.

14 year old has a phone.

Depending on how sensible they are and wont fight etc, but I would.

If the 14 y/o is responsible I don't see a problem with this, personally.

Yes, how is this even a question? I was babysitting multiple children at night when I was 14.

Yes definitely, as long as both were sensible kids generally

It entirely depends how responsible the 14 year old is I think. At that age I was doing some evening babysitting (this was a long time ago though).

Yep. No problem.

I was left in charge of my six month old cousin all afternoon at 14. I won't forget that, it was horrendous. Depends very much on the child.

No, I don't think it's fair to leave a 14 year old responsible for a younger child. I'd leave the 14yo on their own for that length of time though.

They're alright, they bicker a little, but nothing unusual.

Yes. My 14 year old is fairly independent so she’s left at home often if we’re at work and she’s out on her own. She could easily look after a 9 year old.

Has your 14 year old never been left alone before?

My two have a smaller age gap, but I’d leave them alone for short times (like to go and pick some food up from the shop) from about 12 and 10. Both are pretty sensible kids though and they get on well. If I thought they’d do something silly or start arguing/fighting, I wouldn’t have left them.

As per PPs, if they are both reasonably sensible, then yes, especially since it's just an hour.

I too was babysitting at age 14. At that age, my sister and I stayed home together most days in the summer hols, reading and watching TV.

I think it depends on the children. When I was a child, a fourteen-year-old was the only one happy to babysit 7yo me, 5yo DB and baby twins!

Child dependent, but should be fine at those ages.

Without hesitation, to be honest.

We will leave our 9 year old home alone for 30 mins.

Yes as long as both are happy and they are trustworthy.

I have a 15 & 11 year old and they have been left for about 2h during the daytime before.

DH and I have just been discussing leaving them in the evening, we think they are mature enough now if we went for a drink/food in our village and could be home in a few mins if there was a problem

It depends on whether the DC are happy with the arrangement. We would happily have left our youngest DD with her 14 year old sibling but despite being very grown up for her age and sensible she was massively anxious about being left at home until after she went to high school.
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Of course I would.

For one hour? Absolutely yes, no question.

Same. But I think today’s parenting has made teens pretty useless. I was working two nights a week at 14.

Just realised, dh and I went out for the day on Friday and left 14yo twins home from 9am to 5.30pm… they didn’t have a 9yo in the mix but would have been fine and responsible. They looked after the dog.

one of them also got the train to the beach with friends and was out all day a few weeks back with no adults.

I would & do.
Mine will watch Tv for an hour, won’t leave them
longer.

It really has. I am hoping to raise my kids to be more capable teens but it is hard given the wider environment

Yes. I have a 14 year old and a 9 year old (and a 12 year old) and wouldn’t think twice.

The 14 year old is doing the school run on Wednesday! I’ll make sure everyone is dressed before I leave but he needs to get the little one out and to school. It’s fine.