not AIBU but what do I do re child next door (5) left. alone.

[AnaIsAlwaysShocked]

Ok first off sorry for typos I'm on my phone.

DD2 just came in from the garden saying girl next door wants her to go round and play because she's on her own. so I popped out and according to child ( lets call her daisy) her mum dad and brother have gone for a walk without her and told her to stay in the house.

She won't come round here as she's been told not to leave the house, at 5 has no real knowledge of how long they have been etc and I can't leave my house too much as I have 3DCs with me.

My plan is to knock every 5 minutes for the next half hour and then panic or sit with DC in the street until and her at the door until parents arrive. any better ideas? I don't know if I'm panicing and should ignore but surely at 5 Daisys too young to be left.

whoa I mean :( ofc

I'm worried about the parents being cross at the girl for opening the door to someone offering her sweets.

I agree you should call the police, don't wait any longer, they need reporting and the child needs to be made safe

I hope that 'Daisy' is OK.

40 mins now. What if she finds matches or knives to play with? It happens.

Please call police.

Hopefully the parents are back and op is giving them a bollocking

Poor girl. I hope she's ok.

Call the police, they may not speak to you for a while but they would be unlikely to leave her alone again.
I think encouraging her round yours isn't a good idea. She would get into trouble and you are making her do something she's been told not to do by her parents (although that title is questionable in my view).

I(f you haven't already, CALL POLICE. If anything happened to the poor child you would never forgive yourself. We all think what should we do at times like this. Many people have told you, please act now

I'd call the police. I'd also encourage her to be in her garden so you can chat to her through/over the fence and make sure she's ok.

Forty minutes is ridiculous. Call the police.

But even if the parents are back this still needs reporting, what's so say they don't do it regularly and will do it again.

A 5Yo should be getting ready for bed now, surely, rather than sitting in an empty house not knowing when somebody will come home. Really hope OP is calling police.

I think that's what the OP is doing.

I hope you've called the police now. Poor girl.

I think you've done a super job so far, being alert and looking out for her but please call the police, it's the right thing to do.
It's not dark outside but she 5 years old, home alone and it's bedtime.
I'm not saying that you don't know all this (you do) just please call the police.

I hope that's what you are doing atm

Poor child. Glad she has got a caring neighbour

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I wouldn't take her, but i would call the police and keep an eye out until they get there. They will be there very quickly.

I hope you have phoned the police.

Any news OP ?

The possible dangers are infinite. What foolish parents.

My son is 5 and the thought of him being left alone and not knowing when anyone would be back is absolutely heartbreaking :(

Poor child

I don't like going down to the basement of our block of flats (we have a storeroom there) to fetch something for 2 minutes and leaving my children alone. And this is without even leaving the building - we're only on the first floor, and still I avoid it.

I can't imagine going off for as long as this and leaving such a young child.

Wow. Now I'm a very lax parent and have left my DDs alone for very short periods, eg to pop to the corner shop while one is lying poorly on the sofa. But that was only once DD1 was old enough to know how to phone me, and they always have each other. I have been slagged off on MN before for my laxness. But to leave 5yo for that length of time, completely alone? Bonkers. And she's letting you in the house. I would call the police non-emergency number for advice.