to think it is not safe to leave a 5 year old in the house by themselves whilst you are in the garden?

[spookyskeleton]

I am prepared to be told IABU but I am having a 'disagreement' with DH and would appreciate the MN view

DH has been looking after the DC this week and periodically has been going into the front garden with DS1 to play football and leaving DS2 in the house by himself to watch telly (DS2 does not like football!) He has been closing the door to keep the heat in the house. He says he has been checking on him regularly (which I don't doubt he has) and DS2 can open the door and go out if he wants them but I still have an uneasy feeling about it.

DH's argument is that it is only like being upstairs (for example, we have been known to stay in bed and have a snooze in the mornings whilst the DC are downstairs) when he is downstairs but my argument is that if he falls over/hurts himself etc you could hear him cry/scream whereas you can't if you are outside.

IABU?

Is the front garden on a main road? Could someone see him as they pass by? If so then YANBU.

BUT if it is a private enclosed garden then yabu.

I leave my 2 (4yo) in the house watching TV or playing while I e.g. Hang out washing. I wouldn't do it for long, and I would expect them to come to the back door if they stopped watching or needed anything. Other children might not do that and get upset if their calls are ignored or go doing something dangerous, so I don't think YABU to err on the side of caution, it is important that you make your own decision about what is right for you and your children.

Yabu in quite a ginormous way

Just to clarify I am talking an extended period of time (say an hour), not 5 minutes.

yes but it's not an hour without checking him, it is maybe 5-10 minutes at a time

YABUUUUUUU

Genuinely, what concerns you about leaving him inside? I am quite neurotic but it wouldn't occur to me to worry about this for a 5 year old?

YABU unless the child is particularly disobedient or something

I regularly used to play football in the garden with DS3 and leave DS2 watching TV on the couch or reading a book.

And yes, even for an hour.

If you don't doubt your DH is regularly checking on him, I can't see a problem.

I've left the five year old looking after the two year olds whilst I nip next door to ask for some help with the school run. Bad mother me! (The five year old is probably more sensible than both his parents put together.)

Yabu

I think it depends on the child, some children are naturally impetuous and some are naturally careful. My daughter was naturally careful and so could be trusted with lots of things that I would not have trusted another child with

Last summer I spent ages gardening, re-sorting my whole front garden. I am a lone parent and my sons at the time were 5 and 6. They'd get left indoors, or indeed in the back garden, whilst I was out the front gardening. I leave them when I hoover and wash the car as well. You'd be surprised what you can hear through supposed double glazing too!

YABU

Depends on the five year old buy for most I'd say that's totally fine, I've been leaving ds2 to his own devices while I'm upstairs or in the garden for ages and he only turned 5 last week. He's the type of child who won't get up to mischief and he can open the door to come get me if need be.

Ds1 I would have been more cautious with but he has adhd and would most certainly have flooded the house/broken the TV/fallen downstairs at that age of left unsupervised.

You know your son best but unless there are special circumstances I'd imagine you're being a bit over protective tbh

I'm often in garden while kids in house 6/8 yrs. in the lovely summer we had last yr I would sit in the garden having a cuppa reading etc and leave them too it. If they need me they know where I am (average size house)

I'd do this with my five year old. except I can't, as he doesn't like being on his own and would follow me

"DH's argument is that it is only like being upstairs (for example, we have been known to stay in bed and have a snooze in the mornings whilst the DC are downstairs) when he is downstairs but my argument is that if he falls over/hurts himself etc you could hear him cry/scream whereas you can't if you are outside."

I hope you mean if he breaks a leg or something that means he can't pick himself up and come and find you. Or do you really expect your 5yo to sit and cry like a baby until an adult comes and picks him up?

Assuming you are talking about a serious injury, that would of course be bad, but why would it be different for a 5yo than for a 7yo or a 10yo?

At this age, they are not learning to walk so there is no reason a 5yo would be more likely to break a leg than a 10yo (and probably slightly less likely than you as his legs will be less stiff). And if they did, what could the 10yo do that the 5yo couldn't?

I have a 5 year old and would be fine with them staying in the house whilst I was in garden if they didn't want to come out