aibu to leave 7.5yo home alone while I drop sibling to school?

[WhiffyBiffer]

My gut says it's ok but maybe I'm bu. 7.5yo is not well and I need to walk siblibg to school. I'd be half an hour. 7.5yo is sensible and I trust her to do as I say ie. Stay in bed. She can use the phone, I could phone and talk to her as I walk. What do you think?

I don't think I would. I know that it's very unlikely to cause any issues at all but 7 is just too young.

I wouldn't and I wouldn't leave my 7 year old with DS1 who is 12 either. Sorry probably not what you wanted to hear.

My gut says 7.5 is too young to be left at home alone for any length of time. What if you get run over or fall over and break your wrist on the way home?

I have no idea.

I think it's really one only you can decide on.

I wouldn't. Because my dd, whole being excellent at school, lacks in common sense.

She is 11 now and I wouldn't be entirely happy doing it. We have never needed to until this point so it hasn't been an issue. I probably would do it, but would be nervous.

Ds is 4 but a total handful but at 7.5 he could be different. He does have more common sense than dd even now.

Yanbu. Unless she is special needs.

I probably would. If it's half an hour, the child is sensible and your gut says it's fine then do it. If your wavering then can you someone to get the other child to school?

I wouldn't. Different if it's at the end of your street and you'd be 5 minutes. She's too young. My DD would have been really worried if I'd left her alone at that age.

Honestly, I think it's fine.

Questions like this always end up with posters catastrophising and losing all reason

As long as she knows to stay in bed until you get back, I don't see the problem. And, like you say, you can speak to her when you're walking home or something.

I would, especially as you can phone her on the way

I would do it, and I think im quite uptight with this sort of thing. My dds school is top of the street though so maybe Im not the best example

Ok thanks. Feeling uncomfortable about the whole thing as I think she's playing me and is actually fine. That aside I do feel fine about leaving her but seeing it written down realise it doesn't sound great and if anyone at School asked me where she was Id feel embarrassed telling them she was home alone so that's probably my answer.

I would

doesn't sound great and if anyone at School asked me where she was Id feel embarrassed telling them she was home alone so that's probably my answer.

But you don't NEED to tell anybody she's at home ALONE

I would have left left Ds4 who is 7 whilst I take siblings to school. It depends on the child, I wouldn't have left ds2 at the age as he was too unpredictable.

Ds4 would just stay on sofa with a duvet and could phone me in an emergency.

if anyone at School asked me where she was Id feel embarrassed telling them she was home alone so that's probably my answer.

Was just thinking this. Would you want other people to know? If it's a no then don't do it. Would probably be fine, but I know I'd feel guilty about it even if it was fine.

I would, I use to leave DD home alone at the age when I went and took the dog for a walk sometimes at 6am when DH was on night shifts as she was still asleep.

I have a DD of 7.5 and she is sensible, she is getting towards the age when I'd feel comfortable leaving her but don't think I would yet.

Hearthethunder I wish I hadn't read that!

I'm about to do it for the first time. DS (nearly 8) isn't well and DD needs to go to school. School is much closer but I've put him on the sofa with his duvet and he's unlikely to move for hours!! He can work the phone, walk to the neighbours or school
I'm going with the 'got to start somewhere' angle today.

OP I wouldn't be at all comfortable leaving a child that age on their own. Couldn't she just come with you to the school?

If you're not convinced she's really ill she's obviously not bad enough to have to stay in bed. Take her with you.

What is supposed to be the matter with her?

I wouldn't leave her on the grounds that she is so young & supposedly ill!

I assume there's no friend or neighbour who can either sit with heror take your son to school?

Hmm, I think at 7 you have to ask how you would feel if an emergency broke out. I'm not talking fire etc, but if you lost power for example, would you still be able to talk on the phone? (lots of phones these days rely on electricity, mine stops working if we lose power)

: would she follow the rules that you lay out (i.e not answer door/see friends outside & want to say hello/touch what she shouldn't..you say you trust her, but when she is alone, are you 100% sure she will not break them? It is completely different when there is no on around to see you!)

: what if she told a teacher that you leave her while you drop a sibling off? I don't think it is a safeguarding issue, but I am pretty sure that most people in a safeguarding position would think it was too young.

: Also, are you happy for it to be common knowledge? Because I think, eventually, she will tell someone. More so for the "see how big I am" factor. if you are OK with people knowing, no issue. But you have admitted that you would be embarrassed to say if anyone asked...

Personally, I think it is too young. My dd2 is 7 and she isn't at all ready to be left alone. Dd1 was very sensible, and still, I don't think I would have left ehr either.

Oh, well if you think she is playing you then Id be getting her up, dressed and taking her to school with the "if the teachers think you need to come home they will ring me".