To leave a ten yr old home alone for an hour

[Florabella]

My younger child is starting a new activity and my (newly) 10 yr old doesn't want to get dragged along as it will mean hanging around outside for half an hour. It's a ten minute walk away. She is very sensible and I'm sure she would be ok at home, but i still feel a bit worried (maybe worried that I would be judged!) would you do it?

If she is safe, sensible and happy to be left, then I'd just give her an emergency phone and some instructions.

Yes I do this all the time. I made sure he knew how to contact us and what to do in the event of a fire etc.

i started leaving DC1 for 30-60 minutes aged 9, up to 90 minutes aged 10.
Our rules are :
She's not allowed to use the kettle (I make a fresh brew before I go) or cooker. No answering the door, but I remind her to leave the house if the smoke alarm goes off. She's not to answer the phone unless she can hear through the answerphone that it's me. If I'm out for longer than 30mins I get her to call me at an agreed time, just so that I know she's keeping an eye on the time, as I tell her to call a designated person if I'm late back without calling her first.

She bloody loves having the house to herself.

YANBU & yes I do it, have done since she was 8 (started with half an hour, easily an hour by 9). She's a sensible kid though & definitely wouldn't open the door to strangers (she's reluctant to do it when I'm home!), nor cook/cut stuff up (far too lazy!) and would go next door at the slightest opportunity (they have a dog 😁). She's actually a great kid though and will get on with homework, music practice etc if necessary, or otherwise happily amuse herself with DanTDM.

Yes, sounds reasonable. Has she got access to a phone or tablet so she can contact you if she needs to?

Agree re setting the ground rules and making sure she knows what to do in an emergency. My neighbours were great with this.

And don't worry about the judgers - they are in the minority and mainly those who over cosset their children and then wonder why they can't look after themselves when they leave home!

Of course not! Don't you understand that your house will be burgled and then catch fire, and that you will be in a car accident and be unconscious and they won't be able to identify you and your child will be left home alone forever, and, and...

I'm ridiculously overcautious but I'd do it.

I think it depends on the child my 9 year old nearly 10 , absolutely not...However that is my child who struggles to be sensible with me in the house.

Ye my nearly 9 year old does be left alone for short periods.It doesnt do them any harm.

I did it for the first time yesterday! 10 yr old dc, sensible kid. Left to get younger dc from an activity, was gone 20 minutes. He loved it, and wasn't bothered a bit. I might feel differently if he weren't reasonably sensible.

Yes. I do it regularly as my 10YO is happy and trustworthy.

My eldest never wanted to be left home alone at that age though so I guess it depends on the child.

Depends on the child but yes probably.

So total of 40mins. 10 mins to get there, 30mins for you to wait for younger child and 10 mins home

Sounds fine to ma as others have said

Yes, depending on the child.
If I left ds2 for 1/2 an hour, playing the x box, to pick up ds1, he wouldn't even notice, and wouldn't have moved an inch!! Much longer than that and I don't think he'd like it!!

On a serious note, though; it depends entirely on the child. I've left DD home alone for short periods since she was 8. I don't see any problem doing it with a sensible child who will stick to the safety rules. You know your child better than anyone else.

I would happily leave my sensible ten year old alone for an hour or so but she won't let me!!

Far preferable to leave a sensible 10 year old on the sofa with a book than drag them out in the cold in and out of the car on tedious errands / delivering siblings to activities etc.

I definitely would.

TaterdemailionAspie. It's ok op is walking.

My 8.5 yr old dd is getting closer to being ready to be left but not just yet. Some parents I know have been leaving their child for an hour since age 7, which I think is too young, however, they have a number of very supportive neighbours. I hope by 9 or 10 dd will be fine home alone for a short while.

I would take them for the walk/company most weeks maybe go for a walk while you are waiting instead of hanging around outside. If you have to walk and weather is bad leave them at home.

I leave my 10 year old for an hour or so if we are doing something she doesn't want to come to, or after school. Not much longer as she doesn't really like being alone for longer. Same as everyone else- my rules are no cooking/toast/kettle (as she is extremely clumsy), phone numbers left out for me and dad's mobile, don't answer the door. It's always been fine.

My 10 year old walks home from school (2/3 mile away) and lets herself into the house a couple of times a week. She's on her own for up to an hour and half. She's been doing this for 2 months now and she's 10 today. It was either this or a childminder and she chose to do this. She's perfectly capable and happy to do this.

DD1 was the same but DD2 was too scared so she didn't stay alone until a few weeks before starting secondary school.

You'll know your child. My mum left me from around that age, and I looked after my brother from around 12 (he would have been 6). I was left alone for a full weekend at 15.

My brother, however, managed to start a small fire trying to cook his lunch at 17

Mummyof then she'll be hit by a car and...

I was joking, by the way. I've seen so many threads on here about leaving children alone for short periods (at various ages), and those unlikely events are always bandied about; car accident that prevents you getting home being the most 'likely' one.

I think it depends totally on the child and their level of maturity/compliance.

Yes I would (and have)

We covered some ground rules and a few "what if" scenarios. I figured they go out to play with friends for 2 or 3 hours at a time so an hour at home isn't any less safe.