Would you leave your 14 year old at home for this length?

[Sweatingcobbles]

I have a work press event from 7-9.30pm next week. The bus journey is half an hour.
Dc has asked to stay home alone.

I would be out 6.15 to 10.15pm is.

We have no neighbours who can keep an eye out.
We have a relative who cannot come up but could get here in ten minutes if needed in an emergency.

Would you? If it was day I wouldn't question I think it is because it is night.

Do you have no neighbours as you are isolated or you just don't know your neighbours?

I would and have been left.

Long as internets on and there's crisps in house teens won't notice the parents aren't there

For 4 hours? Yes I would.

Is DC confident and pretty sensible?

Yes, at 14, that's fine

6:15 am or 6:15 pm?

Yes, of course.

I'd have no problem leaving a sensible 14yo home alone for 4 hours. As ProudBadMum suggests all they really need is internet & food!

My 14 yo babysits his little brother while we go out for longer than that.

It's absolutely fine imo, unless he has anxiety issues or SN you haven't mentioned.

TBH I leave our 14 year old DS at home when I walk the dogs, if he is too lazy to come with me, but that is for 45-50 mins, and he has a phone, and the neighbours are just over the wall, within shouting distance and it is just a walk in the surrounding area, but it really depends on how mature your DC is.

Yes. You know your own daughter if she is sensible and calm, it's not too long.

My son is 14, that's year 9 of school.
he's left most days day in the holidays, as long as there's pizza and bacon he's fine

If he is a sensible boy, then of course. He may not leave the bed/sofa/playstation!! However, if he is a PITA, no way!!

Absolutely fine as long as they are a sensible 14 year old. Some people leave much younger kids alone for longer. I'm convinced our next door neighbour left her 11 year old an 8 year old alone all day on Saturday.

I assume you mean 6.15am. could you call him at tea time and check he's ok and has eaten? If so, I would as he fine with it. I assume he could contact you in an emergency?

Pm not am so 4 ish hours
We have neighbours but dc don't know them and immediate neighbour is away.
Shop is open till eleven dc knows all staff there and they would help. That is five doors down.

They would watch TV and eat anything sweet wise in the house but otherwise not move.

14? I thought you were going to ask about an overnighter not just 4 hours!

14 years not 14 months? Blimey OP.

Your child could be a babysitter at that age. Don't they normally spend any time alone in the house?

Has she never been left alone for that long before?

4 hours is fine.

I'd never happy to leave her all day in the daytime but would be more dubious at night.

I have a 14 year old so yes, but not regularly at nightime, although i do leave DS frequently in the day for similar periods. We live semi rurally, only one neighbour, no other family in the same city, no local shops. We have no option really. As long as they're all locked up, don't answer the door and you have a mobile then I would.

I would - just get her to text you every half hour to check in and say hi.