To think that an 11 year old doesn't need..

[Misspollyhadadollie]

A baby sitter? (During the day)

Lots of families have working parents op and if they don’t have any childcare help they have to use before and after school clubs and holiday clubs. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with an 11 year old letting themselves in after school and waiting a couple of hours by themselves but every day of the holidays would be miserable for them. What the hell would they do all day?

Natsu

It is against the law to leave your six year old at home on their own. They are six years old, anything could happen to them. It is totally irresponsible. No six year old will be ready ifs! They will be totally alone and terrified.

little it’s not against the law (in the UK) there’s no lower age limit for leaving your children unfortunately. It is however very irresponsible imo.

I work short early shifts in the holidays, so I start work before they're awake - leave at 5:30am, work 4 hours, get home at 10:30am. That works fine as the kids get up about 7am, have breakfast and play on screens, read or draw (depending on which child). ideally they'd lie in, but mine appear not to be programmed that way... I work 9 hour shifts the weekend at one end of most holidays and most bank holidays, so it balances with hours. Have a DH who works office hours so we cover holidays without needing time off specifically for child care (though we take time off to do stuff and go on holiday etc etc. We have no child care other than both parents.

Is your children's dad totally absent? Doesn't he have them at all?

Presumably you and your sister could help each other somewhat, at least being an emergency contact, as it sounds as though you live close together.

Also you may not be a single parent in 5 years time, as well as not knowing how your children will pan out...

Do you envisage leaving the eldest home alone while the others are in child care? If you're paying a babysitter for the younger ones you won't end up leaving a 12 year old home alone at all - eldest will have babysitter due to younger ones, younger ones will have older siblings...

I don't think you've thought it through if you have 4 kids under 7....

Presumably at the moment you don't work?

Kaytee

Yes leaving a six year old would be considered negligence without question. If the police were called because a child was left alone at this age it would be a very serious situation.

I can't believe we are even having this conversation.

The law expects parents to act reasonably. Leaving a 6 year old would not be deemed reasonable. I wanted to leave my 9 year old and was advised not to by a police friend who said it would be frowned upon and if anything went wrong then it would be seriously called onto question. Leaving a 6 year old could result in a neglect case or ss referral

last time I checked 11 year olds talkd lyk dis

The only person I know who talks like that is my 45 year old brother. His children "talk like this" in their messages!

little she's not in the UK. In most of Northern Europe people have a higher opinion of kids, and bring them up quite differently.

I think the nspcc advises that children under the age of 12 are rarely mature enough to be left home alone and babies, toddlers and young children should never be left home alone. It’s just advice though.

little I agree it’s negligence I’m just advising you on the law. There is no Lower age limit specified in law that children can be left at home alone. It is only an offence to do so if it directly puts the child in question at risk.

I think it's partly your tone that people are taking exception to, OP. As if rather than actually considering whether it will be right for your child at that age, you're just thinking "Yeah well tough luck, dc. I was on my own at 16, so you can just suck it up!". My dd was sensible enough to be left for a couple of hours age 11. Yours might not be. I wouldn't have left her for a whole working day, though I might now - she's 11 and has grown up a lot in the past year.

kaytee

SS would be involved very quickly with children being left alone that this age. In this country it would be unacceptable. Of course there are street children all over India, and children working in factories all over the world at that age. But here in the UK it would be seen as neglect.

It's not against the law in the UK little (though I'm not in the UK), there is no legal age to leave a child.
My 6 year old is definitely ready and loves it and she's not the only one in her class that stays home alone sometimes.

Kaytee

The point is the child is at risk at age six

Natsu You would have your child taken away if you lived in the UK for sure.

I agree with you little I was disputing the fact that you said it was illegal to leave a 6yo at home alone, there is no such law.

I am checking out as this thread is beyond ridiculous.

kaytee I won't say what I do for living, but I will just say that you will have your child removed by law if you leave your child at six years old. If something happens to your child whilst you are not there, you will additionally be charged with another crime.

Child neglect is a crime.

Check our the child and young person Act 1968

It is very clear.

Depends on the child. Some would be fine, some would not. You won't know until you get there whether your 11 will be ok.

Littlebird
Do you have children?

Oh Fgs where oh where did I say I leave my 6 year old alone!! I said I can't wait till they get to the age I can

little I don’t think you’ve actually read what I’ve written. I agree with everything you’re saying except ‘it is illegal to leave your 6yo at home alone’. It isn’t, it’s illegal to leave them at home if it puts them at risk. I agree it does put them at risk and most sensible people will realise that. I was just being pedantic about the way you worded it. Apologies as I seem to have caused you some stress regarding this.

Fine to be left for a few hours here and there, not all day every day as a regular child care solution.
There's usually holiday clubs or you must have friends with DC, you have theirs, they have yours. That's usually how people manage.

I do not leave my 6 year old alone and never said I did please quote me. I don't work either.

Also it’s not always the case that your child will be removed for being left once. A close family member of mine signs warrants to have children removed from their homes and usually there are several incidents before this happens unfortunately.