To leave my kids home alone for 5 minutes

[Justalittlelemondrizzle]

Just wondering what is the norm/acceptable. The dcs are 9 & 10. Wibu to nip to the shop for 5 minutes. They go to the shop and play out by themselves all the time and dc10 has a mobile should they need to call me while I'm out. They're pretty responsible and I'd lock the front door to stop anyone getting in but unlock the back door to the secure back garden in the unlikely event of them needing to get out of the house.

Lots of people will say no but I think it's fine as long as they have access to a phone and know how to call for help. If the front door is locked make sure they have a key though.

Is it genuinely five minutes?

As long as they're pretty sensible kids I'd say fine too

Surely there's more risk in them going to the shop by themselves? Yes I would go.

I guess it depends on the kids. My 11 year old can be trusted but I'm not sure my 9 year old ever will be lol

I'm sure 5 mind will be fine though

You're fine, I'd do it

Yea it genuinely is 5 minutes. Shop is behind our house. 5 mins there and back. 7 if there's a queue.

5 minutes with a 9 and 10 year old, totally fine! I would be popping to our local shop just behind our house myself at that age. So incredibly unlikely something could happen in that time, they’ll probably not move from whatever they are doing when you go.

Yea they've been going to the shop by themselves for about a year now. They're pretty streetwise kids.

I think it's fine for that length of time, you obviously trust them as you let them play outside a lot. As long as they have access to a key to get out of the house in the event of a fire.

Do you have neighbours they could call on if they needed help?

Yes definitely.

If they are 9 and 10 why not take them both to the shop with you?

Of course that's fine!

They wouldn't need a key. I'd leave the back door open and should they need to they can leave the garden through the gate. I have family directly opposite and friends next door to them.

Dunno... try it and find out. They're you're kids, not ours.

Seems fine!

Of course this is fine, I'm genuinely baffled that anyone wouldn't think that it wouldn't be.

Have thing really changed that much since I was that age (15 years ago)? I definitely remember being allowed to stay home alone for hours, pretty certain whole days whilst my mum worked during the holidays in year 6.

Arg, double negatives - *that anyone would think that it wouldn't be!

Of course it's fine. I leave my DD for up to 45 mins / an hour and she's 9 and I have absolutely NO qualms.

Absolutely fine! Lots of kids are walking to school etc alone by then. Even safer in their own home!

totally fine i think!

Send them to the shop and you stay st Home and have a cuppa!!!

Of course it's ok

I will genuinely never understand these threads.

They're your kids. Only you know them and your area etc.