To leave a 9yr alone with 2 12 year olds?

[yetAnotherNewName1000]

Inspired by another thread, but interested to know how other people feel.
My 2 dd's (9 and 12 yrs) went to a sleepover with a friend (12 yrs). They were left alone for 1.5 hours while the parents went to a local (

Actually I think this is fine. This age group is pretty safe at home and if they know to stay put they won’t go far. And in front of a movie? Most kids would stay watching the movie and be totally fine - not even notice the parents had gone. I don’t see the problem but if it were me doing this I would inform you, the parent, of my intentions. When my kids were this age I definitely checked with parents but this is not needed as they get slightly older. Nothing really will happen in your (or their) own home for an hour, watching s movie. Seriously on mumsnet more parents want to let their 5-10 year olds walk the streets to school alone. I am surprised so many people on MN are against this staying at home scenario.

I’ve left my 8yo with my 10yk and his friend, who’s 11 (only for an hour, granted, and my parents live next door!). It might be miffed but not unduly worried.

God I've done it! Left my 9 year old and her friend with DD1 who was at the time 12. Now they're 13 and 10 and I still do it.

Difference is, that the friend is a very close friend....her Mum does it too. Leaves my DD and her DD with the older sibling for a bit.

WHy not?

Our older DC are very sensible. They know that there's to be no cooking and if the door knocks, they're not to answer it.

No dangerous playing...as in "indoor football" or "lets all ride down the stairs on a tin tray" type of thing.

Wow I'm usually completely risk averse but even I think it's fine! Less than a mile away, driving and at the end of a mobile. They would have been back in 2 mins if there was any kind of issue. The dc are probably at less risk than being home alone with one of the parents locked in the bathroom (as it might take longer to get their attention if the shower was on and they would have to make themselves decent before coming out of the bathroom).

It would be polite to mention it to you but they probably didn't feel it necessary as it's probably normal practice for them.

My dd loved being home alone for an hour age 12 and I would have easily left her in charge of her younger brother (9), and in fact did for 3 hours one morning when I couldn't make an alternative arrangement. I was further away than 1km but there were neighbours home incase of emergency.

The only circumstance I wouldn't is if a child had Sn or I thought they might misbehave. Oh or if the child was scared (none of mine are, we are a busy household so they appreciate the peace!).

I think if you assume responsibility for anothers child, you don't delegate it and feck off for the evening, unless this is discussed and agreed upon prior.
I would not be happy to find this out after the fact.

Sorry I have re read and you are happy to leave your dds home alone together. Therefore I don't really see the difference. Surely your dd12 would still be responsible for your dd9 even though it's someone else's house.
The parents probably know you leave them for a while and therefore thought they could do the same?

I would decline future invitations personally.

My concern would be that parents who leave someone else’s children alone to go to the pub don’t have anywhere close to the same parenting standards as me and therefore shouldn’t be trusted with my children.