What age can I leave my children in the car while I shop?

[Tinseltower]

Today I left my 9 and 7 year old i. The car alone for about 15 mins. Windows down, in the shade and mild day. Is this really irresponsible? Car wasn’t hot at all on my return, yet some people think I’m stupid for doing this.

What age would you leave your children alone for a short amount of time?

nottinghillgrey, no, granted 14 is indeed 4 years older than 10. But I was left in charge of a premature newborn from when he was about 4 weeks old, plus a toddler in nappies and a 4yo.

According to some people on this thread 14yo me wouldn't be trusted to sit in a car for 10 minutes whilst my Mum nipped into a shop!

I don't understand why you'd need to leave kids in a car alone at all? We either all go out and go into the store or they stay at home and I go on my own. I'm of the opinion that they are much more likely to be bored and do something stupid cooped up in a car than at home. If I couldn't trust them I wouldn't leave them in either place.

I would absolutely be comfortable leaving kids of 9 and 7 in a car for fifteen minutes. If you can't trust your kid for fifteen minutes not to be a dork then you've obviously not taught them any common sense (and need to have a good think about ways to give them more exposure to everyday situations where they need to employ that common sense).

It's not always about them, it's about something that happens when they have no adult with them to help them out. People outside the car fighting or shouting, a car hitting into their car, someone standing peering into the car. They're not adults, no matter how well behaved a child is put them into certain situations and they either stay there, freaked out, or decide to go in and find their dm (whether they've been told to stay put and are best child in the world).

Me and my sister were left regularly in the pub car park (usually Saturday afternoons) from around the ages of 6 or 7. My dad, or one of his friends, would bring us out coke and crisps every half hour or so. We loved it as it's the only time we got coke and crisps! But it did get a bit boring at times! It was different times back then!

Those were the days! Same here with crisps and coke :)

The times I’ve left my 10 and 11 year in while just paying for petrol end up in WW3 so no I wouldn’t 🤣

Blimey. I leave my 11yo and 6yo in the car together all the time if I'm just getting milk or bread or whatever. They listen to their audio CD or read. The 11yo cycles to school alone which is inherently more risky but perfectly acceptable here.

Just take them into the shop with you! Why wouldn’t you?

It is absolutely NOT "highly highly unlikely op!!!!!!

But I was left in charge of a premature newborn from when he was about 4 weeks old, plus a toddler in nappies and a 4yo.

A premature 4 week old? Who must have just been out of hospital, when you were 14 sorry but I don't see that as a good pro point here at all.

This thread reminds me how far behind his NT peers my 12 year old who has aspergers syndrome is. He is very bright (as are all children on mumsnet ), can play the pirates of the Caribbean theme on the piano with both hands by memory but no common sense whatsoever.

you've obviously not taught them any common sense

How is common sense taught?

How is common sense taught?

By providing situations where you need to use it, talking about what might happen, and thinking about what you'd do, then experiencing the situations where unanticipated things happen and working out to deal with them.

Generally you need to be responsible, so adults either need to not be around, or be very, very hands off.