To leave almost 8 year old in house alone while I go to the shop?

[Weebitawks]

So I want to pop to the shop (less than 5 minute walk) to get some nice things in for us for breakfast. DS7 (almost 8) understandably doesn’t want to get dressed and come. Would I be unreasonable to just take toddler DS?

DS is sensible and would I imagine just sit in front of the telly. I don’t think he’d get up to anything and I’d lock the door. I’ve just never done it before so I don’t know?

Sorry for boring post.

Just read the leaflet from NSPCC- I actually did think it was illegal to leave them alone until they were 12 . Feel like a plank now. This is pretty life changing for a single mum! Not that I'm going to be out for ages but useful for those moments when you forgot milk for brekkie!

@LonelyandTiredandLow

So what does it say?!

Jeez the amount of neurotic parents on here is terrifying !!!

@LonelyandTiredandLow is this info online? Can you give a link?

I can rely on mine being super lazy if the tv is on that’s it.

My username I agree but was too polite to say

TheRhythmless no legal age. Found it fromupthread, here learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/leaflets/home-alone-guide

From that link

There is no legal age at which children may be left home alone, but parents can be prosecuted for neglect if it puts them at risk of injury or suffering.

So you could in theory be prosecuted for leaving your 17 year old alone at home.

I would and have

I leave my 8yo at home for 15 minutes while I run over the road to collect dd from her friend's house, which we can see from our front windows. I've only started doing that very recently. He has been going to the (very) local shop on his own for over a year, and he sometimes runs errands in the village (delivering Christmas cards to the neighbours etc!).

He is happy and knows the ground rules (basically no answering the door and no cooking / kitchen). I don't think he moves from in front of the TV tbh.

I wouldn't leave him if I was going out I the car though.

No chance. Since we had an electrical appliance randomly and unexpectedly burst into flames, I can assure you that it is very difficult for an adult I that situation to calmly unlock the door and go outside, let alone an 8 year old. You think you know what you'd do, and how you’d do it, but when suddenly in that situation it’s a different matter. The thought of our 8yo coping with that on his own, making good decisions, is terrifying.

Because an adult you were thinking about putting out the fire, your 8year old must be mighty dim if he doesn't know to go out of the house if there's a fire!

I think many parents massively underestimate their own children