to leave the hob on?

[howmanybiscuits]

If you were in the middle of cooking dinner and got called away unexpectedly, so you would be out of the house for about 10-15 minutes what would you do in this situation?

10 yr old DS is absorbed with the computer in the front room.
Potatoes are cooking on the hob.

Which of the following are OK (if either)?

1. Turn hob off, leave DS on computer.

1. Leave hob on low, leave DS on computer, tell him don't go near hob

(Difference of opinion here!)

[nokidshere]

Hob off.

There's not a chance that a 10yr old completely engrossed in a video game will remember that there are potatoes on the hob! And i say that as an adult who has had many burnt pans over the years. I can't even remember how many times I've put eggs on to hard boil and only the popping/exploding of them when they have boiled dry has reminded me they were there because I've just gone to do something else "for a minute"

[adaline]

Wow can't believe how many people would leave their 10 year old home alone

What I don't understand @trebless is why you wouldn't?

At 11 most children are walking and catching public transport to secondary school on their own, and letting themselves in to empty houses afterwards.

Ten year olds need to be independent and to learn to be on their own. I was often left alone for a few hours at that age. It's not healthy to never leave your NT child alone.

[FriarTuck]

He's also very easy distracted / absorbed in other things.
Sounds like me (autistic as well). I frequently forget I've left things cooking and I'm the one who put them there in the first place. I'd have turned it off.

[MonstranceClock]

I'd be a total failure as a parent if my 10 year old couldn't be left to watch potatoes for 15 minutes.

[TriciaH87]

Turn it off. Ideally take kids with but always turn it off. What if you think they heard you bit were too engrossed in the game, go in the kitchen and scould themself.

[AndItStillSaidFourOfTwo]

With my now 11yo, I would turn it down low and ask him to check on them. I think I would have done this a year ago, too. But he's reliable that way and interested in cooking, so would have been fine.

In this scenario: turned down low, moved to one of the back rings if it wasn't on one already, left to simmer, ds warned not to go near.

[howmanybiscuits]

I'd be a total failure as a parent if my 10 year old couldn't be left to watch potatoes for 15 minutes

And how are you doing on being a decent human being to other people?

[howmanybiscuits]

Sounds like me (autistic as well). I frequently forget I've left things cooking and I'm the one who put them there in the first place. I'd have turned it off.

Oh, that's interesting. See, I'm like that too (I have ADHD) and it's things like this that made me wonder if DS has ADHD as well as ASD - but is this kind of thing typical of ASD also?

[Dramatical]

I'd be a total failure as a parent if my 10 year old couldn't be left to watch potatoes for 15 minutes

And how are you doing on being a decent human being to other people?

Oooo comment of the thread well done OP

[EngagedAgain]

Good tip Wooly!

[Ihatehashtags]

Option 2. He’s 10 not 2.

[FriarTuck]

but is this kind of thing typical of ASD also?
Well I've only been diagnosed with autism but I do wonder if I've also got ADHD so could be either.... But it's definitely a thing I do - the amount of cups of tea that get left in the kitchen half-made and forgotten and pans left boiling until I remember in a panic!

[EngagedAgain]

I made the mistake a couple of times forgetting about baked beans on the hob, on full power. Once they were practically welded to the pan. I just think I'll do something while I wait then clean forget. I don't go off now unless it's on lowest setting. It's the smell that alerts me first. Also forgetting tea brewing.

[howmanybiscuits]

Dramatical thanks

[howmanybiscuits]

the amount of cups of tea that get left in the kitchen half-made and forgotten and pans left boiling until I remember in a panic!

Yes, that's me!

My mum has ASD and isn't like this at all though, my scattiness drives her round the bend!

[thesnapandfartisinfallible]

Ask DS to make sure the potatoes don't boil over and to turn them off when they're done. Surely a 10 year old can mind the hob for 15 minutes?

[BackforGood]

I would turn the hob off. There is no way any of mine, at 10 - or any of the years since, if I'm honest - would remember to go and turn the hob off if they were emerged in something else.
In truth, the potatoes would keep on cooking in the hot water anyway. No issue.