How old is old enough to stay home while the parents go out to dinner?

[Notthetoothfairy]

Is 10 (with a slightly younger sibling) too young, if left with a mobile phone?

And by dinner I mean a couple of hours, say 7pm - 9pm

I would have said 10 by themselves would be fine, I don't think they are old enough to be in charge of an older sibling

10 with responsibility for a younger sibling is too young why can’t they go with you

Not with a sibling till 13/14

We didn't leave our eldest in the evening until he was 13. I definitely wouldn't leave a pre teen to mind a younger sibling.
I'd be erring towards the 14 mark.

Special birthday dinner which will cost a fortune and babysitter let us down

No too young. Sorry if either cancel or take them with me.

How far away?

10 is definitely too young. How old is the sibling? I think if you're stuck (so say you need to go out 20mins before your DP gets home) then it may be ok, depending on the maturity of the DC's. Definitely not dinner for a couple of hours.

Bring them with you? At that age they might enjoy the meal out too?

I think 10 is too young. Especially with a younger sibling. How old is the sibling btw?

I'd say too young.

Too young, sorry.

You can’t leave a 10 year old in charge of a younger sibling at night for several hours, no.

Far too young, especially if there's a younger sibling. Just no. Mine are 11 and 8...I only leave my eleven year old for short periods during the day...less than twenty minutes. Never leave my youngest even with the older one.

If 10 was the younger sibling, yes, on this occasion as you've been let down and it's last minute.
But 10 as the older sibling, no.

I say this as the owner of a 12, 10 and 7 yr old. Eldest on their own I would leave for many hours if required. The older 2 I would leave if I had to for a couple of hours. The younger 2 in their own, I wouldn't leave for more than 15 mins day or evening.

By themselves yes but not with younger sibling.

Far too young.

Leave ds in the evening now at 13 for a few hours if we are fairly local. Wouldn’t go too far in case something happened

Not with a younger sibling, sorry.

I know you’re right (and younger one is 7), but it’s good to know when I can leave them. I was wondering when is too old for holiday clubs in school hols and thinking 14 would be ok but not sure about the (will then be) 11 year old.

Special birthday dinner which will cost a fortune and babysitter let us down

Ah well, I’m that case it’s definitely fine

How old is the ‘slightly younger’ sibling?

My son is 9 nearly 10. If he was left at home alone and there was a fire I wouldn't trust him to know what to do - to get out safely straightaway and not try to put it out/hide/find the phone. If someone knocked the door he could freak out about what to do. I wouldn't.

Cross-posted: 7!?

Nope, absolutely no way!

I wouldn't at that age. Either take them or re arrange.