To leave a 13 and 10 year old at home alone until 2am?

[Afternooninthepark]

Would you feel happy/comfortable doing this?

I was left when i was 10 for the weekend with a 4 year old, 2 year old a a baby, we survived. When i was 14 my parents buggered off to Malta on on holiday and left me some money to feed myself, i was fine.
To those who say the wouldnt leave kids "these days" it isnt more dangerous these days

In all kindness, you do realise this isn’t normal or good parenting don’t you? The fact that you survived doesn’t make it ok...

No, I think 10 and 13 is too young. However, it's just on the cusp of being acceptable and I wouldn't be that outraged at the thought of other parents doing it. Not for me though...how could you enjoy yourself? I'd be worried sick

Lowlandlucky I’m sorry but that really is bad.

I was babysitting professionally that late from age 12. So I don’t see an issue.
But this was last century.

Its funny because my dd is 12 next May and I just cant imagine her being responsible for a couple of young children for the evening, maybe times have changed or maybe it’s just different styles of parenting. I’m 46 and my mum would have never had a younger child look after my sister and I when we were kids, our grandparents always did it. We are all different.

I pop over for a cuppa to see my dp from 9:30-11:30 a couple of times a week, and my lot are 11, 14 and 17. Wouldn't feel comfortable leaving them until 2am though. Up to midnight at the latest I'd say. We have neighbours both sides they can speak to/go to and I'm also only 10mins away by car so it feels ok.

It was completely normal and 'good parenting' to use 13-year-old babysitters until recently.

It seems to me that "these days" the issue is that children aren't brought up to be comfortable with responsibility until they are older, not that things are any more dangerous.

I was babysitting until that time when I was 14, though.

I think societal expectations have changed. I don't think things are necessarily any more dangerous.

No way would I do that. We started going out for the evening and leaving DS 15 with his younger siblings of 11 and 7. However we would only stay out until around 11, having left at 7. DS is now 16 and I would feel comfortable staying out a bit later, but no way when he was younger.

No way.

I personally wouldn’t.

Why does the time of night make a difference?

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/overviewofburglaryandotherhouseholdtheft/englandandwales

65% of burglaries occur between 6am and 6pm. Most burglars do not want to risk encountering someone so they will try your home when you're most likely to be at work. The most common hours for a burglary to occur are between 10am-3pm. Common misconceptions about break-ins aid the burglar

I’d leave them during the evening but would probably want to be back home for 10 latest. So fine for a meal out and a drink or cinema etc. Not that we do leave them. Mine are 11 and 12. I’m not sure they’d want to be left anyway when it’s dark.

No, regardless of how trustworthy the 13yo, because sleeping children have the ability to sleep through the sound of a smoke alarm.

Nope

We've recently started leaving DS1 and DS2 ( nearly 16 and 10) alone, but wouldn't dream of doing it past bedtime.

@Mintjulia mine wouldn't!

My kids are similar age and i rarely leave them together, although the older one stays at home in the holidays if i am working. I wouldnt leave either of them at a time they would be going to bed though.

My DS yes, Dd? Not a chance in hell.