To leave my two girls for the day?

[Greggers2017]

DD 12 and DSD 11 have just started secondary school, they are due to have an inset day on the 25th October but I've got the opportunity to go to see a show with my friend in the afternoon. Would I be unfair to leave them from around 11am until 4pm when DP gets home from work? They are very sensible and mature for their ages. The neighbour will be at home and says they can go round to her if there is a problem.
DS will be at school and my mum is having the baby.

Why don't they all go to your mums? Or she could go to your place?

That sounds fine to me. They're mature, and have an adult nearby if necessary. I'd do it in your shoes.

Sounds fine to me

Yes that sounds fine

If they are happy to be left, and you have gone through all the 'what ifs', I think at that age 5 hour is fine.

Cover what they can do for lunch etc - eg are you happy them cooking, or re-heating something, or just stick to sandwiches. Will they be allowed friends round? Will they be allowed to go out ( and if so cover locking up the house etc). Have they got phones and know who to ring for what?

Pretty sure thats actually illegal....

Victoria, its not illegal.

Absolutely fine if they are trustworthy.
And absolutely not illegal

I wouldn’t

It sounds fine to me! And it isn’t illegal...

Yeah they'll be absolutely fine.

It will be good for them to gain independence. By the time they are 16 they could have got married and joined the army. Building up to being responsible is a good idea.

Of course it's not illegal. Totally fine if they are happy with it and you have prepped them as well as you can.

Illegal? Leaving secondary school aged children home alone for about 6 hours during the day? Really?

I wouldn’t. Why can’t they go to your mums?

Victoria It's not illegal. Thousands of secondary school kids finish school at 3 and are home alone until parents return from work at 6, 7 maybe later.

@Victoria319 where did you get that idea from????

Yes as long as they are mature enough and have a backup plan for ab emergency its absolutely fine. My DC (from secondary school age) are at home when I work in the school holidays 10-4pm , DH and I check up on them several times throughout the day. They are allowed to leave the house as long g as they have told us too.

If they are sensible then use this occasion as a test run.

If all goes OK then it means you can start leaving them alone for periods in the summer holiday. (When they will just stay in bed and get up just before you come home. )

Obviously not illegal! If they are sensible & you are comfortable with it it’s fine. Most secondary age kids walk home from school or go
into town with friends at the weekend etc. Mine was often alone at 12 after getting home from school whilst I take his brother to clubs or was at work whilst his brother was on a play date. Some kids aren’t ready at that age, but if they are then great, feel proud you’ve bought them up to be responsible & independent & have fun OP!

Depends how sensible they are; can they be trusted together? For example, I have 4 kids. I would leave kids 1 and 3 together, but definitely wouldn’t leave 1 and 2 together as they would cause utter havoc!

I wouldnt. Could your mum have the baby at yours? Then the girls can do what they want but with a grown up around just in case?

I think they will be fine,and it isnt illegal so dont worry.

I would

Illegal 😂

Sounds fine. I have some hard and fast rules

Keep the door locked
Don't answer the door
Don't use the kettle, oven or microwave (electrics stuff that's hot or can easily catch fire)
If you're hungry there's sandwiches, cereal etc (in your case I'd make a packed lunch for them)
Keep their phone on loud and I'd ring during the day.
Tell neighbour or family they are home and tell them in an emergency go to neighbour/family or whoever