To leave my 7.5 year old home alone today?

[brewbrewbrew]

She's off school as the bubble are isolating and I had school runs to do today.
Was fine for the morning run as dh was here but not for the afternoon one.

I drive a 7 seater car and had been given a curtesy car for the day. This car only has 5 seats and I needed 6 if dd was going to fit in.

I couldn't do anything else at short notice. The others were at school and needed collecting.

I spoke to her beforehand about the dangers and what to do if x or y happened, explained she could use Alexa to call my mobile also if there was a problem. I was gone about 15 minutes in total.
Even if I'd have walked (which isn't so close) she wouldn't have been able to come to the school with me as they've sent the bubble home. But at least next time I can leave her in the car if needs be now we've got the big one back.

I came home and she was where I'd left her, on the sofa watching tv lying down on her iPa

Is this awful of me? I feel so negligent.

So to be clear she was left alone for 15minutes? I'm sure she'll be fine. All day would be a no.

Needs must. You did what you had to and your DD is fine.

just to stick to thr facts, these are the nspcc guidelines

Babies and toddlers should never be left home alone.
Children under 12 years old shouldn't be left home alone for long.
Children under 16 years old shouldn't be left alone overnight.

This sounds like the riddle of the chicken, grain and fox that need transporting across the river. I think you did the best you could in the situation.

So, according to nspcc guidelines, leaving a 7 year old home alone for 15 minutes is perfectly fine.

If they’re sensible I think it’s ok. I had to leave mine for about 20 minutes a couple of weeks ago and we stayed on the phone line the entire time. He just sat and played games.

I wouldn't worry about leaving a 7 year olds for 15 minutes settled in front of a dvd.

Astonished at the number of people admonishing OP. It was 15 minutes! DC was watching telly, and old enough not to endanger herself. I don't think one should actually have to tie onesself up in knots to 'come up with a better solution' to leaving a child that age alone for 15 minutes, it was smart thing to do.

Sorry I think that’s absolutely mad !

I wouldn’t have done it and I have a very sensible 7 year old.

She knew how to contact you but what would you have done if she’d called because something was wrong while you were on your way to the school or waiting for the children to come out? You’d have been stuck and would have had to either rush back home leaving your children uncollected or collect them and not be able to help your 7 year old quickly.

@Echobelly

Astonished at the number of people admonishing OP. It was 15 minutes! DC was watching telly, and old enough not to endanger herself. I don't think one should actually have to tie onesself up in knots to 'come up with a better solution' to leaving a child that age alone for 15 minutes, it was smart thing to do.

I think some posters lack imagination.

It's not only about what may happen to the child (for example choking on a biscuit or falling downstairs - just 2 examples) but what could happen to the parent. She could be involved in a car accident. How long would her child have to wait then?

@JinglingHellsBells

And worst case scenario is there's an electrical fire that starts...
7.5 year old is in the house alone... does not bare thinking about.

Under normal circumstances it would not be a good idea to leave such a young child in their own, but these were exceptional circumstances and for a very short period. Don't worry about it, you did the best you could and she is fine.

It's not the same as going to work for the day!

Haven’t read whole thread apologies if already mentioned, but the simplest solution here was for your husband to call me home from work early or take half an hour off to look after the isolating child.

The phenomenal effort you’ve put into juggling all this when your partner should have simply helped by coming home. No job is more important than that.

you know your child and for such a short time span I think its good for them to have the responsibility personally. It gets them used to having responsibility and managing on their own. It does depend alot on the child to be fair but mine was fine from around age 8 and as you say was as a result of things outside your control on this occasion

Not to call me home that’s a typo error clearly !😄

@foilflower

What do you think then? The 9year old walks half an hour home alone? One kid sits on another’s lap in the car and they break self-isolation rules?

Do two trips, but then someone is left alone at home regardless?

Or a sensible kid is left at home for 15 mins?

And for all the scare mongerers really what are the true risk levels - how many electrical fires happen in a year in the UK with a child home alone. You cannot rule out all risk its impossible, you have to decide what is acceptable. You also have to proof your homes against these things - you know like make sure your electrics are safe and check regularly, don't leave appliances plugged in where they don't need to be and make sure appliances are in good repair. Mitigate the risk, but you can never completely remove it

No, I wouldn’t personally leave a child of that age unattended .

And for everyone saying dad should come home, what if he can’t? What if he is a hospital worker? Far away?

Exceptional circumstances, I would have left a sensible and happy 7.5yr old for this length of time.

My daughter at 7 would have been perfectly fine, my nephew at 7 I would no way leave alone. It depends massively on the child and those calling you negligent are being overly judgmental. It’s not the end of the world, you didn’t go on a 24hr bender a s leave her commit fend for herself, it was a quick 15 min trip. If she is sensible enough and it isn’t a regular occurrence then I don’t see it as a big deal at all.

Yes I absolutely would have done the same thing. I also would have felt a bit uncomfortable, gone as quickly as possible, given my child a phone to FaceTime/call on. In general circumstances no I wouldn't, but more because I'd be concerned about busy bodies reporting to social services than the minuscule chance of something bad happening to my child in that short amount of time. I'm a very anxious person but these are difficult times and people sometimes have to make these decisions. It is markedly different from even a decade ago, though. It amazes me how little we trust our kids to be on their own, or do things for themselves, and yet we leave them at the mercy of the internet so often without proper guidance.

Why would people prefer that a child was in a car accident with their parent than uninjured at home for longer than expected?

Again though, what choice? When we are being put in a situation to be parenting and working from home often at the same time. So a lot of people are making different judgment calls, when it comes to screen time, supervision, etc.