To ask what age you would leave a child alone.....

[LemonSherbetFancies]

In the evening at home by themselves (Parents out from about 7PM-11PM)

Mine are 11 and 13, we would now consider going to the pub across the road perhaps until about 9pm bit probably not as late as 11pm. We live in the most boring cul de sac known to man and the kids have phones, know all the neighbours and we could be back from the pub in 90 seconds. Also they have stayed alone a few hours in the day while I ve worked for the last two years, are sensible and happy home alone. So until 11pm I d say older than 13, maybe 14/15 and also it depends on the child and how they would feel, I d never leave mine if I knew they felt scared or uneasy. Also I think the area, if we lived in a dodgy area or we were nt friendly with the neighbours I probably wouldn’t until they were a bit older.

Do you mean in a situation where the child is happy, mature and confident in being left alone?

If so I'd say 12+ as long as they have a phone to contact parents/emergency adult.

14 and 12 I think my DD's were

I wouldn’t leave a child alone from 7-11pm until 15, probably 16.

Can't they get paid for being babysitters at 15 and 16?!!

We live on a quiet road with no neighbours. So I wouldn't leave them late at night until much older than most people I imagine. 15, 16. But oldest is only 9 so my answer may change as she gets older.

I was a babysitter at 15, usually until midnight or so.

I'd say 12/13 as long as the child was happy and felt safe.

I leave my nearly 15 year old and 11 year old for those sort of times and have done since the older one turned 14. I only stay within my town though so could be back in less than 10 mins if needed. To venture further I think maybe once my eldest is more like 15 and a half

@WorraLiberty

Do you mean in a situation where the child is happy, mature and confident in being left alone?

If so I'd say 12+ as long as they have a phone to contact parents/emergency adult.

I was a mature 12 yr old, I was still scared shitless when my dad went out at night, leaving me alone, to buy fags or alcohol once it was dark.

Totally dependant on the child

@Wishitsnows

Can't they get paid for being babysitters at 15 and 16?!!

I used to babysit the neighbours children (2,5) when I was 16!! And I had a full time office job in the day 😆

I think around 12+ depending on the maturity. Certainly by 14. Obviously if there are younger children that would change things as I wouldn't want a young teen responsible for a much younger sibling

My ds is 11. I don't leave him for 4 hours alone in the daytime so definitely not in the evenings. I'd say 14 for evenings.

We went to an evening wedding when our kids were about that age, and we phoned in once during the evening. I wouldn't have done it on a regular basis though.

I lived alone at 16 😂

I'd say 12, as long as they were ok and had their phone to contact me.

I'd have being fine being hone alone from 12 plus. Depends on the child I guess. I'd leave mine alone at that age.

Based on where we live and the fact it adds extra responsibility due to younger siblings, I think 14 would be the very youngest but most likely more likely 16.

When I was 12, other people would leave me in charge of their infants for long nights out.

When I was 16, my own parents left me in charge of my 12 year sister when they went abroad for a week. Actually that is an understatement. They went to another country and were dropped at a remote destination that could only be reached by seaplane and could only be contacted by emergency radio.

My own dd is 12 and we have never left her alone for longer than an hour during daylight. Part of this is Covid. We were ramping up on independence and that ground to a halt when we stopped leaving the house a year ago.

I don’t know when we will leave dd alone for an evening. I certainly don’t want to use parents of the 1980s as a guide, but I also don’t want to send her off to university having never been alone by herself at night.

About 13/14 but my opinion may change as my eldest gets older. He’s 10 now.

11 or 12 daytime but 15 or 16 for late evening

Prob 12 here as long as we are within a 1/2 mile or so eg pop out for dinner.
11 yr old DD allowed to walk home & stay alone for a hour or so already

@9ofpentangles

11 or 12 daytime but 15 or 16 for late evening

Agreed

I was a mature 12 yr old, I was still scared shitless when my dad went out at night, leaving me alone, to buy fags or alcohol once it was dark.

Yes, it's important the child is happy as well as mature and confident.

I was 14. Completely freaked myself out.

Used to employ a 15, nearly 16,yo babysitter until midnight. Was only 5 minutes away .children 4&5

My youngest is 11, he is the only one I would worry about leaving for a long time. Just because he would worry. I have left him with his older siblings in the house for a couple of hours. Any longer I would send him to his dad.