When to leave a child home alone

[Starlight86]

Having 3 Dcs ive wondered at what stage they are young enough to be left alone?
I noticed new guidlines were published and wondered peoples thoughts.

My opinion is once they go to secondary school so say around 11? but then we arent there yet so that could change.

Guidelines for anyone thats interested.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) says that:
children under 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time
children under 16 should not be left alone overnight
babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone

You know,

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3183797-To-ask-about-leaving-children-home-alone

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4263850-to-wonder-what-age-to-leave-my-children-home-alone

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4519026-reasonable-age-to-leave-a-child-home-alone

…

@Starlight86 YABU

So variable but around 11 is typical

Threads repeat themselves all the time and things change as do opinions, new members, parents that have hit that milestone!

Depends what you mean by leave them alone

Its also area and child dependent.

Mine have been playing out on the stretch since about 5. At the park since about 8, when they also started walking to school alone.

Ds at 12 goes into town alone and is left alone in the house for longer periods.

There are so many variables you can't really say a particular age. It depends on the child and their temperament, where you live, type of housing (eg remote, neighbours nearby to help in an emergency etc), where you will be (phone reception, ease of getting back if needed)

It really depends on the child and how sensible they are.

We will leave our 14 year old for about half a day.

Our 10 year old we will leave for up to 30 minutes.

With mine...about 8yo for very short stretches of time, say twenty minutes max, gradually increasing to all day for dd who is 13.

I don’t think those are new? Those have been the guides for years? I left my 9 year old home alone for 10 mins to drop my other kids to school and got reported to ss 😒

Interesting, my DD is 9, never really considered leaving her while I popped to the shop. She’s quite mature but even then she’s raid the sweetie drawer I’m sure of it 😂

The key phrase in that NSPCC guidance on under 12s is 'for a long period of time'. They're not saying you shouldn't leave them home alone at all.

There's a big difference between being at home alone for a couple of hours after school and being at home alone from 8am until midnight or something.

It totally depends on the child; just do what you think they'd be OK with. Some kids are quite needy and hate being alone, while some really relish the independence and love having time to themselves. Some have more common sense than others. Some are more trustworthy than others.