NSPCC: Children under 12 shouldn't be home alone

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https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/23646867.age-child-can-stay-home-alone-uk-nspcc-advises/

Seems a bit old to me. I started leaving DS home for 1-2 hours age 9. He's now 10 and has walked to school by himself, gone to the local Sainsbury and the park. All within a 10 minute walk. He'll be 11 when he starts secondary school and I fully expect him to get the tube to school by himself (I'll train him of course).

12 seems a bit old to me. I know every child is different but surely this advice just makes parents with capable children feel like they are bad parents?

It's one of those situations where there's a lot of variation with individual children. I'm not sure it's helpful for the NSPCC to throw out a specific age like that.

I mean the focus of the article seems to be around school holidays so yes I think 12 is too young to be left at home all day during the school holidays if parents are working.

This has been their stance for > 20 years & I agree it's ridiculous.

Ridiculous

I think it entirely depends on the child, but I agree it seems old.

I was left from around 8/9 all day whilst my single mum worked. I had a key and played with friends then made myself a sandwich etc but that was 20 years ago…

This isn't new guidance. Kids under 12 (and many over 12) are too immature to be left alone for long periods.

Yeah definitely depends on the maturity and confidence of the child. Our school allow them to walk home from school at the end of year 5 with parental consent.

Would you leave an 8 year old home alone by themselves all day?

My child is coming up 8 and I definitely wouldn’t.

When I was 10 my parents started to let me stay home by myself for short periods. So an hour or two on a Saturday whilst they shopped for groceries. I wasn't allowed to spend the whole day at home till I was closer to 16. I think it depends on the child. I don't think a 12 year old should ideally be home alone during their parents working hours for several days in a row.

Surely many 11yr olds of secondary age are letting themselves in with a key after school? No childcare post Y6 around here.

The NSPCC actually says that you should try not to leave under-12s home alone ‘for extended periods’. They don’t mean you can’t leave them for an afternoon or a few hours after school. And in any case it’s just a suggestion, not a rule. Everyone’s perfectly free to ignore it, so it doesn’t really matter.

Yeah I was just going to say the exact same thing. My friend didn’t leave her kids at home themselves until the oldest was about 15. Personally I feel she babies her children and they would have been fine earlier but it’s what she’s comfortable with and it’s fine for her. Many others I know have 10 years olds home alone. Also it’s all very well for them to trot out this advice but many people have do it regularly due to lack of childcare and needing to work.

@Peacoffee I was a sensible mature 8/9 year old and times were different 20 years ago but no, I doubt I would leave an 8 year old on their own all day.

The rules aren't there for loving, caring parents where there are no safeguarding issues.

The rules are there to protect child like me and my siblings who were left home alone while our parents fucked off up to London overnight or abroad.

It is vital to state an age to protect vulnerable children.

If they're focusing on the school holidays, presumably they're talking about not leaving under 12s for the whole day every weekday while you're at work. Not for an hour or two.

Sort of but actually I do know loving parents who think it's ok to leave a 10 year old and go off to work. Not a responsible sensible 10 year old either.

And it's fine until the day it isn't. The house catches fire because they tried to cook, they go out without telling anyone, they hurt themselves and can't call for help etc etc

I was reported to ss for leaving my 9 year old home alone for 20 mins 🤣

Can’t believe people are saying ridiculous. Common sense to me.

11 year old home alone for an hour whilst the adults are out. I can’t see the issue providing the child is sensible.

I'll leave my 9 and 11 year old home alone for an hour if I need to pop to the shops but not all day. I guess parents are weighing up the cost of holiday clubs and taking chances.

None of mine were alone for more than 15 mins at a time at 12 or under. I never understood others views on them being fine alone at such a young age as a house can burn down in 7 minutes. We are in Ireland so our kids do not start secondary school till 12-13 anyway but in their first year of secondary none of them were left alone for more than a quick tesco trip.

I think it’s the ‘extended periods’ which makes it ambiguous. Some people would think that’s half an hour others more than 4.

most children should be sensible enough to spend short times in the house alone from 9, I started popping next door for 5 mins at that age, DS is 11 now and can be at home for up to an hour and a half. He like the responsibility, and we have good neighbours and 3 family members within 5 mins which I think also makes a difference.

It depends on the maturity of the child and where you live... in small villages it's very common to leave 12 year olds as there's no provision for childcare after they leave primary education but a town maybe not as safe, nobody keeping eyes out as much

And yet they’re fine with men pretending to breastfeed.