What age to leave 2 children home alone for about 2/3 hours?

[Hallelujahhi]

Just that really. The children are sensible and both have mobile phones to contact me. Both great at following rules etc. I'm just worried if it is "acceptable" to leave them at home alone for a couple of hours and what age is considered ok? I don't think there is an legal age as far as I'm aware?

Well how old are they?

Last year of primary school?

Would be easier if you told us the ages?

There isn’t a legal guideline as such. You know when it’s safe. I was happy to leave one but not both for ages as they argue. It really depends on the kids. Also how happy are they to be left? For me, definitely not when they were at primary school.

10-11. I’d probably leave a single younger child on their own while I did the shopping or something, maybe 8 or 9, but not two at that age.

It depends on their maturity. Generally though I'd say 11 and older.

For 3 hours? Maybe at 12 years old, providing is not at night.

Mine are 9 and 13. The older one is generally sensible and caring towards the younger one but I think the longest I’ve left them is 2 hours.

They would not like being alone at bedtime though.

For half an hour then I’d say 10yr and above. But for 2-3 hours at least 12 yrs old for the youngest.

If they generally get on well with each other - no bickering or stroppiness - then probably when the youngest is about 11.

Started this with DSS around 10 for an hour to go to shops. By 11 it would be 2-3 hours and he's just 12 and haven't quite done a whole day but I'm sure he would be fine.

He is somewhat mature but not great at getting his own food so would just eat toast, Crisps and Yogurts if left completely to his own devices.

Depends on the age gap.

If they are relatively close then 11 and 13.
If there is a larger gap it makes it more tricky. The younger the youngest, the older the eldest would need to be.

I would leave an 11 yo on their own for a couple of hours. It's the two of them that complicated it.

My sister and I (ages 12 & 13) would babysit my younger brothers (9, 1) for a few hours during the day.

we also walked home from school and let ourselves in at 7,10 & 11 and played till someone got home. This was in the 80’s so no
mobile phones.

Really depends on your kids and what you and they feel comfortable with. For my DS they were probably 10ish when I started leaving them at home for a short while.

I would say 12+

I left mine at 11 and 9 home for a few hours they got on fine and their dad was just down road if they needed him..

About 12, provided they get on.

Age and age gap are key information. A child younger than 11 should not be 'responsible' for a sibling younger than 9. Even then I'd want to be sure there was a trusted adult they could go to in an emergency. When I was 15 I was home alone with the dog when the television caught fire. Thankfully I got myself and the dog out OK and neighbours helped too. Just because your children have phones to call you doesn't mean they might not need more immediate adult assistance.

My 11&12yos are alone for 2.5hrs once a week while I'm at work 10mins walk away. Being doing that since youngest was Yr6...she came with me before then. Elder one was alone from Yr6.

I leave my 11 year old for up to an hour.
2-3 hours maybe secondary age so 12 ish?
Always depending on how sensible and if there are people nearby that they could call on.

That sounds a good set up. You are close enough to get home quickly. If you got the call to say there was a fire I expect someone would drive you home even quicker.

I think it depends how far away you'll be away, but generally I'd say around 10/11. Maybe a little younger for the second one if the older one is 12+ (so I'd say 9 and 13 is fine, for example).

What is the context. Where are you situated type of property access to responsible safe adults?

In Ireland we use Barnardo's guidelines when assisting co-parents and that states 13+.

My 9 yo has to come home from school alone 3 days a week which I don’t like, and 13 yo gets home about 30 mins later and they stay home alone until get him from work about 3 hours later. I’m quite comfortable with them both being home together although if I had a choice I wouldn’t have 9yo home alone.

45 and 47?

I'll say they'll be alright

🥱

For two children, I'd want the youngest to be at least 10. I'd leave a single child home alone a little earlier, maybe around age 8 or 9. But only if I was instantly contactable and able to get home within 30 minutes.

(This assumes it truly is a couple of hours, not half a day or longer. And I wouldn't commit to anything that had me doing this on a regular basis, it would just be casual things I could cancel if I needed to).