To leave my 7 yr old home alone for 30mins ?

[confusedwithschool]

My 7 yr old DD has the dreaded chicken pox ( she’s on day 5) but still absolutely covered. Half of his class are out cos of this

Tomorrow is my DS’s year 6 graduation and there is no one I can call to babysit ( that’s even if they would want to )

I can’t take her there as I would be exposing other kids but at the same time how can I miss my sons grad?

im torn . I plan to be on video call with her while there and the school is just down the road , a 2 min walk

not sure what I can do ?

Never heard of a Year 6 Graduation.They seem to make a fuss about everything these days. I can't even remember the last day of primary school though I have vivid memories of my first day.

Nevertheless, the school have obviously built this up as a big occasion to the kids and it will be a big deal to your son. I can see how much it means to you to be there as well.

Is he expecting you to be there or did you prepare him for you not turning up? If you didn't it might be a good idea to try and send a message warning him rather than have him looking out for you and being disappointed.

Hopefully someone will be able to take a photo or video for you. Maybe you could get him a little treat and make an extra fuss of him this evening to mark the occasion.

Could your 7 year old sit in the playground, it’s not cold? Or could someone sit with them in the house or even in the garden? Just there in case of emergency

It's absolutely not a "graduation", clearly.

Do you have a class what's app group? I'm not particularly close to any of the parents in ours but I'm sure a couple of them would take some photos / video if I asked, I'm sure they'd understand

That’s a good idea!

Definitely too young, and your 7yo is also unwell making it even worse to leave them. Your older child will suffer much less from you not being at this assembly than your younger would suffer from being left home alone when ill at such a young age. Your older child will understand that if they were the ill one, you'd do the same for them.

I can’t believe this is even a consideration. Poor kid. They want to be taken care of at the best of times, even more so when they’re ill. My son who is now 13, till very recently used to say “who is looking after me!” When I had to go somewhere. There was always someone. I would never have left him.
You just cannot go unless you can get someone to watch your child. The end.

Christ. We had a final y6 assembly. It was probably the same thing. Awards given. Songs sang.

Only my school didn't call it graduation.

It's just a word.

She doesn't have anyone to watch her, that's the point

Try to go to your son's important day.

You can't leave a sickly seven year old home alone.

Hire a baby sitter for an hour, even if you pay double.
Is there a church friend or friend from a voluteer group you belong to, a work mate?
There must be someone who is trustworthy. .a neighbour?

Your daughter doesn't need to like them as she might not spend any time in the same room, given the Chicken Pox, but someone needs to be in the house or garden. (Do you have a trustworthy female lawn mower?)

I find threads like these so interesting.

I was 7 in the 90s, pretty sure it was around that age that I was left at home for short periods. I was also allowed out to play on my own out of sight of the house.

Was this neglectful parenting, or do we monitor kids too much these days and stop them developing independence? Bit of both I think.

7 is probably a bit too young in 2024 though I guess, based on these replies.

I was thinking this. Year 6 leavers' assembly is a big deal (and ours went on for ages as everyone got an individual award and there were 124 children). And then you will want to go and talk to your child afterwards rather than run off.
I'd expect it to be an hour minimum. Which might make the decision event clearer for you. Ask a friend's parent to take a nice photo and "cheer" him on.

Honestly, it depends on what your 7 year old is like. Are they sensible? For 30minutes i would, if they were sensible, happily sit and watch tv and be contactable. No problem. Find it amazing that most people on here would leave 11 years old for 30 minutes. You know, thats when they start secondary school and are likely travelling to school by bus, themselves.
ultimately its based on your judgement, of your child.

@Sunshineclouds11 exactly. No one to watch her child = she doesn’t go.
There is no safe home alone option. That’s the point!

This is dangerous.

Absolutely do not leave your sick DD for anytime at all and do not leave her in the car. Get someone to video it . Leaving primary school is not really a big thing ,I did not attend the last day for either of mine as I was a teacher and working myself!

The problem with overinflated descriptions like 'graduation' for a final assembly is it just increases the hype, and therefore the pressure, on both kids and parents.

Primary schools have started screaming far too loudly about LEAVING PRIMARY SCHOOL - it's not helpful. Yes have a party, yes have an assembly. But don't turn it into a huge thing.

Thanks all

just called the school and they said they will watch her for me in another room while I come to the leavers assembly

hmm

I couldnt leave my 7yo alone
Too young imo
Glad you've rethought op

Sorry, op, but no. 7 is far too young. I’d imagine if the school realised they might raise a safeguarding concern.

I missed my ds’ leavers’ assembly because his sister was ill. She was 9. It was really bad luck.

Did your son not play out on his own before he was 13?

No from me too. 7 is far too young.
The year 6 graduation is not as important as a sick child

just called the school and they said they will watch her for me in another room while I come to the leavers assembly

Pleased for you!

I would say that was pretty unusual in the 90s, seven is really rather young.

Independence is not taught through leaving kids alone at a young age. It is taught by encouraging appropriate responsibility-taking, decision-making and supporting independent action.