What age is considered appropriate before a child can do this...

[Poppymayday]

Get themselves home from a local school, let themselves in and stay home alone for an hour or so until adult gets back home?

Regardless, children have to be left alone to do their own thing.

Are you one of these parents who uses the term "play date"? That weird American concept.

I think once starting secondary school they should be ok to stay home alone for an hour or so after school. I don't think I'd do it while at primary school.

Eh? Because I pick my kids up on foot I must use the phrase ‘play date’?!
You are really weird 😁

You’re pulling in an example that has nothing to do with this discussion to try and make your point. Children do have to be allowed to do things for themselves. Things that are age appropriate that they can safely manage with appropriate levels of risk. I’m unsure as to why you’re taking about an SUV. This is about what age a child can be expected to manage something. It’s not just about whether they can do it or not but whether they can cope if something goes wrong. You’re pulling stuff out of thin air here that has nothing to do with what’s being debated.

@Iloveyoubut This is about what age a child can be expected to manage something.

Clearly an 8/9 year old is more than capable of walking home from school and entering the house. If you think otherwise then grow up.

Kids can walk home from Y5 at DC school. So 9/10 on this basis

I'd say over 10.

Most kids at 11. Some sensible ones before. Would judge someone leaving a sensible 8 year old but no earlier.

As did I ! I can’t even drive! 😂

Year 6?

Not because I wouldn’t go from 0-10 in one swoop. Each to their own. But I would do it incrementally. So walking home year 6, independently to and from secondary at year 7, then left home alone if necessary in year 8.

we are fortunate in that we both work from home and so this hasn’t been a necessity.

grow up? 😂 what age are you? Sorry the irony of this is hilarious! Thank you for making me smile. X

‘Grow up’ made me laugh too!

What do you call it? I guess when I was a kid we'd say 'a friend is coming around to play' or over for tea or whatever. But playdate is more succinct!

Also most 40 year olds I know hate using the phone. Doesn't seem to be limited to 20 something's.

I did that in year 4 but that was a long time ago, I wouldn’t think it’d be appropriate in this day and age.

@okayhescereal What do you call it? I guess when I was a kid we'd say 'a friend is coming around to play' or over for tea or whatever. But playdate is more succinct!

Calling it a "date" is weird and creepy.

When I was a child, we would just say "I'm going out," or "I'm going out to play with X and Y," or "I'm going to see X and Y."

@shuggles you are talking in bizarre tangents with a sort of stream of consciousness with prejudices about other people’s lives: SUVs, people’s salaries, the terminology people use to describe their children meeting up with other children.

What has any of this got to do with the topic of the thread?

11th January is a date...not weird or creepy, it's just today's date. The word date itself doesn't insinuate something creepy, so I guess its all down to how weird the brain of individual is who might make it into something less innocent than it obviously is.

Ridiculous.

My 10 year old twins do it but the school is really close and no big roads. Mine wouldn't have managed it alone any younger and they would have needed a phone before the end of year 5 which i was reluctant to do

Mine were at high school
so from 11

I agree 8, and they can start preparing for dinner as well.

For some reason this made me think of Oliver Twist. 😂

No there’s no difference…but for me…i would allow what the OP suggested at the start of secondary school, so 12/13.

I've always thought that staying home alone is infinitely more safe than travelling, walking or hanging about outdoors with friends. Especially in an age where you can cover your entire home with cheap smart cameras. I left my kids for lengthening short periods from around 8/9 but never wouldve let them walk home alone until 11. And neither of them are ever allowed to be knocking around on the streets, even the 16yo.