At what age would you consider leaving child home alone in these circumstances?

[Hullabaloo9]

I work at a small local veterinary practice at the bottom of my road. It is 5 mins walk max at a slow pace. I have to work 1 in 6 Saturday mornings, 8am till 12pm. My street is on a quiet estate of terraced family homes with neighbours we know well on both sides. There is a house phone and also alexa can be asked to call my phone. My daughter is sensible and I already leave her confidently while I pop to a shop or on short errands. She usually just sits and games with friends so chatting and not lonely.

What age would you consider leaving her home alone on the Saturday morning in these circumstances?

I would be contactable at all times and able to get home in under 5 mins. Neighbours would be aware and "listening out". She would probably sleep in and then just game or watch TV till I got home (she would love this)

11 or 12.

9 or 10.

I’d leave my 10 year old.

11 probably

10 if she was happy with it, or 11

10

I would leave my 11 year old like this, but she is extremely sensible. I absolutely wouldn’t leave my now 13 year old son when he was that age. I try to avoid leaving him even now.

I leave my 12 year old for times like this and with me being close by. I would say 11 would be fine for this- year 7 or end of year 6.

This

For me it really depends on the child. My 10 year old girl on her own - I could probably leave her no problem. My 12 year old boy… I would probably come home to a burnt down house with his “experiments” so no. 🤣

Year 6 kind of age. My 11 year old would have been happy with this for about the last year.

15. It's 4 hours! That's a long time.

I’m have 10-nearly-11 year old who I would l leave for short errands (20mins or so), though he is starting secondary this year so we are working towards more independence.

11 ish if sensible

15? Did you child never have to stay home alone on a teacher training day at secondary school?

I'd say 10/11 (Year 6)

Could they walk the 5 minutes to you safely?

probably 10 years old if they rang me when they got up and I could nip back 1/2 way through and check in with them.

Similar circumstances i started leaving mine at 10 and in Yr6.

4 hours is a long time for a 10yr old. NHS says not to leave under 12. I don’t leave my 10yr old for more than 1/2 hour. She’s very sensible but I’m not worried about her behaviour but more about what would happen if she panicked or someone weird came to the door or just any random thing like that.

Y5 or Y6

No. We both work from home and if necessary I would take a day off.

15? Crikey. I had a job at 13 and I was quite often by myself.

10 or 11. Does depend on the child. I leave my two (10 &11) for short periods.

15 is hilarious. I stayed home alone (and partied) all weekend by then

Your setting your child up to fail if they can’t spend 4 hours alone at home by 15. Where’s the independence, trust, responsibility coming from?