To leave poorly 9 year old at home while I do school run?

[springballs]

I have a 9 year old dd (year 4) who’s off school today with a stomach bug.
I wouldn’t dream of usually leaving her alone but if she’s not well would you leave her for 20 minutes while getting the youngest from school?
I trust her and I know she’d be happy to stay here.

If everyone said it was wrong to leave her would you?

I would. She’d be far more comfortable at home and no chance of something embarrassing happening like her vomiting in front of people she knows.

Yes, no problem, I've done this before. DDs used to walk to/from school on their own or with a friend too at this age sometimes.

No chance.

Everyone isn’t saying that, so what’s your point?

Perfectly all right at 9. Presume she's old enough to know not to unlock the door or anything, and she can get herself some water or dash to the toilet if necessary.
I used to leave mine at a younger age, and for longer, back in the day.

Personally I wouldn't leave a sick child with a tummy bug on their own for 20-30 minutes. Though my mother used to leave me all day when I was that age, but different times - we talking early 1970's.

If I had a friendly neighbour I'd ask them to keep an eye out - doesn't need to be physically there, but the child could perhaps call them if there was an emergency.

I'd always be worried that something would delay my return & would want a responsible adult to be on hand.

I Would but only if it wasn’t a sickness bug.

Just thinking that at 9 the children here start walking to school on their own! Yes of course leave her! Hope she feels better soon

I would.

What would you do then? Make an unwell child walk the 20/30 minutes in the heat instead? Personally I can't see how that's preferable

Yes I would.

Of course that's fine. She's 9, not a toddler. If she's got a tummy bug you really don't want her out of the house. Mine isn't quite 9 yet and he's regularly left for up to half an hour.

Of course I would leave her. A normal 9 year can cope for 20 minutes. Why cause her all that discomfort fir no real reason?

Of course not, shocked you’d think it was ok.

I live in an area with middle schools, so lots of 9 year olds walk to school on their own and are given independence quite young. So if it were my 9 year old, and I was only going a short distance away then I’d absolutely leave her in bed for 20 minutes rather than dragging her out in this heat. But only you know how sensible your child is and if she would be comfortable with that.

This is a really sensible idea. To make it even more thorough I would let the neighbour know in case they were out.

Yes, 20mins is fine, much better than dragging her along in the heat when she’s not well. As pp said stick a timer on for her so she’s knows when to expect you back.

I wouldn’t leave a well 9 year old never mind a sick one.

Yes. You will know if you can leave her, she's your daughter.

Yes, I would leave my child in those circumstances, presuming you don’t have anyone who could watch her or alternatively pick your other child up from school.

Yes, I would and have. At 9, she was walking herself home from school.

Personally I wouldn’t but that’s just because my ‘just 20 minutes’ has never been that, I’ve been held up in traffic, teacher came over also our car is unreliable. I’d always chuck them in the car with a basin and some tissues just in case

I leave my 9 year old for this sort of thing - anything under about 30 mins.

I think you need to build independence gradually and mine will need to be ok with being home alone after school from 11 some days so the odd 10-15 mins from 9 feels about right

Yes I would - mine used to walk home alone from school at that age about 10-15min, depending how fast they walked.