What age can I leave my child?

[fishingforflies]

I've got a year 5 DD.
I'm a lone parent and as much as I love being one, this time of year I dream of being able to walk my dog in the local fields in the evening for 30mins/45mins.

I have no family near by, but nice neighbours and I live in a very safe area.

Do you think I might be able to leave my DD when she starts secondary school?
The fields are right next to my house and so I could be home within 5/10mins as I usually walk a circuit. At the moment I have to drag my DD along or walk the dog to school in the morning which is an unpleasant walk along a main road - on lead so not very satisfying for the dog.
I then have to rush off to work, then finish in time for school pick up. My DD will walk sometimes with me and the dog, but she's usually tired after school and there's so much to do in between school and bed!

Depending on your child and the local area, its usually around 10yo they can be left. Some are 8/9yo, some are older.

Its normal for Secondary pupils to return to an empty house.

In my opinion 11/12 years. Maybe age 10 for 20 mins. Think it largely depends on the child

My y5 child is happy left for an hour or so especially if she’s on FaceTime to a friend or granny at the same time.

My year 5 dd is fine home alone for an hour. She is walking to and from school alone. We have good neighbours. She knows not to answer the door and to ring me if she needs too. This was built on via me walking the dog.

Just build it up gradually. Go over safety aspects with her. Take your phone with you, get her to text you regularly while you're out of the house/ call her at intervals. I walk my pup and leave my children at home (youngest is 10, oldest at home is 15) while I do so. My 15 year old started being home alone for 20 minutes at a time at age 9.

Thanks everyone, would be lovely to go for a short walk and listen to the birds or my music and not a tweenager moaning at me that's she's tired!

Yes I think start building up from 10-20 minutes in year 5, then up to an hour in year 6, with you at the end of a phone and quite local.

Then in year 7 a couple of hours should be fine.

We have after work socialising activity which I've always been under pressure to attend and it's always been a massive issue for me but now I wfh those days, DD is back at 3:30 - then I join my colleagues at 6:30 and back at 8:30. Ticks all the boxes (I live quite near work which helps.

I’m in the field next to my house right now. My year 5 son is in the house. He has his iPad and phone if he needs me and knows not to answer the door and I’ll be home in half an hour. I think it’s fine for 30-45 mins and slowly build up.

I first left DS at age 8, for about an hour. He was getting the school bus and letting himself in a couple of days after school at 9/year 5. Secondary school was two hours after school four days a week and whole days in the holidays.