Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

Original poster

Leaving an 8 yr old home alone all day

167 replies

Meiya · 25/10/2022 08:14

Hi there,
is it ok to leave an 8 yr old home alone all day while a single parent goes out to work from 9 till 5.?
the child has a kitten for company ( she loves cats) but is an only child and spends most of her time alone when not in school because of her fathers work.
she has a phone she can contact him on if need be .

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Dotcheck · 25/10/2022 08:15

No

Pinkflipflop85 · 25/10/2022 08:15

No.

RewildingAmbridge · 25/10/2022 08:15

Absolutely not. If I got wind of this at work I'd make an immediate referral to children's social care.

AnneLovesGilbert · 25/10/2022 08:16

No!

NoSquirrels · 25/10/2022 08:16

Not OK.

captncrunch · 25/10/2022 08:16

Too young!

Sandysandwich · 25/10/2022 08:17

No that's too long, especially for someone so young

A kitten is not company- it is further responsibility

Ballsaque · 25/10/2022 08:17

No. Far too young.

is this a friend or colleague?

LargeglassofRosePlease · 25/10/2022 08:17

Never . Eight is far too young to leave in my opinion.
I have an eight year old and I would never leave him home alone for the day.
That’s my opinion anyway 🤷‍♀️

NoSquirrels · 25/10/2022 08:17

Whoever it is doing this needs to either find childcare or take the time off work themselves.

purpleme12 · 25/10/2022 08:18

I don't think this can be a serious post everyone

cantthinkofabetterusername · 25/10/2022 08:22

If this is a serious post then no of course it's not ok to leave an 8 year old home all day alone. I agree with a pp I'd inform childrens services if I got wind that someone was doing this.
Shocking parenting

StillNotWarm · 25/10/2022 08:22

Is this your ex's plan for today?
No, it's absolutely not ok.

ZooMount · 25/10/2022 08:22

I wouldn't even leave my 8 year old alone for 10 mins let alone all day!

Hallmark1234 · 25/10/2022 08:27

No it's not ok, but if it's going to continue, then the very least he should set up an interactive camera to keep an eye on her at all times.

We have one for our cat.

AriettyHomily · 25/10/2022 08:30

Of course not.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 25/10/2022 08:32

Obviously not.

Bumpsadaisie · 25/10/2022 08:35

No.

IME people begin to consider this when the child is 11 and in year 7 - and to be fair secondary schools tend to assume it and schedule in all sorts of half days etc.

My DS is 11 and in year 6. If he is with his elder sister (13) I have just started to leave them for a five hour chunk of time.

If he's alone two hours tops usually.

welshweasel · 25/10/2022 08:35

I would leave a very sensible 8 year old for 20 minutes or so, whilst I nipped to the shop or similar. No way would I leave them for longer.

Violashift · 25/10/2022 08:36

1/10

Though of course you know this.

vodkaredbullgirl · 25/10/2022 08:36

No way

IhearyouClemFandango · 25/10/2022 08:37

Nope

theremustonlybeone · 25/10/2022 08:38

Absolutely not and I currently have an 8yr old too. I have popped round to the local
shop ten mins max that’s it. They are too young- how is this child expected to feed themselves? What happens if someone knocks the door or they get a fright and unsure what to do

MrsSkylerWhite · 25/10/2022 08:38

No, absolutely not.

DurhamDurham · 25/10/2022 08:39

Poor child, how lonely, bored and scared must they be. It's shocking, terrible parenting and if I knew the child I would report.