When to leave a child home alone??

[SarahLouise10]

My DD is 8, the switch over between me finishing work and him starting work, would mean our DD would be home alone for an hour. Not sure how to feel about this, she is a sensible 8yo..🤔

[Monkeytapper]

Too young, maybe use a childminder for wrap-around care

[Monkeytapper]

Ah sorry, thought it was an hour after school.

What time of day and how many times a week?….8 feels too young still

[Nap1983]

Too young IMO, we have recently started letting our DD 12 leave in the morning for school herself (occasionally), be home while we shop or dog walk, and has a key to get In After school if we’re out (never happened yet)

[somewhereoverthechipshop]

I wouldn’t leave an 8 year old sorry

[liveforsummer]

I have a very sensible 8 year old. I leave her occasionally while I pop to the corner shop or walk the dog to the end of the street. I know exp leaves her slightly longer on occasion to go to shops a bit further away but an hour most days I feel is too much - maybe in a year or so!

[BlameItOnTheBlackStar]

An 8 year old for an hour, absolutely no way.

[Littleants]

Not at primary

[Falmatt]

Why no way?

[Falmatt]

@SarahLouise10 Have you had a chat with DD? How does she feel about it?

[Marianne1234]

Mine is 7 and this wouldn’t cross my mind to be honest. Also she would hate it.

[Indecisive29]

@SarahLouise10 I wouldn’t be comfortable with it. 8 is far too young in my opinion. There’s a big difference between being sensible and knowing not to use the cooker etc for example while you’re out, and knowing how to deal with an emergency situation that may arise 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Clymene]

[quote Falmatt]@SarahLouise10 Have you had a chat with DD? How does she feel about it?[/quote]
Her daughter's probably 9 by now given she posted this in September

[Sunshine4you]

It's quite amazing the difference I see living abroad, eight year olds regularly walk to school alone (even younger), go to the shops for their parents alone for a carton of milk etc... And it's to my understanding this used to be the case in england generations ago (my mother walked one mile to school alone at 7 years old) .. my father from abroad walked himself and a neighbours 4 year old to school at 7 years old!

[Falmatt]

I suppose a different - though much related question to ask is how much do you incluse 8 - 10 year olds in decisions that affect them?

I grew up in country where it's normal to leave kids home alone at 7 after school and to include them in discussions of what they want in a given situation, so it would be interesting (and helpful) to understand what UK attitudes are and how they came about.

[Antares444]

In the country where I leave now all 8 y/o kids go alone to school and are encouraged to be independent. My son had to stay alone at home several times when he was 8. Not for a long time, maybe an hour but we really had no choice. He loved it and he is now a very independent 12 y/o who can survive alone and is proud of it. I think it doesn’t depend on the age but on the kid. My cousin was terrified of being alone at home when she was 17…

[Antares444]

@Antares444

In the country where I leave now all 8 y/o kids go alone to school and are encouraged to be independent. My son had to stay alone at home several times when he was 8. Not for a long time, maybe an hour but we really had no choice. He loved it and he is now a very independent 12 y/o who can survive alone and is proud of it. I think it doesn’t depend on the age but on the kid. My cousin was terrified of being alone at home when she was 17…

Live, not leave. Damn autocorrector

[SarahLouise10]

I feel like its almost frowned upon, school isnt really that far from home but wouldn't let her go alone. I fully trust her she is a very sensible 8year but it's always how others behave.. have spoken to DD and she would feel fine if she was left for a short time.. but we've manage to sort childcare for now..