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Parenting

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Original poster

leaving an 8 year old home alone............

31 replies

extremepicnics · 07/05/2011 20:47

what are your thoughts on this. 8 year old single child happy to be left for a short time whilst mum goes to excercise classes early evening, 6-730. knows about answering the door and what to do if there is a fire,,,,,,

OP posts:

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TheOriginalNutcracker · 07/05/2011 20:51

I wouldn't.

My ds is 8 and I will only leave him with his elder sisters, and only if I know I am going to be less than half an hour.

Elder sisters are 13 and 11.

AnnoyingOrange · 07/05/2011 20:52

And it's a NO from me too sorry

MumInBeds · 07/05/2011 20:52

I wouldn't, 8 year olds can seem mature but are still very young and may not act the right way in an emergency even if they have been told.

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compo · 07/05/2011 20:53

It's a bit too long
I'd leave to go to post box or across the road to buy a pint
could you do an exercise DVD instead?

catsareevil · 07/05/2011 20:53

I would possibly leave a sensible 8 year old for a short time if they knew how to phone for help, not answer the door, and what to do if a fire, but I wouldnt be comfortable with anymore than around 10min - I think that 1.5 hours is too long.

JaxTellersOldLady · 07/05/2011 20:53

another NO from me, not unless DS who is almost 12 was here too and only then for a very short time.

MagnumIcecreamAddict · 07/05/2011 20:54

Completely unacceptable.

If it was to pop to the neighbours for a minute then fine but an exercise class?

The child is 8 and however sensible is still a child and can easily get into situations he/she can't cope with.

It's dangerous and also against the law.

Sorry if you were looking for something else but I feel quite strongly that it's just not right.

compo · 07/05/2011 20:54

I mean a pint of milk not pint of ale

SixtyFootDoll · 07/05/2011 20:57

No, 8 is too young to be left that long. I occasionally leave my 8 yr old in front of tv for 15 mins whilst I nip out to pick up ds1 now and again. I wouldn't leave my 11yr old for that long either, and I am pretty laid back about these things

Original poster

extremepicnics · 07/05/2011 21:40

well thanks girls, its not striclty against the law by the way.

so now my dilemma. i run a little jogging group and today i was with a woman who said she wanted another opportunity to go for a run, i told her about another time i gpo with some women and invited her to join us.

oh good she said, my son can be left for that long, i am a single muma nd need the opportunity to go out and excercise.

i said wow he is a bit young, is there a nieghbour or family memebr that you could drop him at for just that hour?, no she said i dont want to put anyone out.

better than something horrid happneing, i reply what would happen if there was a fire of someone odd called round...oh thats all covered, anyway they are new houses and wouldnt catch fire.......

ha ha (a bit incredulous) i thought she was joking - how do you know? oh it doesnt happen in a new place, what if he chose to make some toast? oh he is really good., see you next week she retorted.

so my dilemma. should i text her and tell her im not going. because i really dont feel i can be party to this.

OP posts:

nometime · 07/05/2011 21:43

Another "No" from me I'm afraid. I have a very sensible 8yo but he is still only 8 and can get spooke sometimes.

nometime · 07/05/2011 21:43

Mean spooke!

nometime · 07/05/2011 21:44

Spooked even!!

Bohica · 07/05/2011 21:45

8 is far to young to be left for that long alone. I have a very sensible 8y old & there is no way I would feel comfortable leaving here home alone.

I'd text her & say sorry but I wouldn't feel relaxed excersising with her knowing her child is at home alone.

Katisha · 07/05/2011 21:47

Yes I think you have to pull out really.

supermarketworker · 07/05/2011 21:50

cant he come on his bike?

Original poster

extremepicnics · 07/05/2011 21:58

i love the bike idea, but really i think i have to tell her the truth.

i cant do it.

i have played it through a few times in my mind, and it sounds pretty judgemental. that i wont go running with her because of the parenting choices she is making. but it is what it is. im not trying to make friends!

OP posts:

clarabella18 · 07/05/2011 22:43

To be honest I couldn't do it knowing I would be a party to that child being left alone fr any length of time. If anything happened to him you would feel guilty (I would assume as that's why your writing here) mh DS is a very mature 9 year old and the longest I would leave him For is 15 or 20 minutes while I nipped to the shop even then take my mobile with me and phone him I'm in a queue etc.

Othersideofthechannel · 08/05/2011 10:24

I don't understand what good you pulling out would do? The child would still be alone. Or are you intending to go to her house to be with the boy?

JimmyChoo17 · 08/05/2011 10:51

I wouldn't so a no from me.

With regard to your dilemma I would say to her your concerns. Anyone that thinks new houses don't have fires need help and probably applies equally silly logic to other things!

Maybe suggest as she is unable to arrange suitable cover that you both do an exercise DVD on another night?

youmaynotlikethis · 08/05/2011 10:54

its wrong!!so no

Fennel · 09/05/2011 11:49

Could he stay at one of your or hte other members' houses?

I'd say 8 is a bit young for that time of day and that length of time, I've left my 8yo for that time earlier in the day, but not in the evening. and it depends on where you live, round us there are lots of people to call on in the daytime for help, but evenings tend to be a bit less like that.

mumof2beebies · 10/05/2011 15:53

No no no if anything happened there would be police, child services on your back, etc.. If you had to pop out for 10 mins unexpectedly that's one thing, but a planned evening routinely, sorry I think they'd have to be 12 or 13.
My mum was leaving my little 11 yo old sister along for an hour or so after school untill she got back from work.
Social services set up a child protection thing saying she absolutely cannot be left alone, she's a child, etc
THE LAW WILL GET YOU :-P

mumof2beebies · 10/05/2011 15:55

SS will say she's a Child In Need (TM) due to neglect because of being left alone.
Even just for an hour and a half, trust me. Someone could easily find out and tell SS

mumof2beebies · 10/05/2011 15:58

Or maybe SS only go for people on council estates. If you're middle class they might not bother you.

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