What age would you leave a child home alone to run an errand?

[EustaciaVye]

I have two children. One is 5, too young to leave and I would take her with me. The other is nearly 8 and very mature for her age.

I had to pop to the garage to get some milk this morning, so not an emergency. I ran around like a lunatic getting dressed so I could rush and do this before DH went to work. I was out of the house for 10 minutes.

In hindsight, I could have popped out during the day with DD2, and left DD1 watching tv. She probably wouldnt have even noticed my absence, although obviously I would tell her where I was going, not to answer the door or the phone, and what to do if she needed help (she is able to use the phone).

I think it would have been ok but DH is not so sure, He thinks she should be at least 9.

Thanks

i would say from 7 or 8 depending on the maturity of the child, ds1 could be left at this age and so could ds3, ds2 needed to be a bit older :)

I started leaving mine in bed in the mornings aged 7 and 9, whilst I fed the horses and walked our dogs. My husband upped and left us and I didnt have much choice really.

Funnily enough my youngest son, now 11, yesterday asked me if it was illegal to leave children on their own. They had been discusssing this at school and one of his school friends said it was. I asked him if he thought I would leave him at home if it was illegal and he said 'not if the cops were nearby!'

Very hard to say without knowing your DD. I think 8 is a little young, but you know her best. In a real emergency, probably ok. To get milk - probably not!
There is no way on earth I would leave a five year old in the house for ten minutes even if the telly was on!

It's one of those 'depends on your child' things. I would not be happy leaving either of mine at that age but I left my ds for 5 mins at a time from 10 and gradually longer from then until now at 12y6m he'd be fine for a couple of hours. DD is nearly 9, I would leave her for 5 mins with her brother but not alone yet.

For what it is worth we have IP cameras so I can keep an eye on things even when out and ds is more than able to use his mobile phone to call me or his grandparents, 2 sets of which live only a few minutes away.

As with most of these issues, it depends on the child and the specifics of the situation. There will be clear rights (e.g. can I leave my 14 year old while I go next door to get a pint of milk) and wrongs, (such as the thread where someone left a baby at home and drove 3 miles on the school run), but there is a massive grey area.
My 10yo DS lets himself in from school and starts his homework while I do another school run, and he goes to the local village on his own to run small errands. I didn't just decide that one day this was ok though, it built up from a series of small freedoms and responsibilities.
Try it one day and see, DCs often surprise you and rise to responsibilities you give them.

This is one of those "how long is a piece of string" questions. There are no hard and fast answers as it depends entirely on the child and the situation. My DCs were both about nine before I considered leaving one of them alone in the house for a short time but in hindsight I could have done so earlier and they would likely have been fine.

Thanks for your input. I know it's a 'piece of string' type question. DD is quite mature - I guess I want to know if others would do the same, or if I'm expecting too much of her.

I'd do the same.

thing is - if you were only going to the get some milk whats the trouble about taking the kids - I think 7 is quite young really - and it can't be a bad things to get some fresh air

It really is dependent on the children, I often leave my 9, 6 and 5 year old when I pop to the station to pick their Dad up (probably a 20 minute round journey). I have done it for a while. I think the way you were brought up will also make alot of difference. I had a 15 mile journey to do to school every morning when I was 8, on my own, sometimes in pitch black. I would then come back to an empty house until 5pm - never occurred to me or my parents that was a bad idea. My 9 year old goes to the shops and the library on his own, and no he doesn't take a mobile phone with him!! Goodness knows how we survived without being watched over all the time when we were growing up. I would say to do whatever feels right for you.

Thanks everyone,

An0thername - sometimes it is just easier not to do things en masse, and DD is getting to the age where she doesnt want to spend every waking minute with me or her sister.