How long would you leave 9.5 yr old home alone for ?

[Wishihadabs]

So context. I have to run some v. dull errands this pm. Will be gone more than 1, but less than 2 hours. He knows how to use the phone. Neighbors are home and well known to him. Obviously he will have had lunch before I go. It will be light. He has been left before for probably max 40-50 mins and has been fine.wwyd ? (He will hate coming with me)

normally I would leave my 9.5 yr old for up to 15 mins if I am close by. she often wants to stay at home while I take her siblings swimming - 30 min class 1/2 mile away but I always say no - I think its too long. But today ,given the changeable weather I wouldn't leave her at all in case I run into difficulties on the road and don't get home to her .

If you can keep it down to nearer one hour than 2, if you're sure he will be well occupied and not prowling round getting I to mischief, and knows all the emergency drills (and you're either not in a storm warning area or it has already been and gone), then I thinkit'll be OK.

I only really started leaving mine at age 10, but you know how sensible your Dc is better than we can. And if you have one that is passionate about something like Minecraft, and give permission for unlimited play whilst you're out, chances are he won't move from the sofa!

I would leave mine for less than an hour. Not sure I could leave them for up to 2 hours.

DS is nearly 10 and I've left him for up to about 20 minutes so far. I've only done it when doing one specific task so to speak. Not sure what I'd do in your situation - part of me would feel it should be fine but another part would feel worried about potential problems that could happen. But I did only go out by car when leaving him here last week for the first time so I may be a little cautious.

I think I left DS1 at that age when he was unwell and I had to take the the other two to school - so 20 minutes, but neither DS2 or DD (who is that age atm) would have been happy to have been left alone - left with their older siblings, yes, no problem, but not left alone. However if your Ds is happy I can't see it would be a problem. Maybe ring him every now and again rather than rely on him ringing you, and be prepared to cut errands short if he's not happy.

Hmm wondering how quick I can be. TBH if I thought the roads were that treacherous I wouldn't drive. Problem is I have to go post office, queues can be awful but probably not too bad today (given the weather). Also dd wants Halloween bits (which could take a while...)

Can you keep in contact? If you can keep a text conversation going or chat every 20 minutes or so so he doesn't start to feel uncomfortable? Difficult one, dd is the same age but has older siblings so wouldn't be alone.

Or spice up the dull errands with a coffee and cake after to tempt him to come too?

I've left mine for an hour or more at that age (sensible children, know how to use phone, not answer door, contact neighbours if necessary). The main thing is whether he is happy to be left alone, and you are confident that he will be sensible.

Came back 20 minutes ago. He was fine, but now saying he wished he'd come! Maybe he think about it before next time !

My DD is the same age and would hate it if I left her but they are all different I guess.

Wishihadabs - typical. But I'm sure if he had come with you, he would have been whinging and moaning about how booooooring it was and wanting to go home. You can't win.

But if he didn't burn the house down or spend millions on ebay while you were out, then I suppose that is a win of sorts. And in future, you can safely offer him the option of coming too or staying, and if he chooses to come too, emphasize that means no complaining.