Would you leave a 9 and 10 year old alone for 20 mins ish?

[PepperAndPops]

Just wondering what other people think - girls aged 9 and 10. Well behaved and I would definitely trust them not to open the door etc and would give them their phones so that a) they can contact me if needed and b) the likelyhood of them even moving is very slim.

It's to drop younger sibling off to nursery, about 8mins drive each way.

Easily.

I would under those circumstances. Give them a number for someone else as well just in case.

Yep! With a couple of numbers they can ring if you don’t come back by a certain time. It will be fine.

Yep! I've done similar and yet wouldn't do it with a slightly older child because I think they'd mess around.

So long as they are trustworthy I can't see a problem

X post with everyone 😂

Yes definitely. I'd do the same with my 10 year old DS

If you trust them then it’s ok. Make sure there’s a fire extinguisher in the house (and they know how to use it), the fire alarm is on, and they have the confidence to call 999 if something bad happens. A lot of 9-10 yos, although they know how, don’t have the guts and that could leave them in danger. It’s only 10mins but a lot can happen in that time and you don’t want any regrets

Yes I’d leave my 10yr old in the circumstances you described

Yes if they're the kind of kids you know will be sensible and only you can call that. I started leaving dd1 alone for short periods when she was 9. Although now she's 10 and doesn't want to be left

Thanks all. They are so fed up of always being dragged out everywhere - and realistically they are probably safer at home sitting with a screen than they are in the car when we could have an accident etc.

It's mainly the school holidays - little one still goes to nursery as it's a day nursery so all year round but the girls are wanting to chill out and not rush out the house in the morning - so it will be nice to give them that time while I'm getting the morning drop off done

So my Ex (kids Dad) has found out I've done this and gone nuts - saying it's neglect etc etc.

It definitely isn't neglect it's developing independence. FGS the 10yo will be going to secondary school in just over a year. I leave my sensible 9yo for up to an hour.

That's my point really, I want them to start gaining independence before secondary school and for me to start getting used to them not being my babies anymore!

Any ideas on how I can show him it's ok? He is talking about reporting me! 🙈🙄

But surely if he does he's just going to look like a complete pillock?

Lol neglect? What a joke. They’re 9 and 10 ffs :/

You can’t argue with stupid. Let him report you, it will be like water off a ducks back - they won’t even entertain it honestly, not so much as a follow up would come of this. Let him waste his time

Thanks. I guess because I've never left them before and wasn't too sure myself I was worried he would have a point. So I'm glad to see everybody on here thinks it's ok to do

The thing is that 'leaving children' can mean a range of different things and it needs to be appropriate to age/ maturity.

I don't really understand the hysteria of some people around this, children of 9-10 play out round here to all hours but then the same parents sometimes won't leave them at home for 20 minutes. I think they are safer left at home, I really don't get it.

And short periods are completely different to overnight/ you going out on the piss till all hours/ to Majorca on holiday. As pp said if he reports they'll take no notice unless he exaggerates hugely.