Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

Leaving my 8 year old for half an hour

82 replies

Kirsttm32 · 02/09/2019 22:36

Hi, I need some advice. My partner is starting a new job next week with later finishes. I work shifts. I've been going over our rosters and theres going to be a few days a month (at most ) where I have to leave home by 18.40 and my partner will not finish until 18.30( guaranteed finish) with a 30 minute commute. My daughter is 8 in her final year at lower school. She likes to think shes 8 going on 18. Question is are we awful parents if we ask her If she would be comfortable staying in the house for those 20- 30 mins alone. Does anyone do this already and if so has it gone ok ? T.i.a

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Overseasmom100 · 02/09/2019 22:40

I would not leave an 8 year old on their own

Landlubber2019 · 02/09/2019 22:40

Personally I wouldn't, you obviously know your daughter but I know my kids would not be happy to be left alone for 30 mins plus and they wouldn't know how to react in an emergency.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 02/09/2019 22:41

Nope. Too young. Can you bring her on the commute with you and he collects on the way?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

8 year olds Families General parenting

Mrskeats · 02/09/2019 22:42

Are you serious?

MaximusHeadroom · 02/09/2019 22:43

We don't live in the UK and it is really normal here to leave an 8 year old for an hour at home. It totally depends on your child and how comfortable you and she are about it.

Make sure she knows the rules and what to do in an emergency and can contact you.

HarryRug · 02/09/2019 22:43

8 is too young. People get delayed in traffic or on trains etc so unless your partner walks home it may not be 20-30 minutes. If it is a few times a month could you leave DC with a neighbour for that short time until DC is older?

Buddyelf · 02/09/2019 22:43

Big no from me. My DD is 8 and as sensible and well behaved as she is I would never leave her home alone. She’s too young.

Tempjob · 02/09/2019 22:44

I see your predicament. If no other solution, I would leave a mature 8 year old alone for 30 mins as long as they had a way to get out the house in an emergency and were under instructions not to touch the oven / toaster etc. I know this is not a popular opinion but I would trust my own 8 year old if our circumstances were the same.

titchy · 02/09/2019 22:44

Find a teenage babysitter for half an hour.

MyDcAreMarvel · 02/09/2019 22:44

At 9 1/2 I would and have ,but not 8.

Winterlife · 02/09/2019 22:45

My daughter was mature enough at 8 to be home alone but I would not have left her alone, particularly on an ongoing basis.

Can you hire a local teen and pay him/her for an hour to stay with her?

MrsBlondie · 02/09/2019 22:46

No way. Not left alone til age 11 here. Im fairly laid back but not on this one.

CodenameVillanelle · 02/09/2019 22:47

I have left mine at home since age 8 for short periods but I wouldn't have gone further than the town centre where we live. I have recently started allowing him to come home before I get back from work so I'm not in the same town and he's almost 11. It's just too young for you both to be completely out of reach in case you need to get back quickly.

1moreRep · 02/09/2019 22:47

you need to be sure she knows what to do in an emergency, and how to contact people etc.

30 mins is not long butlong enough for her to cook, answer the door, choke, etc etc

Firstimemam · 02/09/2019 22:48

I know it's too young now but it was completely normal in the 90s to leave me when my mum went out food shopping and I didn't want to come - TV on or I remember wearing my mums shoes and her clothes and her make up when she came back 😂😂 maybe my parents were just crazy - I don't know!!!

CherryBathBomb · 02/09/2019 22:48

Id say too young,maybe at age 11.

TokyoSushi · 02/09/2019 22:51

DS is a very sensible 8 and would actually be fine, but I wouldn't do it.

They're still too young to cope with anything out of the ordinary and it will be dark at that time soon enough.

Ontheboardwalk · 02/09/2019 22:52

Too young I think especially every day you are working. I was left alone from 11 only on a few occasions every month with my older brother or next door neighbour on point

Ontheboardwalk · 02/09/2019 22:53

Sorry just seen few times a month not every week. I still think 8 is too young

MrsDimmond · 02/09/2019 22:54

It's not so much the time as the circumstances.

A half hour commute is quite a distance and there is always the possibility of delays.

Soon it will be dark at that time too.

Quite different to leaving her to pop to the local shop or walk the dog during the day.

Workinghardeveryday · 02/09/2019 22:56

Isn’t it against the law anyway!!! My twins are 8 and a half, very sensible, no way would I even consider it!!! Wtaf!!!

Summersunshine2 · 02/09/2019 22:56

Do you have a neighbour who could be on call in case of emergencies?

CodenameVillanelle · 02/09/2019 22:57

Isn’t it against the law anyway!!!

Dutch1e · 02/09/2019 23:01

I would, yes. You'll no doubt train her in the rules and contingency plans, and responsibility has to begin at some point.

Plink42 · 02/09/2019 23:01

Far too young to be left alone espesh with the dark nights coming in.
Sensible or not, things can happen

Flip

1 2 3 4