Leaving my 8 year old for half an hour

[Kirsttm32]

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

It means 8 year olds are not capable of being as mature as an adult. I'm sorry you are struggling but that's not what you said you didn't understand previously. Maybe my posts are just a jumbled load of shite

MN is such a weird mix of people saying they would never leave their children alone but also complaining about their feckless and irresponsible teenagers.

I was left alone for short periods (which this is) at this age and was absolutely fine. Just watched a bit of tele, knew to go next door if there was an emergency. We lived on a main road, it didn't occur to me to run into it. My parents aren't English though and kids are left alone overnight at 9/10 where they're from (Sweden/Denmark)

She's not five, and it's not an hour or two. I was going by the circumstances given funnily enough.

You reasoning was "rent needs paid". That shouldn't be a factor in any decision regarding the safety of a child.

Within screaming distance? So when it's quiet you just trust they are actually there and playing nicely? it's quite easy to play chicken in the road quietly after all.

I've yet to experience a quiet play-park. DD is not going to play chicken on the road, she uses a walking frame so isn't exactly capable of that, nor is she that stupid which is why she is allowed out. There also isn't a road between our house and the park. She rarely has any need to go anywhere near a road.

Final year at lower school? My son is 8 and is in Year 4 with 2 more years after this before he finishes lower school, and no i would not leave him on his own for half an hour. I have seen way too many injured children (Paramedic) to even think about leaving them. Anything could happen, and believe me it often does.

OP, people who think your idea is shit are not ‘trolls’, and ‘alot’ is not a word.

Hi, it depends on the child, if she is fed, comfortable alone, knows the procedure for an emergency then I see no problem. Maybe a trustworthy neighbour can keep an eye on the house from outside would help you be less worried.

Totally fine. Both my elder children were left for short periods from 8. Eldest at 11 stays alone for 2-3 hours and like her peers cycles to and from school independently- no after school club at secondary which tells you something about general expectations and something those who only leave their 10yos for ten minutes to ponder. You'll get very different answers if you post in the early evening when more working parents are about.