What age did you leave your kids to go out with your partner in the evening?

[Bumpsadaisie]

Just wondering what others experiences have been.

My kids are 13.5 (y9) and 11 (y6). They are to being alone after school some days and if my eldest is eg ill or school is closed she will happily be home alone that day.

At the weekend they go to bed not long before us at about 10am - I still tuck DS in and even read a story (!) but with elder DD I give her a hug and she gets ready for bed herself and turns her light off when ready.

They suddenly seem too old for a baby sitter really but we wonder about leaving them at night.

We would be back by 1030 - would be a meal out in a pub or cinema etc.

My feeling is it is probably ok?

*10 pm, obviously 🙄

We would get a baby sitter then wonder why both ours sensible probably more so than the babysitter and got on. As long as we were local we would leave them when late primary / early secondary. Not if we were going further afield such as gig in next city then they went to granny’s

I think it depends on the children. My DD is 12 and very sensible and I'd leave her for a few hours in the evening. However my son's just about to turn 10, NOT very sensible and gets anxious if we go out, so I wouldn't leave him. In your case if both are mature and sensible and comfortable to be left alone then I'd go out for 3 hours or something. I'd call them to check on them.

For the first once or twice, I don't think I'd be making a whole night of it, could you not just pop to the pub for an hour rather than out for 3 hours initially? Once you know they are ok then build it up.

13 is probably an appropriate age, but obviously does depend if the child is responsible enough. I'd also probably start with a shorter outing as a test: maybe an hour or hour and a half

When I trusted him that he was mature enough to:

1. not to loose his keys and close the door

2. make his way to secondary school on the other end of the city by bus safely and alone

3. Be able to stay on his own for 2- 3 hours after school without burning down the house or inviting friends around.

Basically from 12 but rarely, just for a couple of hours at night and with a neighbour on call in case he had a problem. (Always back before 11pm)

Later from when he was 15. Overnight, just one night, from 17 (I was not worried about him being alone at home, but worried that something could happen in my absence if he went out at night with his friends)

Ds2 was looking after his much younger brothers (who were in bed ) at that age

Ds1 was nearer 15 when he was left so it depends on the child