6 year old - ok to leave at home alone for 10 mins?

[thogated]

Name changed for this as worried about being flamed

We live extremely close to my kids school - basically within sight of it My 6 year old was off sick today. I had to pop out to pick up my other child.

I was going to take the 6 year old with me but he asked to stay at home because he was tired and still in his PJs..I thought about it and while I never have left him alone before, it really didn't seem like a big deal.

So I did. Told him not to open the front door - and bolted it so he couldn't (but he could open the back door in the very unlikely event of fire). He was lying in bed reading a book, no risk of him eating/choking.

The school is about 6 doors down from my house, by time time my other one had found his bag etc, it was max 10 mins, possibly less. My 6yo was absolutely fine.

I feel like this was a reasonable decision. What do others think?

They are not really alone in those examples, though. A parent is available if needed, if called for. Actually leaving the house and premises is totally different.

Not really.

What the difference between the adult being 30m away in a garden and 30m in the road?

But it is different because your own doors are not locked when you’re at home, whereas OP locked the front door (back door left open for fire risk etc). The child couldn’t come out and walk down the street if something went awry or call for help from the front door. On most properties, you’d hear your child calling. If the child was left for a short time in bed at home, it depends a bit for me on the property and where you and they are - are they downstairs (or in a property without stairs), can they get to you or a point they can call you from if needed?

You are right there, I don't agree with locking a child in. If they are too young to know not to answer the door or leave the house (unless going to a neighbour if a parent didn't come back long after they should) then they are too young to be left.

The garden can allow foe a sick child to stand at the door and shout. The op was not 20m down a road. Plus, it was to a school playground, which is noisy etc. There is no way a child could call and a parent hear them. There is a massive difference!

Exactly. They can’t be heard from the back garden by the parent. On your property, you can rush back upon hearing them, down a road with a locked door behind you, you can’t. In the garden, most people leave the door open, the child is capable of calling out or coming to get the parent in an emergency. If you leave your house and lock the door, then walk down the street into a busy school playground, it’s not possible for a parent to hear a child call and they can’t come to find you because they’re locked into the house (with access to back garden). It’s a different situation.

@purplecorkheart

what? 6 doors down without crossing a road?

Arghhhhhh

dorry folks. I'm going to BAN myself from
opening threads in the 'similar threads' underneath a thread!

I dont know why MN thought that was a good idea

It sounds like you made a thoughtful decision based on the specific circumstances. You took into account the short duration, your child's comfort level, and the safety measures you put in place. Being close to the school and having your child engaged in a safe activity while you were gone are positive factors. While every situation is unique, your judgment appears to have balanced the needs of your family well in this instance. Remember that as a parent, you're the best judge of what works for your child and family. I think you should really go through some website that gives parenting advice, tips, and hacks. One I know is @makemykidstar