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?

Nope, not on their own, especially if nobody else knew they were home alone. In the unlikely event you were in an accident then that would be an issue.

DD was very mature though and with technology what it is I might have left her with a GP talking to her over facetime that could ring me if there was any issues if I was that close and who could walk to her if I took longer than expected.

I would've done it. What's the difference between that and leaving your child for 10 mins elsewhere on the house, I'm sure the majority of parents of 6 year olds have done that.

I think it’s absolutely fine. Finding all these replies quite amusing, so dramatic.

No, absolutely not at 6. My very sensible DD is 10 and I have only just started doing this with her at that age. 6 is waaaaay too young to be left.

No

I think it’s fine. You get to make the judgement call on it, not other posters. They can decide about their kids. But if you felt ok about it, knowing your own child, then I do actually think it’s fine.

Has anyone seen Netflix's series 'Old enough'?

Read the whole thread the back door was open

what age is the other child?

I’m assuming younger, because otherwise you could have stood at the end of your path and watched them walk to school instead.

My DD at 6, yes. DS who is currently 6, no. Kids are different, if you know they will just sit watching telly and not move then it’s not the end of the world.

I have a 6yo absolutely no way would I do that

NO!

I am Definitely in the laid back camp of parenting but it’s a definite hell no from me. No 6 year old is mature enough to be left alone in the house for any length of time.

I never understand that either.

I struggle to think of what emergency could arise in this space of time.

Fire, someone breaking in, smoke alarm or burglar alarm going off and scaring the shit out of the six year old, you getting delayed. No, none of these things are very likely but the point is that we don’t just risk assess based on likelihood, it’s also about how catastrophic the consequences could be.

The UK is bizarre in regards to letting children do things alone.

I think it's fine.

It wasn't open, it was locked with the key in it. He is very able to open the door. The side gate was locked so he couldn't go further than the garden

No, not ok.

Agree

Try reading the post again. Your answer is in there

no

Younger - in reception