would you live your child home alone after school and in the school holidays aged around 7?

[milkgoddess]

another thread got me thinking about this, one of my friends works full time and she has 3 children.
the youngest is in the 1st year of junior school, so what age would that make her? around 7?

anyway her neighbour picks up friends dd from school then drops her off at her own home alone until around 5-530 when her mum gets home, the older children are usually out
and also in the school holidays this child spends weeks alone

do you think this is ok? i thought it was a bit harsh on the little girl as she is struggling at school as she doesn't really get any home input like help with homework and reading etc and its a very long time in the summer holidays for her to spend such a long time alone isn't it?

No, I think 7 is way too young to be on their own. My ds is 7 soon and although he is very responsible, I wouldn't do it.

It's not OK. In fact I don't think it's even legal.

is age 7 when they start junior school?

no - way to young imo b

Way too young.
How lonely she must be!

absolutely no way

and I'd report anyone who did

It's absolutely not ok and I can't believe that anyone would think that it was.

yes she seems v v lonely
in the summer holidays she just does nothing

No I wouldn't dream of it, but that's exactly what used to happen with me during the holidays (150 years ago when I was that age). I was alone at home quite often as both my parents worked.

I can't believe it was allowed looking back but in those days I don't think it was unusual.

Strangely I think my own parents would be disapproving if I did this now.

No chance. Not necessarily because of any danger, but more because it sounds like a bloody lonely existence particularly during school holidays.

NO I wouldnt I wouldnt leave my nine yr old yet either

No, I think 7yo is way too young. Needs to be secondarty school at very least and then not for too long a periods of times.

Sounds a very sad situations for the young girl TBH. She must be quite bored and lonely on her own for all this time.

It isn't illegal as such - law is very hazy on this sitations - but it isn't responsbile parenting.

Message withdrawn

There was a very sad situation where 3 kids older than this were left at home and a fire started (not by the children I believe) and the two youngest died. I feel terrible that the oldest (about 12) would have had to deal/cope with any potential life threatening situation without an adult.

Absolutely not.

well i know she is really really stuggling with her reading, ive actually been there with the mum, when the mum arrived home. and as soon as the mum gets in shes straight onto cooking the tea and getting stuff done in the house. if hr dd is at the table trying to do her homework alone her mum says come on time to clear the table now.
i thought i might of been over sensitive as i only have a baby at the moment and i only have one.
but i just find this whole thing sad

No. 7 is much to young to be left at home alone.

what age do you think its ok to be left home alone then?
personally i think about 16 but as i say i only have a baby, so i do not really know how older kids are.?

when dd started school here in Germany (she was nearly 7), we were given a sheet with information including how to prepare 6-7 year olds to travel to and from school (including using public transport) unaccompanied. It was assumed that many dc would be going home at lunchtime alone and staying there unsupervised until their dp returned from work.

I don't know how common it is in reality but this governmental information sheet told us it was no problem at all to leave a 7 year old at home alone to heat up their own lunch and occupy themself for a couple of hours. Struck me as odd but seems other people find it perfectly acceptable.

No, far too young.

I might do if they were with older children but not on their own

No way, far to young. I didn't leave SD on her own for long periods of time until she was 13.

No, too young. DD was 11 before she was left on her own after school. And she has after school clubs and things until 4.30 most days, so is only 1 hour/1 hour and a half on her own. Have also left her for half days on occasions recently - she is 12 now - say when I have worked a half day from 9 til 2.

First year of junior school is too young. When they get older they become a lot more self sufficient and actually enjoy being trusted to be left alone for a while. But I know that dd would have been lonely and unhappy if I did this when she was 7.

This poor child needs to go to after-school childcare, and be taken care of full time in the holidays. Yes, it is expensive, but tough, she needs to be taken care of.