9 year old at home for 15 minutes?

[theLadyWhoJumpsHigh]

The guidelines on this are it us up to the parents discretion.

Next week, I need to drop off my younger child at school, but my older one (9 years old, year 4) is off on half term. I asked her and she said she's ok with it. I've never done it before.

I don't want to get her dressed, etc just for the school run. Do you think it is acceptable to leave her home for 15 mins while I do the school run? (The school is a 6-min walk from home). Our neighbourhood safe.

I absolutely would, and have done in similar circumstances.

It depends on you and your child, do you have a landline or a way to contact her if you absolutely had to?

Yes, I think this would be fine as long as the 9yo is sensible, has rules and knows what to do if something goes wrong (ie run out the back door if there is a fire, never open the door if someone knocks, etc)

I think it’s fine

My sister has done this with her child to nip to the shop, and she’s slightly younger , personally I would panic about stuff like if I was involved in a car accident and didn’t come home but my niece is a very sensible child and will happily play indoors and knows not to Open door etc . If they have and can use a phone to call another parent ,grandparent or responsible
adult that could be there within minutes, I prob would be ok with it .

I agree it’s fine as long as the child is happy etc. Will they be awake? If not, consider waking them before you leave - if they wake up alone they might panic forgetting you told them you were going to do this, and in the unlikely event a fire starts whilst you’re out, most kids won’t wake to a fire alarm.

I think it's child dependant, rather than age dependant. You know your child better than anyone and if you think she's OK to leave then i'm sure she is. Mine were left at that age too, for similar amounts of time.

Yes, it's fine. Kids need this, building up slowly over time to longer periods so that when they're at high school they aren't suddenly thrust into it. Presumably she is sensible and would know what to do in an emergency

SN and disabilities aside, if a 9yo can’t be left home alone for a short period of time then something has gone horribly wrong somewhere.

I would do it, and have done from 9. Daytime only, if they’re happy, and with a vague “if this happens then do that”. Max 30 minutes (and usually shorter).

Going against grain and saying if you have to think about it then your gut is saying you shouldn’t. You don’t have to get them dressed, just bring them in the car as is. And to me it’s not about the risk it’s just how I feel, it’s just unnecessary.

Fine so long as they have a way to contact you in an emergency e.g. landline phone or iPad with FaceTime

It’s fine.

statistically, there will be less chance of something happening to her in her own home , than next to a road.

But it is necessary to start building up independence at around that age, otherwise you end up with a child at high school that can’t cope.

thisishowloween
I’ve a 13, 15 and 17 yo, all of their independence in that area came with secondary school bit by bit, it wasn’t a big deal that they hadn’t been left on their own before that, it was just a given that they came places and no big deal

Hm, each to their own I guess. Around here, children walk to/from school alone from a similar age so it would be very unusual for them not to be able to be left alone for 15 minutes.

I would, It’s fine, sit them in front of the TV they probably won’t even notice you’re gone.

thisishowloween

we live quite rural so probably a bit different, 15 minutes isn’t really a thing, you have to get there and back it’s at least half an hour!!

I used to leave mine for short periods at this age. I would leave them with my phone, and would set a timer somewhere for slightly longer than I should be gone, ie if I was walking to the corner shop I might set it for 20-30 mins instead of the 10-15 it should take me. If the timer went off and I wasn't home, they knew to call <insert a grandparent/neighbour etc>

Ha, fair enough, though they should be fine for half an hour as well really. 9 isn't that far off secondary where many are left all day in the holidays.

I did it when my DS was 8 and very very ill. Had to take younger DD to school then go to get calpol for DS. I was gone 20 minutes and DS was so unwell he stayed in bed asleep the whole time.

Yes she’ll be fine - does she have a way to contact you or could you contact her in the unlikely event of any problems?
Rules for mine at that age were don’t answer the door and no snacks

Don't answer the door, stand in garden if there's a fire, no messing around rescuing stuff

It's fine. I'd make sure she knows what to do if you didn't arrive home. Let her know when you expect to be back and what to do if you don't return within a certain time. For example, ring Granny, go to a neighbour etc.

Mine are older now, but my biggest worry was always that I'd have an accident and no one would know that they were there.

Yes if she's fine with it then it's fine.

Thank you all so much for the comments. It sounds very much like it's not a big deal at all. Im sure she'll be fine. Good shout on leaving a phone. I'll leave my work phone unlocked so she can call me if necessary. Thank you all!! 😘