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.

Maybe poor wording but if you still have to dress your 9 year old maybe they aren’t ready? Of course they don’t need to get dressed at all, for a 6 min walk a jacket over pj’s is fine. At 9 though both of mine were absolutely fine left for that length of time on a semi regular basis while o took the other to a club, popped to the shops etc

I read it as just generally getting her out of bed, making sure she gets dressed etc. Sometimes children dawdle and if OP is focused on getting out in time she's probably not wanting to have to start checking that a 9yo who doesn't have to be up is actually moving!

I often talk about "getting my kids to bed", they're teens and what I mean is making sure devices are off, that they're not staying up past the agreed time on school nights (ie not watching TV, they can read as long as they like), has DS actually put his washing in the basket for the next day etc.

This is what I do when I have to nip to the local shop for milk etc. it’s all part of building up independence

Do it.

Before you do let a neighbour know what you are doing and ask if DD can go there if she is worried.

Wake her up to say you are going.

Tell her that if there are any problems go to neighbour X

Do you have a landline? You could have her on the phone for the entire 15 mins.

Ds1 is 9 and has been left for similar times, we don't have a landline nor does he have a phone but we do have Alexa devices in the house which he can request they call mum or dad and they will ring through to us.

He starting to also get to the point now of wanting to be the one who pops to the shop for milk if we run out etc. I'm glad he's feeling able and wanting to do these things. (although it's annoying as the nearby Co-op the milk is cheaper with the membership app!)

Yup, totally fine.

Do you have a landline? You could have her on the phone for the entire 15 mins.

Surely this just teaches her that either mum doesn’t trust her or that being home alone is scary? It doesn’t do anything to teach independence or confidence.