What age to leave a child home alone?

[Raeray]

Just wondering if you can help me.
Im currently doing a child protection course (I'm a paediatric nurse) and need to find opinions from parents on the issue I have chosen to discuss. The title of my essay, and presentation to the group is;
HOME ALONE - IS IT NEGLECT?
Now I realise this will gather a wide range of opinions and could spark a few debates, but this is what I will find interesting, and will be very helpful to me! So.....

1. What age would you leave your child at home alone?

2. For how long? ie what age would you leave your child all day or overnight perhaps.

3. What age would you deem you elder child responsible or able to care for younger siblings?

4)Do you know what the legal age to leave children home alone is?

5. If you have recently left your child alone for the first time - would you do it again?

and lastly (thankyou for bearing with me this far..if you have!)

6. What age would you allow your child to walk home from school alone?

Thank you, thank you, thank you in advance. Any other opinions on this would also be greatly received.

Ignore that I think it's American . But there is some info on the net from our DSS stating never to leave a child under 16.

Too early in the morning for me but it states it here in FAQ www.nspcc.org.uk/HelpAndAdvice/WhatChildAbuse/Neglect/neglect_wda36377.html#bookmark3

lone during the day. Is this neglect?"
There is no UK law stating the age at which a child can be left at home alone. However, parents can be prosecuted for wilful neglect if they leave a child alone or unsupervised "in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health" (Children and Young Persons Act 1933). Your neighbour may be having difficulties finding childcare. Perhaps the family is isolated and lacks the support of relatives and friends? As a neighbour, could you offer help with contacting local support services or with childcare? See People to talk to for organisations that offer childcare advice.

Babies should never be left alone, even for a short time. If you notice that a baby or a child under the age of nine has been left on their own, contact the police on 999. They will go to the house to make sure that the child is safe from harm.

Before leaving an older child alone, parents must take into account the child's age and maturity, their ability to cope in an emergency and how they feel about being left alone. Most children under the age of 13 are not mature enough to cope in an emergency and should not be left alone for more than a short time.

We recommend that children under the age of 16 should not be left alone overnight.

so it seems to be 9 but 16 for over night. from your link abouteve

I've always followed these recommendations. Not going away overnight again until DD has turned 16 so I don't have the arguments.

cat64,
it was cut and paste from abouteve's link

s'ok.
picked myself up off the floor now

actually me too, under 13's.. leaving them that is

Once ours got to secondary school so turning 11/12 they were reluctant to go the the child minder whilst I needed to work. (Ours being mine and a neigbours DD). We rang social services for advice and was told, you can leave them at home, but if anything happens you are responsible. Should be OK if you trust them and make sure they have someone near that they can go to if they feel the need. We did have, the childminder.

We stopped making arrangements around this time but I never felt 100% comfortable and the phone calls were flying back and forth most of the day. Nothing untoward happened as DD tended to stay home rather that roaming over dales and hills when I was at work.

So looking back I didn't stick to the advice i.e 13 years old. I think this is too ridged, depends on the child.

1. What age would you leave your child at home alone?

I only started leaving DS on his own when he was about 10 and that was when I was doing a quick sibling pick up or drop off so no longer than about 10 minutes. DD2 is 11 and I've just started leaving her on her own for half an hour at the most

2. For how long? ie what age would you leave your child all day or overnight perhaps.

DS age 13 I'd be happy enough now to leave him for an afternoon or so if I were to go shopping (he hates shopping), he's never been left all day yet, probably 4 hours max. Overnight I really don't know, I wouldn't do it yet so can't really say.

3. What age would you deem you elder child responsible or able to care for younger siblings?

DS aged 13 has stayed with DD2 who is 5 for 5-10 minutes while I popped out but I make sure DD is settled and doing something calm like playing on the computer or watching telly. Still not 100% comfortable doing it but DD1 does so many activities it sometimes seems mean dragging her out in the car when she's settled.

4)Do you know what the legal age to leave children home alone is?

No idea

5. If you have recently left your child alone for the first time - would you do it again?

Yes, I definitely think the first time is the hardest. As a parent you trust your instincts and are usually right but it doesn't make it easy to do. It's a natural step as they grow older and once you realise they are absolutely fine without you there and the house isn't in flames you feel more confident in your decision.

and lastly (thankyou for bearing with me this far..if you have!)

6. What age would you allow your child to walk home from school alone?

OOps missed the last one

6. What age would you allow your child to walk home from school alone?

I used to walk home from school when I was 6 (round the corner hehe) It depends how far, I wouldn't be happy with my DS aged 13 walking home from his school alone as it's about a 30-40 min walk through a bit of a dodgy area. My DD1 walks home from school sometimes, she's 11 and it's about a 5-10 minute walk but loads of people around doing school runs, pretty safe route.

If it's not far and no main roads, I probably would have let the children walk home from about 8/9, maybe a bit earlier if they had a friend to walk with.

Coo, I thought legal minimum was 11 and 14 for babysitting someone else's. So far, have only left 7 yo dd for a little while if I nip next door. I thikn sh'ed be fine, but I thought I'd be breaking the law...

Anyway, am slightly paranoid that she'll leave home before I get the hang of this parenting shit so don't like doing it

It's funny how the NSPC think a child under 13 should not be left alone, while in Scandinavia (which we are always told is so child-orientated), children start staying at home far younger than this. I'd have thought the dangers of the home were pretty much the same in any Western country.

Think the conclusion here is that common sense should be applied. I have left my dd at 5 to go to the chemist(emergency) for 10 mins and now she's 8 she's doing shopping with a list and walking to and from school happily (about half a mile, but a busy urban area.). i am astonished by the lack of independence children around here have. parents seem to equate supervision with good parenting and independence with neglect. Many parents, particularly full-time working mothers, seem to overprotect their children, IMHO; i have always been around for DD and seem to have more confidence in her. Don't think it does children good to be oversupervised nor is it fun for them. Sorry to ramble. Good luck with your project.

So much depends on the child/ren!

I left mine for the odd 10 minutes (whilst picking up the other from a neighbour) at 8 ish. I left the eldest for the first time (age 10) recently for about 40 mins. He'd had briefings ad nauseam on emergency drills beforehand.

Other than a trip to pick up the papers, (

1. What age would you leave your child at home alone?

When they have started secondary school, but still not for a whole day, but for example if I have to quickly pop to the shops and she would not want to come, that would be fine. Also, depends if it is only child on her own or has a friend staying. I would not like my dd to be on her own, even at that age for more than 30 mins or so.

2. For how long? ie what age would you leave your child all day or overnight perhaps.

Not if she is on her own. If she is with a friend, may be an afternoon if they are both responsible and go to secondary school. Not overnight and not for a whole day.

3. What age would you deem you elder child responsible or able to care for younger siblings?

4)Do you know what the legal age to leave children home alone is?

no idea, 18????

5. If you have recently left your child alone for the first time - would you do it again?

Not applicable

and lastly (thankyou for bearing with me this far..if you have!)

6. What age would you allow your child to walk home from school alone?

Depends on the traffic situation, I take her to school by car. However, if she was able to walk to school, then probably again secondary school age, I think that primary school children still do not fully understand traffic dangers - I trained as a traffic awareness trainer for schools and we were told that they cannot reliable judge car speeds and other dangers until they are about 12/13 years ... Not long ago a girl died in a road traffic accident near us, she had quickly tried to cross the road and was hit by a van. I guess she was 13/14 years old ...

Hi
I leave my 9 year old ds for up to 45 mins and have done for 6 months or so. I wouldn't leave him for any longer. Wouldn't leave him all day until he is 12 ish and overnight 15/16/17 depending how mature he turns out to be. No younger siblings, no legal age and have left him alone more than once. We live too far from school for him to walk but if we were local I would let him walk now at 9 but probably not any younger.

Good luck with your project - hope this helps

1. What age would you leave your child at home alone?

Mine are almost 7 and almost 5 and they seem to take new opportunities for responsibility seriously and try very hard to be 'good'. Also, we live in a very safe area - tiny village where absolutely everyone knows each other and strangers would be challenged immediately, etc etc. They aren't ready yet, I think the oldest might be ready in a few years, but it will depend on how well he matures.

2. For how long? ie what age would you leave your child all day or overnight perhaps.

I don't know yet - this is a very long way off, so I will wait to see how they mature. I expect they will be OK all day by 14, and OK all night by 16, but we'll see!

3. What age would you deem you elder child responsible or able to care for younger siblings?

My oldest currently takes responsibility for his younger brother. They are allowed to visit our park by themselves (with walkie talkies attached). In terms of caring, I see this as including preparing a simple meal and knowing how to contact people in an emergency, so I can't imagine this would be ok, even for a short period of time, at least for the next 3-4 years, and then only for a very short period of time - maybe if I went up the road to see a friend briefly, or if I popped into the shop in the next village.

4)Do you know what the legal age to leave children home alone is?

I didn't think there was a legal age - I thought it was about being sensible and taking into consideration the child's abilities and the overall context of the decision.

5. If you have recently left your child alone for the first time - would you do it again?

I have never left my children home alone.

and lastly (thankyou for bearing with me this far..if you have!)

6. What age would you allow your child to walk home from school alone?

I am thinking of allowing my oldest child to walk home from school by himself next academic year when he is almost 8. The walk is only a couple of minutes. I walked a half mile every day, to and from school from 6 years of age - I find our current obsession with dropping off children pretty strange, tbh!

Just curious, I always thought the legal age to leave a child alone was 14 - or is that in charge of another child??

Where on earth did I get that from, otherwise?

(my own two are only 3 and 6, so answer is not yet!)

1. What age would you leave your child at home alone?

for a few minutes like popped out for milk about 5-6

2. For how long? ie what age would you leave your child all day or overnight perhaps.

16

3. What age would you deem you elder child responsible or able to care for younger siblings?

only have 1 child but i was eldeast of five and was left baby sitting for 60-90 minutes when i was 13 i was happy with it then still happy though i think babysitting age maybe 14

4)Do you know what the legal age to leave children home alone is?

there is not one but if something goes wrong it could be investigated

5. If you have recently left your child alone for the first time - would you do it again?

n/a still too young
and lastly (thankyou for bearing with me this far..if you have!)

6. What age would you allow your child to walk home from school alone?

where we live now probably 9-10 as 15-20 minutes iwalked home from school alone after 1st term.... was deemed very babyish for your mom to be at aschool gate when 7 was responsble for walking home with 5 yr old sister

Thank you, thank you, thank you in advance. Any other opinions on this would also be greatly received.

I honestly don't think the world is more dangerous biggest risk walking is traffic

I have 2 Daughters aged 13 and 15. In School Holidays I have this year started to leave them home alone during the day while I am at work. This arrangement has worked out fine so far,although I only work 5 hours per day for 4 days a week. When my Husband & I go out in the evenings on average once a week we also leave the girls home alone. This arrangement works very well for us but all children are different and what works in one household may not work in another.

1. What age would you leave your child at home alone?
   For a short while, up to 30 mins, about 8-9 depending on how mature and whether I could trust them to behave and be sensible. I have three and have polled all my friends with older children.,
   
   For older and longer alone, I'm not there yet. My friends leave their children about 2 hours at secondary school age, ie. from end of school, until they get home from work. My left me alone for 2 weeks to go on holiday with dad, when I was 15, that seems a little young!! I remember the light bulb going out in bathroom and not being able to fix it!! My sis and I used to play outside all day, off down nature researve or wherever we wanted and return at 5pm, from when I was about 7 (sis 9). But then there were less cars back then.

2. For how long? ie what age would you leave your child all day or overnight perhaps.
   Definitely 15-16 or above. I would have neighbours check on them or ring them if it was about 6 hours or above, once they are 14-15.

3. What age would you deem you elder child responsible or able to care for younger siblings?
   15

4)Do you know what the legal age to leave children home alone is?

There is no legal age limit in legislation, but if something goes wrong, they injure themselves or put selves at risk you are responsible, if the court decides they were too young. It's a too grey area. I imagine for longer periods (4 hours) one would be thinking of sensible teenagers, but for younger 7-10 then short periods, for specific trip out (nursery or school run, emergency shop run) then short periods less than hour seems to be Ok in my poll of friends. I also think lots of secondary school children have 2 hours alone after school, before mum gets home from work. That seems normal.

Overnight, is more tricky and really I think it would be hard to leave younger than 15 year olds alone. I dont think I would do what my mother did, I had far too many parties aged 15 when i was left for a week + when my mother went on holiday. I also couldnt cook and got myself very scared with noises in house. My sis was away at uni at the time, so in retrospect, even though it was normal in those days, it wasnt brilliant for me as a child.

5. If you have recently left your child alone for the first time - would you do it again?

50 mins, at home. Yes, and Yes. He is 10 and was great. I rang him twice and he was very good at answering and telling me what he was doing. He'd even tidied the room by time I got back (I took younger girls to local shops and he had a dodgy tummy, not wanting to be far from toilet--- bless..!!)

6. What age would you allow your child to walk home from school alone? Depends on how far and how many roads to cross, what the route is. My 9 and 8 year old, do this together about 30% of the week, with no major roads, except a traffic light crossing and it is a popular route. I think below 7 is too young, but it depends on gender of child, what the route is like, how safe and how mature they are. I see lots of children walking themselves, even in town on busy roads, at 7 or younger, and also going out on their own in evening. I let my 10 year old boy go to shops (10 mins walk away, safe route) and back and to park with his friends, as long as he has his mobile and is back at time I set (usually 40-60 mins away). I hop around in the house until he's back. But think that if you dont give them some freedom, they will never learn to be safe on their own, and then you'll have niave young teenagers who've never been allowed to grow up or deal with situations themselves.