Would you leave a nearl 11 year old in the house alone for an hour?

[memoo]

I have to take DS to the doctors after school which is a 5 minute walk from our house.

DD has asked if she can stay at home while we go. She is very sensible and I do trust her 100% but still not sure it would be the right thing to do.

She has a mobile and can phone me if any problems. I would also leave strict instructions that she is not allowed to let anybody in the house.

Really don't know what to do???

I'd leave her. Left ds from when he'd just turned 11.

Id leave her
I leave DS aged9 alone for half an hour here and there

leave her - you know your own child! i leave dd (only 8) in the house for half an hour while i pick up the boys from kindergarten. She's the same - she's got a mobile, knows not to answer the door!

all she does is watch hannah montana while i'm gone!

but i live in germany - not quite the nanny state as in the UK!

Yes. My mum left me for short periods from about the age of 9 or 10.

that reads like dd has a mobile - she's got a spare one of ours for situations like this!

Yes, I would. When she goes to secondary school next year, will she have to get there under her own steam?

yes I would. I leave DS (nearly 10) for periods of up to 20 minutes under similar circumstances, am aiming to slowly build this up. I don't leave him with DD though, as they argue!

Yes, my DD was 10 in Aug and I'm happy to leave her for periods up to an hour.

She's sensible and likes feeling responsible (and makes jam sandwiches)

yes I would /do.

Yes I would. Be brave. The risk of her catching swine flu at the drs is greater than the risk of her coming to harm in her own home.

Aw thanks guys, Decision made then. Still a bit nervous about it but will do it.

Merle, yes she will be making her own way to and from secondry school. So I guess its good to slowly build up the level of independance.

Thanks for all replies