Legalities of leaving 16 yr old on their own overnight

[thebluehen]

We have two sensible 16 year olds who we are thinking of leaving overnight.

One is my dsd, one is my ds. We have relatives who will check on them and live two doors away.

What does the law say about this? Obviously don't want to commit an offence.

I don't think there is a law is there? Just guidelines.

16 year olds? Surely they can be left alone? I'm sure my mum left me for a fortnight when I was 16! Im pretty sure I travelled around Europe with a friend at this age too...

Given that 16 year olds can marry I can't see it could be illegal. So it boils down to how much you trust them. And with relatives two doors down they're unlikely to throw a facebook party.

My dd plans on leaving home & going away to college at 16 so in sure overnight will be fine.

If they were both mine, I would leave them and think nothing of it. However, I don't want it causing problems with dsd mum (dsd lives with us but visits her mum).

Yep, they could get married if they wanted to and you gave permission.

The only situation I would query is if one of the teenagers needed a significant level of care that the other could not provide.

But in your situation, lay down some v firm ground rules and enjoy your night away.

Oh and I assume that your OH is dsd's parent, has parental responsibility. So they make the decision.

That's the age I'll be leaving my lot when we go away for the weekend. 6 months to go. They're nearly adults.

There's no legal age under or over which you can leave children alone, but you would be liable if it could be shown you have neglected a child. Leaving 2 16 year olds overnight is normal IMO.

In fact, not only is it OK to leave a 16yo with no particular issues requiring extra care, it should positively be encouraged at that age. Many DC will be leaving home at 18 to go to uni or will want to take a holiday by themselves; 16 is a good age to be gradually giving them that extra responsibility by leaving them alone for the occasional night, or even longer at 17. Look on it rather that if you didn't leave them alone for that night, you would actually be neglecting their need to develop skills for surviving without you.

I've looked up the legalities and all should be ok.

It'll do the kids good.

It's fine - and to be encouraged IMO.

I first left DS alone overnight last year when he was 15. We were only an hour away - and he has his aunt and father nearby who could be there within 10 mins.

He was fine. In fact relished having the house to himself .

Considering that two sixteen year olds can get married and have a baby without anyone else's say so, it simply cannot be illegal for them to be left alone overnight. You can join the army at 15.9 ffs.

Ohhh woah woah woah... Just seen that they are biologically unrelated and opposite gender.

Leave condoms.

I had my own house and job when I was 16

I would be more worried about the house than them!