How old was your teenager when...

[countrylady]

you left them at home alone for a few hours to go out to a local restaurant, cinema etc? Our ds is 13 and quite sensible, though a bit lacking in confidence. Our dd is 10 and sensible and fairly confident. The trouble is they do squabble quite a lot. At the moment, we rarely go out that much. When we do, we have to pay a babysitter, as we've no family/friends nearby, and the elderly neighbours get cross if there's much noise. We'd really love to have some freedom, though, just now and then...

If younger siblings were also at home I think our oldest was about 15 before we left them to go out.

I would go out with kids this age. You know them best and if they are standard kids of this age you should be fine for a few hours.

I'm sure I was left alone from the age of 10 at times - but there was normally a neighbour around that I knew I could call on if necessary. I think it depends on the maturity of the child. However I know that in NZ it is technically against the law to leave a child under 14 alone unsupervised.

I was left alone for brief periods (up to 2 hours?) from the age of 8! But I notice my friends do the same from age 10. I think in UK the law says something about age 12, though?

I think my brother and I were about this age when we were left on Sat nights. My parents were only 5 mins away and we squabbled all the time, but never to the point of them having to come home. We knew we could phone ( and did) and it was always about silly things- which channel to watch, he's annoying me etc. It was fine and we were never in any bother, and it got easier the older/ more often it happened.

I never had a babysitter as a child ... my earliest memory of my mum and dad going out I was about 6, my eldest brother was 11 and in charge.
I just cannot even contemplate ever leaving my DS (now 4) alone in charge of his younger sister but I am sure there will be a time that I will do so ...
I think maybe 13 may be a bit young but I think it also depends on the actual children ....
Actually, not sure what I am talking about... just wanted to take part

Many thanks for all the above...we'll probably try a short outing at first, and they can contact us on our mobile. I remember going out on my own at the age of 8 or 9, but times have changed. On the other hand, I don't want to wrap them in cotton-wool!

Am not quite there yet (eldest is 10) but feel you have to start being brave and leaving for short periods once at secondary school.I run a lot and sometimes leave all 3 of mine (all fortunatly pretty sensible) with 13 year old neighbour, as all they need is someone to watch tv with them for an hour........is this naughty!!??

I think it does depend a lot on the personalities and dynamics between them. I leave ds1 who is 12, for up to 2 hours or so on his own if I take the younger 2 out somewhere local. He can phone me, and I think he needs to be able to be alone sometimes.

Dd is 9 and I cant imagine leaving them together as I woudnt feel confident that he wouldnt tease her or ignore any concerns she had etc. I can however well imagine leaving her in charge of ds2 who is now 4, in a few years, as she is the responsible type, but who knows what the relationships will be by then.

Ds1 travels to and from school without me and uses public transport without me, but this has all happened in the last year, he really has grown up so much so suddenly.

I do now leave my children at home when I am at work during the day, as they are now 17, 14 and 12. We started leaving them for a couple of hours in the evening when the eldest is available. I am happy to leave the 14 year old on her own during the day, but will only leave her with the 12 year old for a short while.