What age did you st...
 

  You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more

[Closed] What age did you start leaving a child at home?

19 Posts
19 Users
0 Reactions
61 Views
Posts: 15907
Free Member
Topic starter
 

As above to nip out to the shop / go for a 30 min run etc?


 
Posted : 24/01/2018 8:30 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Probably when I was about 39.  Didn't leave them for long though, just to the garage for a bit or to the shop.


 
Posted : 24/01/2018 8:34 pm
Posts: 4985
Full Member
 

If they are old enough to walk to school or be sent to the local shop alone, then they should be ok to be left at home alone for a similar time period. IMHO of course.


 
Posted : 24/01/2018 8:40 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Err, i think he means the age of the child 🙂


 
Posted : 24/01/2018 8:41 pm
Posts: 3991
Full Member
 

I think our oldest was around 11 when we left him on his own for a bit or sent him round the shops. Will obviously vary on a per child basis and how sensible/bonkers they are.


 
Posted : 24/01/2018 8:42 pm
Posts: 6734
Full Member
 

They can't spill stuff on carpets or burn the house down while walking to school though.
As above, depends on the child, but from 10 or 11 with ours, but not for long. Leaving 13 yr old to look after the other two for a night out soon (only just up the road mind).
You probably want to stop leaving them to their own volition again when they hit 15 or so.


 
Posted : 24/01/2018 8:49 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Oh, does he?  Sorry  😉

The boy was about 9 or 10, I think he had a Beano open so probably didn't even realise I'd gone.  As I understand it there's no specific rule, but your judgement as a responsible adult is called into question for even thinking about it.

I'd rather leave one alone than two of them together - too much scope for nonsense.

edit - also as above, there;s a window of opportunity before nonsense turns into shenanigans!


 
Posted : 24/01/2018 8:50 pm
Posts: 1
Free Member
 

I've left mine alone at 4 for 10-15 mins while I'm in the (attached) garage, when i know he's settled with a cartoon. The baby at 1 I've left for 5 mins if i have to run to the shop while she's sleeping.

Terrible father that I am


 
Posted : 24/01/2018 9:16 pm
Posts: 31206
Full Member
 

Probably about 6 when I realised that leaving her and her sister sat numbly in front of the TV for five minutes while I got some milk was considerably less risky than her walking to the shop with me. And took a lot less time!


 
Posted : 24/01/2018 9:32 pm
Posts: 4078
Free Member
 

When the wrists fit the handcuffs....


 
Posted : 24/01/2018 9:49 pm
Posts: 9763
Full Member
 

As above maybe 10 or 11 on their own

Together was older, as they could be a disaster together


 
Posted : 24/01/2018 10:22 pm
Posts: 1012
Free Member
 

Mines 11 ....and I still haven't left him on his own yet...maybe when he is 14.... maybe..lol


 
Posted : 24/01/2018 10:22 pm
Posts: 8392
Full Member
 

About seven here too, about the same age as we would start allowing her to nip round to the corner shop herself, one side road to cross on the way.

My mum used to work with a woman who had a spot of bother with this, her son did burn the house down while she was out. Here's the story straight from the horses' mouth:


 
Posted : 24/01/2018 10:58 pm
Posts: 2018
Full Member
 

3.

Although it was only after the door swung shut behind me, with Jr watching telly happily. And only for as long as it takes to leg it round the corner to get the nearest spare key, and with my (slightly nonplussed) neighbour aware in case of fire etc!

How my wife laughed when I told her. Later. Not at the time. Oh no, that's right. No laughing.


 
Posted : 24/01/2018 11:12 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Around 10. As above when they’d be old enough to say walk to school then they can be left at home. These days its easier with mobile phones as they can call you easily. When my older kids where 10 we didn’t have a mobile !!!!!


 
Posted : 24/01/2018 11:31 pm
Posts: 5787
Full Member
 

Well I'm 38, and I haven't yet. Although I don't have kids; apparently it's weird to ask people to borrow theirs to leave at home.


 
Posted : 24/01/2018 11:54 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Once the casino started complaining about leaving the kids in the car in their carpark.


 
Posted : 25/01/2018 12:14 am
Posts: 8
Free Member
 

Mine are 18 and 20 and wouldn't leave them alone in the house 😀


 
Posted : 25/01/2018 6:56 am
Posts: 13164
Full Member
 

When the wrists fit the handcuffs

pfft Amateur, cable ties FTW


 
Posted : 25/01/2018 7:34 am
Posts: 6926
Free Member
 

I was about 6 when my parents left me alone at home.

It was only for about 1/2 hour though as I started work later than them 😉  #70's-kid


 
Posted : 25/01/2018 8:46 am

6 DAYS LEFT
We are currently at 95% of our target!