Leaving A Child At Home Alone - What Age?

[bednobs]

for say an hour

[Bazile]

How far away will you be ?

[bednobs]

couple of miles

[JimF]

https://www.gov.uk/law-on-leaving-your-child-home-alone

[Buenchico]

The NSPCC's view seems to be that children under 12 shouldn't be left at home alone:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/in-the-home/home-alone/

My own view is that, as long as they've got a way of contacting a parent (or, say, a helpful neighbour) in an emergency, there's nothing wrong with leaving a 10-year-old alone for an hour or so. I've known some younger children who could similarly be left on their own for a while but it's hard to generalise; some children mature far earlier or later than others do.

[Spicerack]

Lot of variables.

[davebro]

It's a different world innit. I was a latchkey kid. Sometimes home alone from age 8 or 9. School holidays - all day. We got up to all kinds of mischief that would probably get us an ASBO today but no one seemed to take much notice!

[pat2604]

Good answer from Chris. Children differ. I was happy to leave my son at 10 because he was very mature at that age. I was never out for long or far away. Kids vary though. I would never leave him at home to go out at night.

[jno]

I think trust your own instincts (if it's you you're talking about). Some competent, confident kids can safely be left for a while with a phone they know how to use and a contact number; butu if they're in any way nervous about being left alone, or you think they may be but are hiding it, then don't.

[pat2604]

I agree jno. My son was very confident and self contained from a very young age. Never one who hung around Mum's skirts.

[calmck]

15 minutes was the maximum I left granddaughter aged 10 alone. At 13 it is up to an hour. She has a phone and aunts are 10 mins away. The problem could be if you are delayed and she worries. Do you have a neighbour you could let know and ask them to keep an eye. Make sure she knows the neighbour. Does she know not to let anyone in? If someone came to the door could she say you are in the bath but not open the door. Does she know how to call 999 and give her address? Do you have rules like no candles, no cooking etc?
It's a difficult decision. They have to be allowed to grow up and be responsible. You know your child, how does she feel about it

[davebro]

what a scary world we now live in!

[Sam1960]

Like dave, I was also a latchkey kid, letting myself into the house when I was only 8 maybe 9.
Strict set of rules for safety reasons, which I never abused. Things were a lot different in the 60's from what they are now though !!

[pat2604]

I was a latchkey kid too. So were lots of us. I was even going to school on the bus at 7 and using the London tube trains at 9!! Times have definitely changed. But it also made me very independent all through my life and I hope that rubbed off on my son. There has to be a happy medium.

[Buenchico]

At the age of 10 I was going out with my mates on our bikes for long days (from say 9am to 7pm), armed with packed lunches. We'd cycle up to 60 miles in a day, with much of it on busy main roads. By the age of 12 I was travelling all around East Anglia, and down to London, by train.

Later, my friend's son was happily travelling on his own, several times per year, between his home in Sheffield and his relatives' house in rural France by the age of 12. (Train to London, underground to Heathrow, flight to Paris, Metro into central Paris and a train from there).