At what age is it ok to leave children home alone?

skintchick

My friend leaves her 14yo and 12yo to look after her 4yo and I think that's fine. I was babysitting for people when I was 13.

oldMcDonald

From the NSPCC guidelines, as linked to in an above post:~

The law is not clear because it does not state an
age when children can be left alone. But parents
can be prosecuted for wilful neglect if they leave
a child unsupervised “in a manner likely to cause
unnecessary suffering or injury to health” (Children
and Young Persons Act 1933).
Nor does the law state an age when young
people can babysit. However, where a baby-sitter
is under the age of 16 years, parents remain legally
responsible to ensure that their child comes to
no harm.
For this reason, the NSPCC does not recommend
asking anyone under 16 to look after a young child.

That's all rather vague! I read that as saying to use your judgement but as a parent you take legal responsibility if the child left alone is under 16, and that it is best not to ask an under 16yo to look after a young child as, being under 16, they are not legally responsible for their actions!

oystercatcher

I think it would be very irresponsible to leave a 14 year old looking after a 3 or 4 year old. I'm sure they might be fine in the normal day to day run of things but how would they cope with any unforseen emergencies?

What if the child was ill, had an accident, there was a fire or a burglary......
I wouldn't want a 14 year old to decide what to do if a small child had a head injury, a burn or was choking, they just haven't got the training or experience.

You can't say it will never happen as you just don't know. read any newspaper and these things do happen to many families.

I would report the person at the job centre who suggested this it's dangerous.

Oystercatcher

marshmallows

i dont think its fair to leave older kids with their younger siblings, especially if they aren't over 16
sometimes its seen as neglect

Millie's_Mum

if there are no official guidelines on leaving children at home alone what about looking at it from another angle, ie what are the official guidelines on a 14 or 11 year old working?

Looking after a 3 year old every night for a number of hours is definitely working so do those rules help you show the job centre that they are talking bobbins?

System

michellen34 wrote: »

A friend of mine said yesterday she'd rang the local police authority when she was working late etc and was told you can't leave a 14 year old alone for more than two hours? It's very confusing isn't it

i rang my local police station about this a while ago and was told that although theres no limit as such if you leave a child under 14 alone they cant be held responsable for anything that happens .he also said it depends on the child some 11 year olds are more sensible than some 16 yr olds.

pukkamum

when i was fifteen my single mum worked nights and i had to look after my little sister who was nine and even though i babysat for people at that age i really resented loking after her and we would have huge fights, it almost spoilt our sisterly relationship.

silvercar

Millie's_Mum wrote: »

if there are no official guidelines on leaving children at home alone what about looking at it from another angle, ie what are the official guidelines on a 14 or 11 year old working?

Looking after a 3 year old every night for a number of hours is definitely working so do those rules help you show the job centre that they are talking bobbins?

There is a big difference between working in the home and working outside the home.

jamespir

i would ahve though 14 would havbe been an acceptable age cause my parents usesd to leave us alone ok it was only for like and hour or so at a time

ClareEmily

Very confusing, I was babysittting for neigbours at the age of 13 and the boys were only 6 and 8.