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

PolishBigSpender

michellen34 wrote: »

Hiya,

Firstly sorry if I have posted in the wrong place?

Ok, what I want to ask is, at what age is it ok to leave your children home alone? I ask this because someone at the job centre said I could get a job till say 9-10pm and it would be ok for my 14 year old or even my 11 year old to look after my 3 year old, I'm sure this can't be right? at least in my 11 year olds case?
Does any one know where the law states at what age it is ok?

Thank you in advance

There's plenty of teenagers taking care of their younger siblings around and they all seem to get on fine. I would have no issue with it once in a while. I wouldn't do it on regular basis - it's not the kid's job to look after their brother/sister every single evening.

On the other hand, we seem to be happy with leaving children alone much much earlier - I would be left alone for short periods since the age of 6, and my mum was really overprotective! One of my friends was cooking dinners for her and her little sister at the age of 11, and she wasn't in any way a "neglected child" - just a very mature one.

Savvy_Sue

BTW the first time I left my three on their own, for half an hour during the hours of daylight, I ran through the "What to do in an emergency" scenarios, and came back to find I had left a gas ring on but not alight. They hadn't noticed ...

busiscoming2

I left my children home alone for short periods once they reached 10/11, but I never left younger ones for them to look after. Once they reached about 15 then I would leave the younger one with them , but only for 20 mins while I popped to the shop. It isn't fair to give them that responsibility. My youngest is now 12 and the only child I have still living at home full time. I leave him for a few hours on his own, but he is sensible and knows his boundaries. We are also lucky that we live in a small cul-de-sac where he knows he can call on a neighbour in a real emergency.

duchy

Working til 10pm isn't "a couple of hours" it's at least five .
I'd be asking to speak to someone more senior at the job centre.

I now work from home in two seperate jobs -in both I'm on the phone constantly and need a quiet enviroment so am locked away but it means if something happens that a teenager can't cope with I can be off a call and there instantly. He knows the rule is only disturb me if essential ! He prefers it to me getting home after him -and I love no traveling/work clothes expenses etc
Maybe this kind of job would be more suitable ?

michellen34

duchy, I have tried so many times to find a work from home job, but the only one's I seem to come across are the ones asking for money upfront, which after reading on these forums I know are probably a scam. Could I ask what you do please?

Thanks