How old before i can leave my kids on their own?

TIGs

Hiya

I work part time and normally pay for childcare during the school holidays, my daughter is 11 years old and is wanting to look after her brother whos 8 for me instead of them going to the kids club they go to in holidays.

They both have said how boring the kids club is that they go to and that they would rather stay at home together if i would let them, they are both sensible kids and i trust them and i only work 5 hours a day so it wouldn't be for too long.

What i wondered was is there an age that your child has to be by law before you can leave them alone??

black-saturn

The law is they have to be 14 before they can look after younger family members unsupervised for any amount of time.

Rachie_B

i might trust the 11 yr old but not looking after the 8 yr old no way !!!

Dumbledore55

black-saturn wrote:

The law is they have to be 14 before they can look after younger family members unsupervised for any amount of time.

Actually I don't think there is a law about this at all but you do need to use your common sense and judgement. Personally I am happy that my 11 year old is very sensible but he doesn't look after his younger brother and sister because I worry about how he'd cope in an emergency.

november

There is no legal age for leaving children alone in England and Wales. However it is an offence to leave them if it puts them at risk. Helpful .......... not.
(It is different in Scotland.)

If you are in England or Wales here is the NSPCC guidance. http://www.nspcc.org.uk/html/home/needadvice/childrenathomealone.htm

However it does say that most children under 13 should not be left alone for more than a short period.

And I'm sorry but I agree. I think leaving an 11 year old and 8 year old alone for 5 hours in the day is too long too young.

You have my sympathy though - I remember mine going through that stage and trying to find something that catered for older children.

trafalgar_2

black-saturn wrote:

The law is they have to be 14 before they can look after younger family members unsupervised for any amount of time.

There is no law that states the minimum age that a child can be left alone. However, it is an offence to leave a child alone when doing so puts him or her at risk.

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/home/needadvice/childrenathomealone.htm


personally I would never leave an 11yr old and an 8 yr old alone for 5 hours,no matter how well behaved they are




cross posted november ,sorry

patchwork_cat

I am watching this with interest as my children are 8 and 13. The 13 year old DS has been left on his own during the day for no more than 2 hours since 10/11, but I have never left the 8 year old DD with him. I too thought that there was no law only recommendations on age. I was thinking that I could start to leave my DD with my DS for 1/2 hr or so. Does everyone feel this is OK.

kingarhu

My children are 12 and 9, and although I am quite happy to leave either on their own there is no way I would leave them together unsupervised. One minute they love each other dearly. then something will happen and they're tearing lumps out of each other. Maybe they could alternate the kids club? They should think themselves lucky - my poor girls are having to attend five days of soccer school, because it's the only thing available around here during the holidays. A kids club would be heaven in contrast.

Spendless

My friend is in a similar situation, hers are 9 and 11 and it's possible that the childminder can no longer have them in school hols or at least not the eldest.

here we have 'sports camps' for 8-13/14 year olds in the summer hols run by our local leisure centres. These tend to be sports based or a local farm offers pony days. What about looking into whether there is something similar near you.

november

trafalgar wrote:

cross posted november ,sorry

No problem - nice to know I'm right

Prudent

I leave my 13 year old by herself for a couple of hours after school sometimes or in the evenings. Occaisionally I will leave her for a working day ( I am out 8.15 -4pm). However I check there are friends of mine who could go to her quickly if needed. I also work just a ten minute drive away and can pop home if needed. I am lucky that I have school holidays, so am generally around when she is. I don't let her have friends in when I am not at home, as I feel a responsibility if they are in my house.