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

barjam_2

each to there own...i could never leave my 11yr and 8yr old no matter how long its probably just me, i have left my 14yr old a couple of times but he's not to go out not to answer the door even though he is really sensible i feel uncomfortable, some kids where i live had had a key to the door since they were 9yrs old my 14yr old doesnt even know how to open our door with the keys cos he's never been left to come home when no-one has been in when i have asked him to unlock the door if he's with me and i have my hands full i howl and laugh at him struggling with the keys:rotfl: just proves he's not a latch key kid;)

Quackers

My 2 are 11 and just 14 now. I have been leaving mine at home for up to 2 hours over the past year or so. We started off leaving them for 30mins and gradually built up from there. 2 hours is the most we've left them. We go shopping. It's never through work - its just at weekends to help build their confidence and let them know we trust them.

My eldest daughter is disabled and also has epilepsy which is not controlled so I know that some of you may not agree with what I do. She'll be an adult soon and its slowly helping to make her understand that she IS capable of coping by herself.

I think we all know our own children well enough to know what situations they can or cannot cope with.

TIGs

Thanks for your help everyone

Can i just say i would NEVER put my kids at risk and this is only something i am considering at the moment.My sister only lives 2 minutes away so in case of an emergeny she would be there in minutes, we also have good neighbours who would help if they needed to.Plus if it came down to it i only work 15 minutes away and could come home if necessary.

I'm lucky its very rare my two fall out with each other they get on really well and play well together so i would trust them on their own together.

There are no other clubs round here and the kids club which may sound good is actually only a room at the back of a nursery, they don't particularly do alot and thats why the kids get bored. I'm a single parent and when it comes to the 6 weeks holidays and it cost me over £400 for childcare it does miff me a bit when i could use the money to take the kids somewhere.

Sarahsaver

Tax credits pay 80% of childcare costs now. So payong 20% of that 400 is not so bad, and surely its not all at once?

If you lived in sweden or Japan it would be perfectly acceptable to leave your kids alone from the age of 7.
The law is different here and whatever may make sense, we all have to stick by the law. I think you are on dodgy ground considering it even because theres bound to be some do-gooder out there who would report you quick as a flash.
Sorry to be all doom and gloom, but you have been warned!

Zoetoes

I thought that they have to be 12 to be left alone (obviously not whilst you !!!!!! off on holidays or anything) and 14 to babysit.

Personally, I have started leaving my 12 year old to let himself in the house & look after himself for an hour once a week whilst I am at work.

No way would I let him mind his younger brother.

loopylass

There is no law in what age you can leave your child but it comes down to common sense
If something happens to the child then as a parent it will be your responability
I have 4 children 8,11,13,17
My eldest sometimes looks after the others but as he doesnt get on with his sister(the 11 year old ) we take her with us but i still say dont answer the door etc because you never know about bogus callers but i still worry when im out and am only gone for 3 hours at the most
I wouldnt leave my 13 year old son on his own his sensible enough but i dont think his grown up enough in case of an emergency
But everyone knows there own children so they know if they are grown-up enough to cope in difficult situations

thyme_2

I think you have to look at the worst case scenario - after all not all adults can cope if there is a house fire or some health emergency. They are things that happen suddenly and you cannot exactly plan for them! Also what if some awful person found out that they were on their own and targeted them. Could you live with that?

TIGs

Sarahsaver wrote:

Tax credits pay 80% of childcare costs now. So payong 20% of that 400 is not so bad, and surely its not all at once?

Yes they do but its added to my money weekly and yes i do have to pay it all at once when you take on the contract they expect payment before your child is cared for so when they have days off they don't lose out i guess.
I didn't say i couldn't afford to pay but when you recieve a bill for over £400 (and thats just for the summer holidays) and i've recieved the money weekly its like i don't see the childcare money if you see what i mean.

i did ask if i could have it paid as a lump sum at the beginning of school breaks but they will only pay it weekly.

bobsa1

Does your local leisure centre do anything? My 11yr old and 9 yr old go to ours a couple of days a week during the hols.It costs me £12 each per day and they go swimming, do crafts, and lots of sports. They can stay for a hot dinner £2 I think or take packed lunch.

During the summer lots of the churches near me do one off holiday club weeks which are usually free.

I leave my 11yr old (12 in a fortnight) on her own for an hour or so, if I'm literally popping for petrol at the top of the street I'll leave the nine yr old with her, but would not consider leaving them for more than 10mins together.

Also if you don't use holiday care won't you have to pay the childcare tax credit back?

looby75

It really does depend on your child. I wouldn't hesitate to leave my 13 yr old daughter on her own in the house. She is very sensible, more mature than some 16 yrs olds I know!! I have left her babysitting her 5yr old brother when I've popped round to my friends house for a coffee (in the next street), but only after he's in bed and asleep, I wouldn't leave her babysitting while he was awake....she would probably end up strangling him LOL