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

Kimberley

Spendless wrote:

:eek: and no school hols either. What about 1st thing, is that any good

I live in Bromley and the Orthodontics is in Sevenoaks I start work at 10am

nickinoo

barjam wrote:

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;)

Not wishing to be the prophet of doom but if you children don't know how to unlock the door what on earth would happen if there was an emergency like a fire or such? Please teach them to use the keys ASAP!

salli9

You brave people I worry about leaving my 16 and17 yr olds alone, they fight like cat and dog. If they are in the house together it's only a matter of time before I get a phone call. Still only18 months and one will be at uni.

loopylass

Im sure your sister wouldnt mind looking after yours if its going to help you out

My sister is in the same situation and im looking after my 2 nephews while she goes to work and ive got 4 of my own

Even if its 1 or 2 days of the week and work around clubs etc

Suewre

nickinoo wrote:

Not wishing to be the prophet of doom but if you children don't know how to unlock the door what on earth would happen if there was an emergency like a fire or such? Please teach them to use the keys ASAP!

I think BarJam meant that her/his son couldn't use the keys to get in the house. Getting out is a whole different thing. Some doors need a key to get out, others don't.

rammy007

when i was at home i was on my own and ended up in a really bad situation(cant go into it) that meant i had to leave the house my parents were uncontactable and i couldnt do anything about it i had to leave,along with the 3 dogs (one of whom had puppies)it was a bl**dy nightmare and has left me of the opinion that i would never put my kids in the same position as a kid you are so vulnerable and it will always stay with me

nickinoo

Suewre wrote:

I think BarJam meant that her/his son couldn't use the keys to get in the house. Getting out is a whole different thing. Some doors need a key to get out, others don't.

Oops, perhaps you're right., Sorry Barjam no offence meant. I know my doors are the same to open whether you are inside or outside.

Spendless

The friend I spoke of earlier in this thread (whose childminder can't have them in the hols). Her eldest starts secondary school this September.He will be 12 in Dec. He'll leave school at around 3-3.15. If he goes to her current childminders that means he has to walk thru 3 villages to get to her house passing where he lives and where his mum works. His mum finishes work no later than 4.30.

Which would people do? Let him walk to childminders at least 40 minutes walk away in the Autumn (bearing in mind that the dark nights will start coming), OR let him walk home, calling in on his mums works on way in event of a problem and letting himself in with a key till she arrives home. School is about a 10-15 minute walk from their house, Mums work is about half way between the 2.

loopylass

I would let him go home because his only going to be on his own for an hour as long as he locks the door behind him and dont answer phone/door etc if he has a mobile mum can ring that to check on him
The other way seems more dangerous walking thru 3 villages in the dark and its gonna take him 40 mins anything could happen along dark roads
If he does the other way his only going to be walking 10-15 stopping off to see his mum it wont be completely dark before he gets home then by the time his sorted things out and made a drink etc his mums going to be home
The other way its going to be really dark before he gets to the childminders and being a mum myself i would be worried sick him walking all that way

Spendless wrote:

The friend I spoke of earlier in this thread (whose childminder can't have them in the hols). Her eldest starts secondary school this September.He will be 12 in Dec. He'll leave school at around 3-3.15. If he goes to her current childminders that means he has to walk thru 3 villages to get to her house passing where he lives and where his mum works. His mum finishes work no later than 4.30.

Which would people do? Let him walk to childminders at least 40 minutes walk away in the Autumn (bearing in mind that the dark nights will start coming), OR let him walk home, calling in on his mums works on way in event of a problem and letting himself in with a key till she arrives home. School is about a 10-15 minute walk from their house, Mums work is about half way between the 2.

Poppy9

My DD has just turned 11 and wants to be left alone at home. I agreed one saturday only because my OH had just rung me on his mobile to say he was on his way home and literally 5 minutes away (My DD didn't know this;) ). I pulled my car out of the drive very very slowly and saw his car at the bottom of the road. She is sensible and wouldn't answer the door to anyone and has lots of contact numbers but I think she is too young to be alone yet.

She does have a front door key, I gave her one in Year 5 as the school bus stops at the bottom of my drive and my OH works shifts so he might be asleep and she can let herself in. She also wants me to be late home from work some days so she can let herself into an empty house. No chance of that yet:D

I remember being left at home from about 11am-3pm during school holidays. My sister who is 2 1/2 years older than me was expected to look after me. She hated it (and me). I think we were about 12 & 9. I don't think we were left at night though as we fought like cat & dogs. It always ended in tears.