Children left at home alone

fernliebee

As I stated before, I think a small element of risk is an important part of childrens learning, however that is why as parents we must "risk assess" as we go. I let my 19 month old DD do quite a lot of things that some people may find risky, however I feel the benefits outweigh the risks for her development. I mentioned before running a forest school, and I employ these methods in raising my DD. I am not the sort not to let my child do certain 'dangerous' things, however some things are not just dangerous they are pure stupidity!

It's not that the things I let my DD do are particularly beneficial to me, but they are to my DD's development, and understanding of the world around her. In the OP's situation the father was purely thinking about his fags and not the safety of his children. There were no benefits to the children, just the danger aspect.

And if not leaving a 7 year old in charge of 2 much younger children is over- protective then so be it, sign me up for the over- protective parents list!!

jellyhead

JBD wrote: »

Personally I was expected to help look after my younger brothers and sisters but never at this young age.

Me too, but not alone in a house at age 7. I was thinking about this last night when chatting about chopping fingers off by accident with the bread knife, and I was probably only 11 when I cut part of my thumb off, and the baby fell off the kitchen counter and cut open his chin (at the same time). Mum was with us in casualty but she hadn't been in the house at the time of the accidents. She was next door I think, and we used to bang 3 times on the sitting room wall if we needed an adult from next door to come round.

My brother still has the scar on his chin and it reminds me not to put my own children on the kitchen counter - in hindsight it was stupid to leave such a clumsy 11 year old who lacked common sense to look after siblings of 10, 6 and 1 but she was only out of the house for 5 minutes, probably.

It felt 'safe' to leave us because we had the 'bang on the wall' agreement with the neighbours I suppose, and she was either at the neighbours or a few doors down, but she always checked that the neighbours were in and happy to be on call for a few minutes.

I suppose it depends on what arrangements are in place - but even so 7 is too young.

kelloggs36

Originally Posted by Quote
What's the alternative? Take them all to the shops? You can't monitor children 24/7.

Er, yes. Why is that unreasonable? Taking 3 children to the shops is not that difficult - inconvenient maybe, but fgs suggesting that it is a reason to leave them unattended is totally irresponsible!!! What he is doing is saying that getting a packet of fags is more important than his children.