Home Alone???

welf_man

Hi, all - I'm a Child Protection social worker so know this one!

It is not (sadly!) illegal to leavea child of any age home alone. However, if the child is under about 10 and is left without adequate food, drink, entertainment etc. or was locked in with no means of escape at any age, then the parent/carer(s) would probably be charged with neglect or reckless endangerment if they were found out.

Oddly, if children under 16 are injured by a fire in the home when alone, then the parent/carer(s) can be charged with a specific crime whose name escapes me.

Children under 13 cannot work for wages except in very specific circumstances (e.g. acting / modelling, when the parent/carer stands as wage earner on their behalf) hence the references to being over 13. If you're not going to pay your kids a commercial wage, it doesn't count!

To answer the specific query (though it looks as though OP doesn't need the answer now!), I would have to say it does depend very much on individual circumstances. I personally think children can be left briefly (say half-an-hour, gradually increasing) from about 10 as long as the parent/carer(s) are sure that they will be able to get help quickly - and would do so! - if there is a problem.

If these were my kids (mine are 10 and 22, so a bit different!) then I'd look at them as individuals rather than thinking of the older one as being in charge. That way, if the younger one is sensible enough to seek help if s/he was worried about anything then it takes the pressure off the older one.

Glad it's worked out for you, OP!

Mel.

Spendless

My only sibling is 7 years younger than me and I was left 'babysitting' from age 11:eek: , only for a few hours. Eventually I grew resentful that this was expected of me. What might start off as excitement at being left alone and in charge on week 1 might not be the same come week 6.


If it was me, I'd allow the older one to stop at home, with house rules in place but put the younger one into a holiday playscheme for the day.

dora37

Spendless wrote:

If it was me, I'd allow the older one to stop at home, with house rules in place but put the younger one into a holiday playscheme for the day.

That is what I would do too.....older one gets her independence without the responsibility of the younger one.....the younger one has fun.:T

JWM

Just read this for the first time – and re the OP’s original question, you know your children best, it sounds like you gave the matter a great deal of thought. I’m glad everything’s now worked out well.

However….black-saturn you seem to be a very judgemental, unsympathetic person. Or were you just trying to cause trouble?

Obviously children come first, however you will find that most people (and that even includes mothers!) need to work to pay for rent, food, childcare etc etc etc. The OP was asking for our thoughts on her plan for her children’s welfare. It is none of your business WHY she needs to do this, and to suggest that the OP’s job is more important to her than her children is just plain nasty.

I see that you have many posts. Surely you have learnt in the time that offering constructive advice is always the best way, insults are really not appreciated, and as an adult you should be above that.

I think you owe the OP an apology.

black-saturn

JWM wrote:

It is none of your business WHY she needs to do this

Why ask for advice then?

lynseyf

I think if you treat children with a bit of respect and teach them common sense then they will be ok. If you molly coddle them they are far more likely to go off the rails at the first sign of freedom.

I'm only 27 but people seem to be so over protective of their kids these days. My mum worked part time when I was at primary school and so was mostly around but if I was sick I would be left in the house alone. If I had a headache or was feeling feverish I knew perfectly well where the paracetamal was kept and would take 1 myself, sometimes I would call my mum first just to check it was ok but I think locking things away adds to their allure. I would never have taken too many as my parents explained what they were and what would happen if you took too many, have kids really become so stupid so as to not understand a simple idea like this?

Its like the problems with the school run. The roads are jammed with overprotective parents who drive their kids to school, you have to let them out of your sight sometime!

xela_17

black-saturn wrote:

Why ask for advice then?

She asked for people's thoughts and advice on her proposed plan of action. WHY she was proposing this plan of action is nobody's business.

black-saturn

xela_17 wrote:

She asked for people's thoughts and advice on her proposed plan of action. WHY she was proposing this plan of action is nobody's business.

OK fair enough.

Savvy_Sue

It's true that there are far fewer holiday playschemes once children hit secondary school, but there are still some about, and they seem to involve lots of fun activities.

Just wish I could ever have persuaded my lot to go to one, because I think they'd have had a whale of a time!

And it is the dynamics of the children that affect any decisions, more than the actual ages of the children. My older two are very solid, sensible chaps, always have been, and I've quite happily left them at home with no problems. The youngest, now 14, winds them up something chronic, however, so he is more of a problem!

Spendless

The holiday playschemes here are either run by the 'wrap-around' care people at the local primarys. They will usually let children from any school go in the hols if they have places, but priority goes to children who go to the attached school and have attended breakfast and asc in term-time. As Savvy Sue has said ours only take children upto yr 6.

You can have full or half days times are roughly 8ish-6ish and vary in price from £14-£20 a day.

There are also schemes run at leisure centres which are slightly less times and usually cheaper in price but child has to be 8 before attending but they will take them upto age 14.

We also had a brochure saying what activities were being run in each area. Yesterday my 6 year old went to football at the local school being run by our football team cost me £2 for 3 hours.