leaving children on their own?

FBaby

poet123 wrote: »

No, because, like the poster above I would expect anything else to be considered as a child protection issue unless it was an emergency.

What emergency? OK to leave a child not ready to be alone if it is an emergency but not otherwise? That doesn't make sense.

As for the child protection business, thankfully, most people don't think like you. I have never made a secret that my boy was occasionally left alone at his age, nor that he took the bus home, that includes his teacher and other people who have a responsibility to inform the authority in case of suspect child neglect. What do you think no one ever called SS?

By the way, I am far from the only one in my circle who has left children home alone at that age, so we can't all be completely irresponsible. Many kids in my son's class walk home alone.

poet123

glitter_fairy wrote: »

But if thats the case why does the law not say?

Because it is a judgement call, but those involved with children would err on the side of caution and follow guidelines such as:
https://www.gov.uk/law-on-leaving-your-child-home-alone

And this article makes interesting reading:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/shortcuts/2012/apr/23/reasonable-leave-children-home-alone

poet123

FBaby wrote: »

You go on and on about the 'age' which is nothing more than a number. Secondary school is a good marker on which basis? Just because you think it is? For all the secondary kids just because they are over the age of 12?

What if you meant my boy, not knowing his age, and after talking to him about life, what he would do in an emergency etc... you decided that you thought he was 12. Would you say he was ready to be left alone because you thought he was 12? Would you change your mind just because you then realised that he was 9?

You decided that your children were not ready to be left alone before they were 12 or 13. That was your view that they were not ready before. I know my boy was ready at 9 probably on the exact same basis that you did, it is just that my boy was capable of making decisions appropriately at a younger age.

It is the accepted age as per the guidelines shown above.

You didn't answer my question re the 4 year old.

glitter_fairy

poet123 wrote: »

It is the accepted age as per the guidelines shown below.

You didn't answer my question re the 4 year old.

no one has said 4 is ok to leave.

zagfles

poet123 wrote: »

I doubt anyone would disagree, but at nine they are still very much a child, and as such need supervision.



That applies at any age though, you could say that a baby asleep in a pram is at less risk by being left alone than they are being pushed along a pavement. That doesn't mean you would/should take that option.

But risk isn't even the primary concern there, the baby may wake and want feeding need his nappy changing, just want a cuddle etc. Anyway as I said above it's a strawman, nobody is talking about leaving babies alone, we're talking about leaving children alone who are happy to be left alone and have proved they are mature enough.

The idea you can draw a line at secondary school age is just ridiculous, some 9 year olds will be more mature than some 12 year olds. That's why there is no age stipulated in law.

poet123

zagfles wrote: »

But risk isn't even the primary concern there, the baby may wake and want feeding need his nappy changing, just want a cuddle etc. Anyway as I said above it's a strawman, nobody is talking about leaving babies alone, we're talking about leaving children alone who are happy to be left alone and have proved they are mature enough.

The idea you can draw a line at secondary school age is just ridiculous, some 9 year olds will be more mature than some 12 year olds. That's why there is no age stipulated in law.

That may change as Action For children are lobbying for a law to clearly give a specified age.

FBaby

poet123 wrote: »

It is the accepted age as per the guidelines shown above.

You didn't answer my question re the 4 year old.

If a 4 yo could act responsibly, know right from wrong in terms of looking after themselves at home, know what to do in an emergency, was happy to stay alone etc..., then yes, I would think it acceptable, but I'm still to meet such a child

zagfles

poet123 wrote: »

That may change as Action For children are lobbying for a law to clearly give a specified age.

I think one of the problems with stiplating an age in law is that some people would then think it's OK to leave any child over 12 alone, because the law says so. Some 12 year olds aren't mature enough to be left alone, some 9 year olds are. I doubt this has any chance of happening.

What the NSPCC say is quite sensible http://www.nspcc.org.uk/help-and-advice/for-parents-and-carers/parenting-advice/home-alone/home-alone_wda90761.html

FBaby

poet123 wrote: »

That may change as Action For children are lobbying for a law to clearly give a specified age.

They have done so for some time but will never get there, just because it is common sense that some 12 yo are not capable of looking after themselves, just like some 9 are.

poet123

FBaby wrote: »

If a 4 yo could act responsibly, know right from wrong in terms of looking after themselves at home, know what to do in an emergency, was happy to stay alone etc..., then yes, I would think it acceptable, but I'm still to meet such a child

Nice save;) and the reason we do need clarification, because if anyone really would even consider that a possibility or if there could be those for whom "needs must" then imo it is imperative that we do have legal constraints in place.