leaving children on their own?

Threebabes

I've a 9 year old and i would most definitley not leave her alone with a 10 year old for that length of time. I would never have to though with her having older siblings.

I will leave her with her sister nearly 13 for 45/60 mins max, which I dont like to do, though the 13 yr old is very very sensible. We leave her as long as need be if DS is in, who is 17 1/2.

So I've not been in the position to have to do it, I just wouldn't feel very happy doing it. Though at that age my sister (twin) and I were left.

Only you know how they will cope.

FBaby

trevorsminted wrote: »

If its food on the table your local Job Centre shall give you food tokens and sorry you leave dogs at home not young kids who could set house on fire pull wardrobe on top of them (google woman whos twin boys did that) etc etc lots of unforseen things can happen, and i agree with kids come first, rearrange the meeting look after your kids properly!

Ha ha, my kids have never shown any tendencies to want to do any of these things. The idea of being able to be naughty because they are on their own is not in their nature. But then they have been brought up to be responsible and mature, it probably helps....

In regards to the neighbours, how about making Easter the opportunity to knock on the door and say hello?

moneysaymoneydo

Personally wouldnt do it as someone said even though you think they are mature they are still deep down children and if anything did happen you would never forgive yourself, for the sake of a meeting? unless life or death even then i wouldnt feel right i would be sitting through the meeting thinking ive left 2 kids under 12 on their own. In theory it is illegal (i know it doesnt actually say that in nspcc notes) but at the end of the day its your call only you can make the moral decision and live with the consequences of anything happening, you know by the papers many instances of children being 'left' and things happening, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

FBaby

By the way, it is English parents who have such an issue with expecting their children to show some maturity at that age. Go to anywhere on the continent and children that age and younger are left on their own without question. They don't have more accidents. They just don't have over protective parents who undermines what their kids can do.

glitter_fairy

FBaby wrote: »

Ha ha, my kids have never shown any tendencies to want to do any of these things. The idea of being able to be naughty because they are on their own is not in their nature. But then they have been brought up to be responsible and mature, it probably helps....

In regards to the neighbours, how about making Easter the opportunity to knock on the door and say hello?

Thats not a bad idea actually x

LEJC

OP...ive re read your original post....are you asking about the legal side of whether you can leave your children alone...or the moral side of it?

....you also have to make the decision yourself as to whether you and their dad want to take the chace on leaving your daughters alone in the house whilst you are both working...no one else can make that desision for you,and if you are hoping that in a straw poll here 70% of posters will tell you its ok...then it doesn't work that way either...
Those children are your responsibility....end of...if something happens to them...it your fault.
Is the money you earn tomorrow from seeing a client worth the gamble.....you choose.

System

FBaby wrote: »

By the way, it is English parents who have such an issue with expecting their children to show some maturity at that age. Go to anywhere on the continent and children that age and younger are left on their own without question. They don't have more accidents. They just don't have over protective parents who undermines what their kids can do.

I noticed this when I was living abroad in my third year at university. People would leave a 6 or 7 year old on their own in the house for a while, and ask the neighbour to look in on them from time to time. I think the trouble here is that OP doesn't know any neighbours.

skylight

Two laptops with cameras?

You can then view the kids from wherever you are, constantly.

ognum

OP this is not actually about how your children, how well they behave, how trustworthy they are. It is about the unexpected and no one knows what that is!

moneysaymoneydo

That is so true Ognam its funny but kids act a certain way when adults not there, goad each other on. We can think our kids so mature, so this so that but still kids at the end of the day. I would be glad to help if i was a neighbour rather than thinking 2 kids been left home alone, i know when we were young but that was different times.

On the other hand if i was a neighbour that knew you had left 2 minors home alone sorry but i would be calling the police!