Would you leave a nine year old home alone?

*max*

No, not unless it was a dire emergency

Just remembered, I even babysat my 9 month old cousin when I was 11, for 2 hours. Great fun and I felt super cool! Mind you, he was sleeping nearly the whole time, boring baby...:p He's a truck driver now.

Kaz2904

Yes, because of necessity only

I have left DS (9) on his own. I felt he was perhaps too young to be alone but he was feeling rubbish and wanted to be left alone. TBH, I felt I could trust him as I had been in bed asleep all day after a night shift and he hadn't killed either of us

pigpen

Other please state.

why is there not a 'no, not ever' option???

I wouldn't even consider leaving a 9 y/o home alone.. insane suggestion... I am a bit shocked anyone would consider it was acceptable. I'd come back to find the house fallen down/in flames/flooded or something just as undesirable.

pigpen

Other please state.

eezer wrote: »

This Syrian kid is apparently 8. Puts things into perspective...

Well that's ok then.. we will get them all cigarettes and guns and they'll be absolutely fine left home alone too... I'd roll my smiley eyes if I could.

sparrer

Other please state.

pigpen wrote: »

why is there not a 'no, not ever' option???

I wouldn't even consider leaving a 9 y/o home alone.. insane suggestion... I am a bit shocked anyone would consider it was acceptable. I'd come back to find the house fallen down/in flames/flooded or something just as undesirable.

As there isn't a' no, not ever' option I had to vote 'Other, please state'. There are no circumstances that would cause me to leave my 9 y/o alone. If people can't accept their responsibilities as parents don't have children. Simples.

conradmum

Yes, from choice

My son's nine and yes, I do leave him home alone sometimes, through choice. In the days of larger families children his age and younger were routinely left in charge of their siblings. I was left alone a lot from the age of eight. The worst thing I ever did was entangle one of my mum's rollers in my hair. She had to cut it out. :rotfl:

I'm not sure what's changed in British society but in most other countries people would think there's some problem if you wouldn't leave your nine year old home alone. Other nations seem to have higher expectations of their children.

*max*

No, not unless it was a dire emergency

pigpen wrote: »

why is there not a 'no, not ever' option???

I wouldn't even consider leaving a 9 y/o home alone.. insane suggestion... I am a bit shocked anyone would consider it was acceptable. I'd come back to find the house fallen down/in flames/flooded or something just as undesirable.

My mum was a single mother, not through choice, and she had to work. Simple as that. I'm sure if I hadn't been sensible, she'd have found a way for me to have a minder, but there was no need.

I also didn't have older siblings to look after me. It was just her and me. No choice. Luckily for both of us, I was sensible enough.

bestpud

I think it depends entirely on the child but my starting position would be 'no'.

Dunroamin

Yes, from choice

pigpen wrote: »

why is there not a 'no, not ever' option???

I wouldn't even consider leaving a 9 y/o home alone.. insane suggestion... I am a bit shocked anyone would consider it was acceptable. I'd come back to find the house fallen down/in flames/flooded or something just as undesirable.

Why would you think that a 9 year old that you'd brought up would start to destroy your house as soon as you left?

*max*

No, not unless it was a dire emergency

Dunroamin wrote: »

Why would you think that a 9 year old that you'd broght up would start to destroy your house as soon as you left?

Same question. I mean, how the heck does one bring up one's kids that you would be afraid of them setting the house on fire?