At what age would you leave kids alone while you holiday

Pixie5740

Having heard about the state that some people's homes were left in when I was at school and they were left home alone your neighbour is a braver (or maybe that is more stupid) woman than I.

Mojisola

FBaby wrote: »

I think nowadays, with skype and the rest, it's a lot easier to consider leaving teenagers alone at home.

But it also opens the possibility of word spreading very quickly that there is a house without any adults available for anyone who wants to turn up.

The three kids left at home may not want loads of people turning up and using the house but how would they stop them?

scaredofdebt

Not enough info to comment really, have they been left alone before? I wouldn't go from never having left them alone overnight at all, to going away for 7 days.

I have a 3, 13, 15 and 17 year old, obviously we wouldn't leave the 3 year old (even with the 17 year old) overnight as it's too risky on several levels. We would probably leave the eldest two alone overnight but not for more than 1 night, the risks of something going wrong multiply over time of course.

The 13 year old often starts a fight with the 15 year old so we never leave them alone for more than a couple of hours!

Comms69

Not sure why the 'police being there' is such an issue.


The police can turn up for any old reason, including many which are just nosey neighbours overreacting. Nothing says he was convicted of anything.


As others have said it's down to individual choices; but I was 16 when I was left on my own for a week. Now each to their own, but I just played computer games for 7 days straight.

Pollycat

Comms69 wrote: »

Not sure why the 'police being there' is such an issue.


The police can turn up for any old reason, including many which are just nosey neighbours overreacting. Nothing says he was convicted of anything.


As others have said it's down to individual choices; but I was 16 when I was left on my own for a week. Now each to their own, but I just played computer games for 7 days straight.

Same question to you:

Pollycat wrote: »

But were you responsible for 2 younger siblings...?

Comms69

Pollycat wrote: »

Same question to you:

For a week? no.


For odd days/nights here and there yes (well one younger sibling)


I was just suggesting that the idea of big parties etc. is not always the case.

Pollycat

Comms69 wrote: »

I was just suggesting that the idea of big parties etc. is not always the case.

My point was that you said you were left alone for a week at the age of 16 - same as the OP's neighbour's son.

The OP's neighbour's son has a 15 year old and a 13 year old presumably in their care - not the same as you.

Comms69

Pollycat wrote: »

My point was that you said you were left alone for a week at the age of 16 - same as the OP's neighbour's son.

The OP's neighbour's son has a 15 year old and a 13 year old presumably in their care - not the same as you.

That's no really what I was getting at.


Neither of us knows these people. The 13 year old could cook every family meal for all we know (granted its unlikely, but judging purely on age doesn't seem fair)


I wasn't justifying any position, simply sharing.

silvercar

This thread is interesting when compared to ones about the age people would be for baby sitting. I wonder if the people that insist that baby sitters are at least 16, the same ones that won't leave their youngsters home alone?

Fireflyaway

My parents left me at home for a long weekend when I was 15. I have no siblings and they knew my best friend would be found most of the time and I was a responsible young person. However I ended up getting together with the neighbours son. I also experimented with some alcohol. now as an adult I feel terrible and it's made me realize even those apparently sensible kids do silly things. I know I won't leave my daughter alone until at least 18. It's also other kids that might turn up uninvited and cause trouble that's the worry.