Leaving child home alone

[Begborrowsteal]

Gosh, I know it really does depend on the child but 7 seems so young! (I have a 6yr old)

 

[Jaybtee]

You leave a child alone with a dog??

umm yes he is her dog and he sleeps all day! My daughter is nearly 11 not a small child who would annoy her own pet. I dont see the problem I had a dog growing up too that we were left alone with thats just life

 

[HarJR289]

I can’t believe the reaction being left with a dog has! My son is 10 and not yet been left on his own but I wouldn’t hesitate to leave him with our dog when it comes to it, I also know that he would feel safer with our dog in the house with him. When he starts comp in September he will be letting himself in until I finish work and I feel better knowing he’ll have a dopey lab chuffed to see him than a empty house. I feel happy with my dog being left with my child as much as I feel happy staying with my dog on my own. I work for the police and I know top officers leave their elder kids with the family dog - never even occurred to me!

 

[ElliotM]

I left my son for the first time alone at home at the age of 7 years. I left him for an hour, everything was okay. Now he is 11 and we can leave him alone at home for even a night but we are not doing this.

 

[Homebird44]

Really doesn’t make it any more acceptable! I was a kid in the 80s, I know what it was like but my parents would never have done this.

Well i'm still alive. I was very independent from a young age, knew how to pay bills, clean and cook. I wouldn't have done it when mine were that age but people parent their own way.

An 11 year old is not streetwise.

Why are you arguing? My children were. They walked to school and went out with their friends. My youngest is away at uni and went on holiday with her friends abroad at 17.

 

[Homebird44]

Which is wrong. Why would a young child of 9/10/11 be streetwise? Why would a child of that age be in a position where they would already be “streetwise” if not because they were being left alone and had no choice?

Street wise just means that they can walk to school by themselves and have a bit of common sense. Wrapping them in cotton wool and panicking if they're on their own won't help them when they need to be independent.

 

[Blowup80]

So if you are at work and your dog is at home and your child is now old enough to start coming home from school and let themselves in for an hour before you get back you need to either find somewhere for the dog to go as it's irresponsible to leave that child alone with the dog or not let the child be home alone with the dog thus not allowing the child the responsibility they need to start experiencing before secondary school? Seriously?

 

[Snippysnips]

Which is wrong. Why would a young child of 9/10/11 be streetwise? Why would a child of that age be in a position where they would already be “streetwise” if not because they were being left alone and had no choice?

I don't understand what your problem is, why is it wrong for a young child to be "streetwise" at a young age, I was streetwise from a incredible young age an it was nothing to do with being left alone at that time, it was to do with my parents being responsible enough to teach me everything and to make me streetwise so that when the time come that I was being left or had to walk home from school that I was more than ready because I had been taught these things and knew all the dangers, there's absolutely nothing wrong with teaching them to be like that at incredible young age, you are aware things like school trips exist yes? It is better for them to be wise as soon as they start school than not teach them a thing, while teachers do look out for kids on school trips its still better if the child knows the dangers, jeezz at 4 I could give my entire address, phone number, close contacts, allergies etc knew all about road dangers an stranger danger, how to exit a house on fire, an more but I certainly wasn't being left at 4

 

[Justreading]

Thank you for the replies! Seems around now is the normal age so I'm glad I asked for reassurance. I left him twice, for max 20 mins each time and he was absolutely fine. Not sure I'd make a habit of it just yet, but in the circumstances it's handy knowing he could do it. Kids definitely grow up too fast though, this is not something I want to rush into being normal!

 

[stacelou85]

I left my son for the first time alone at home at the age of 7 years. I left him for an hour, everything was okay. Now he is 11 and we can leave him alone at home for even a night but we are not doing this.

I'm guessing your joking or trolling.

 

[HarJR289]

I really need to loosen up. My child is 6 and I can't imagine leaving her alone in a years time for any time at all.

I'm not judging, perhaps I am a bit too over protective.

You don’t need to loosen up, 7 is way too young! I’ve got a 6 year old too and there’s no way she’ll be getting left until she’s 10 minimum and that’s only the assumption she’ll have a 14 year old brother in with her at the same time.

 

[Kim Mild]

It's probably safer for kids to be in the house themselves that it isfor them to be roaming round the street and their parents don't know know where they are.

 

[Justreading]

I can’t believe the reaction being left with a dog has! My son is 10 and not yet been left on his own but I wouldn’t hesitate to leave him with our dog when it comes to it, I also know that he would feel safer with our dog in the house with him. When he starts comp in September he will be letting himself in until I finish work and I feel better knowing he’ll have a dopey lab chuffed to see him than a empty house. I feel happy with my dog being left with my child as much as I feel happy staying with my dog on my own. I work for the police and I know top officers leave their elder kids with the family dog - never even occurred to me!

I have to be honest I've read all comments but not really taken much notice of the dog part of it, I've only just realised that when I did go out and leave my 9 year old, the dog was with him! She probably didn't notice I'd gone as much as he didn't, but I did it without thinking because it's a non issue for me and shes just part of the family. She's as placid as they come and I trust her 10000%. Next time I leave him the dog will be with him too and I wouldn't think twice

 

[Kim Mild]

An 11 year old is not streetwise.

Some kids are extremely streetwise from a young age.

 

[LittleMy]

I couldn’t imagine leaving my child home alone for any amount of time at 7, mostly because he has additional support needs. The youngest I was ever left at home on my own was 10, and then I was babysitting my younger brother and cousins by the time I was 12 (I was a very responsible child so I can see why that was considered ok at the time). It all depends on the child I think, some are more mature than others although I still feel 7 is pretty young imo.

 

[BettyCrockerr]

Anyone who prioritises going out on the piss over caring for a young child is an arsehole. Leaving a kid of 11 in a hotel, alone, is neglect. Absolute scumbag.

 

[Blowup80]

I really need to loosen up. My child is 6 and I can't imagine leaving her alone in a years time for any time at all.

I'm not judging, perhaps I am a bit too over protective.

Not over protective. Just sensible

 

[Begborrowsteal]

I think the generations stay kids longer now which is honestly a good thing, kids now have it easier than what I did an I had it easier than my folks did etc while 7 was young to be left alone I feel like we had to grow up quicker back then, at 7 I could do all house work, washings, cooking, hovering, ironing etc, I couldn't imagine my cousins kids doing all that at 7 but life was different back then

Honestly if they can stay kids as long as possible let them, it's short enough as it is, it's nice to know that people are thinking 10 is now a good age to leave kids alone for short times than 7 is

Oh definitely. My boy is a 'young' 6 and i love it. That innocence is just i dont want to rush it away

 

[Snippysnips]

Oh definitely. My boy is a 'young' 6 and i love it. That innocence is just i dont want to rush it away

That's lovely, keep him as young for as long as you can it isn't long before they are grown

 

[Snippysnips]

Gosh, I know it really does depend on the child but 7 seems so young! (I have a 6yr old)

I think the generations stay kids longer now which is honestly a good thing, kids now have it easier than what I did an I had it easier than my folks did etc while 7 was young to be left alone I feel like we had to grow up quicker back then, at 7 I could do all house work, washings, cooking, hovering, ironing etc, I couldn't imagine my cousins kids doing all that at 7 but life was different back then

Honestly if they can stay kids as long as possible let them, it's short enough as it is, it's nice to know that people are thinking 10 is now a good age to leave kids alone for short times than 7 is