Nipping To The Shop

[Wobbles]

What age were you happy to leave your smaller peoples just to nip to the shop?

I've not popped to the shop without them but it got me wondering when they moaned about me dragging them there over the weekend.

x

 

[Natasha2605]

For us, My girls are nearly 8 and 6 and the shop is literally a two minute walk away. I leave them if I need to go. They’re usually to engrossed in their games or tablets or whatever they’re doing to ever really notice.

They know not to answer the door or go out to play whilst I’m gone so I’ve no issues or hesitations.

 

[bluebell]

Hmm, I'm not sure. Our LO is 9 and we let him go out and around the village on his own (with his phone) and I've left him in the car to pop into the supermarket but not at home. I think potentially within the next year or so I'd feel happy to pop out for max 10 mins if he and I both had our phones for emergencies.

It's a bit weird that I'm happy for him to go out without me but not the other way around lol

xx

 

[Wobbles]

Thanks ladies.

I know it's also down to the kids sometimes too. I think I would trust my youngest over the eldest and by that I only mean I find Caitlin clumsy, I get nervous about her walking down the stairs because she seems to just trip over her own feet etc

I've nipped into a shop when parked outside with em but I lock the door and my youngest hates being locked in so that is rare but I can't go into the supermarket without them. Like you say though now I've thought about it before I moved I let them go to the local park for an hour on their own!

Just wondered what was norm for other parents x

 

[SarahBear]

My oldest is 5 and my husband will set her up with a video and walk the dog without her sometimes.

 

[LoraLoo]

10-11ish depending on the child? Deff no younger for me n itd literally be driving to corner shop (2 mins and back)

I've only just started leaving a couple of the kids with my eldest if I need to pop out for say 30 mins top and even then I have to take at least 2 with me cos they argue and she can't cope 😂...shes 18 this year 😑

 

[pompeyvix]

I personally wouldn't feel comfortable leaving mine at home alone for a long while yet. I get my oldest is only 5 but I don't see me changing my mind any time soon. She is sensible and cautious but I still wouldn't. Perhaps 9 or 10? I really don't know at this stage. I may feel differently as they grow up

 

[Natsku]

I've been leaving Maria since she was 6.5 on occasions when she didn't want to come with, but then she had to be home alone after school for half an hour/an hour a couple days a week from that age anyway. She has a GPS thingy where she can press a button to alert me so I can call her if there's a problem - I wouldn't leave her without some way to communicate with me.

 

[minties]

Absolutely no way I would leave an under 10 alone. The idea horrifies me. Our laws are a bit hard to enterpret, but I don't think leaving a child under 14 is advised anyway. If something happened, not only would something bad have happened to your child, but you could end up in jail for inadequate supervision here

 

[Wobbles]

I think it's younger here but laws can be different in different Countries ... It says a child under 12 shouldn't be left for long periods. Just more interested what others do.

Mine are 9 (in 2 weeks) and 10 x

 

[Natsku]

I don't think they have a specific age in the law here, it's quite normal for children to be left alone after school from the 1st grade (so 7 years old) and pretty much expected from the 3rd grade as there's no afterschool care then (9 years) so I expect most parents start with shorter times like nipping to the shops before that.

 

[SarahBear]

I remember being home alone with my sisters after school around 4th or 5th grade. So around 8-10 for me and about 9-11 for them. I think a lot of kids in the 8-10 range would be just fine for a short bit.

 

[Eleanor ace]

My eldest is only 6.5 so this is still a way off for me, but I would imagine maybe around 10? That seems very young but I can imagine it won't once he hits that age. Year 6's at my children's school are allowed to walk themselves in and many do, so I imagine by then we'll be thinking about them being on their own in and out of the house for short periods. The idea terrifies me!

 

[misspriss]

Way off for me, but no way before 12-14 honestly. That said, we live a far distance from any stores. It'd be a 15+ minute drive to the nearest big store. Maybe a pop down to the local gas station at 10-12, but I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be with that. It's a long time off and it depends on what kind of technology we have at that point. If I have a security system with cameras I can access from afar, I'd feel more comfortable than if I didn't. If kids had phones I'd feel different. I guess it will be a bridge we will cross when we get there.

Also though where we plan to move it would be next door to family, that would change the equation. If the neighbors were home and responsible and know I'd be popping out, that would change the equation as well.

 

[Gym knickers]

I can’t ev n contemplate leaving my 5 year old alone anywhere in the near future, she’d be terrified, and so would I! Maybe around 10-12?

 

[Natsku]

Waiting until 14?! At 16 teenagers can move out and live on their own!

 

[LoraLoo]

Waiting until 14?! At 16 teenagers can move out and live on their own!

But at the same time leaving a child at 5 is horrifying to most of us. I think cultural differences come in here as i cant imagine anyone in the Uk leaving a 5 year old alone. If they were seen doing that, its likely Social services would become involved.

 

[Natasha2605]

Waiting until 14?! At 16 teenagers can move out and live on their own!

But at the same time leaving a child at 5 is horrifying to most of us. I think cultural differences come in here as i cant imagine anyone in the Uk leaving a 5 year old alone. If they were seen doing that, its likely Social services would become involved.

Probably a location thing too. I know of plenty parents around here that leave their 5/6 year olds playing out in the street whilst they go about their business (shops/errands) etc for hours on end with no thought of what their kids could be doing. Crazy. And admittedly the kids are wild.

 

[LoraLoo]

Waiting until 14?! At 16 teenagers can move out and live on their own!

But at the same time leaving a child at 5 is horrifying to most of us. I think cultural differences come in here as i cant imagine anyone in the Uk leaving a 5 year old alone. If they were seen doing that, its likely Social services would become involved.

Probably a location thing too. I know of plenty parents around here that leave their 5/6 year olds playing out in the street whilst they go about their business (shops/errands) etc for hours on end with no thought of what their kids could be doing. Crazy. And admittedly the kids are wild.

Yeah location would come into it too I think but that is just negligent imo

 

[Natsku]

Waiting until 14?! At 16 teenagers can move out and live on their own!

But at the same time leaving a child at 5 is horrifying to most of us. I think cultural differences come in here as i cant imagine anyone in the Uk leaving a 5 year old alone. If they were seen doing that, its likely Social services would become involved.

Cultural differences for the lower age for sure, but surely anywhere waiting until 14 is a bit too late for a child with no additional needs?