As a social worker, I get asked this a lot. As someone else has stated, there is technically no law on this. However, we class leaving a young child unattended as neglect and that itself has serious consequences (sometimes with social services, and sometimes with the police).
We work on the general rule that at 13, a mature child could be left alone for a few hours after school (a short walk to and from school alone at 10-11 is also acceptable). Any younger than that and we would investigate (and I have done, numerous times).I'm sure this won't go down well with some people who think that 7 year olds are fit to look after themselves but I think it is very justified.
I am well aware that different countries have different guidance and laws etc, but guidance and laws aside, what parent in their right mind would leave a 6 or 7 year old alone for any length of time???? How hard is it to put them in the car and take them with you? It's not teaching them independence, it's irresponsible.
My children and their safety and well-being are my number one priority, not ensuring I can get to work and 'popping to the shops for 5 mins'.
I am truly horrified by some if the responses I have read on the his thread. Shame on some of you.
i actually agree with you, although i dont agree with your later post that children under 16 years shouldn't be left overnight.
all through primary school my mum walked me and my sister to school, there was only really one road to cross which was at the top of the street, the next one was a crossing right outside school, maybe she walked up both as my sister is 5 years younger than me, but even when i was in high school she always walked my sister, and she is more street wise than i ever was..
I do think that when people say they wouldnt leave their 7-8 year old alone while they pop out for 10 mins, not really because they dont feel safe, maybe deep down they feel they are neglecting their child.
I guess i wouldnt really know until it comes to it.
My OH's neice and nephew are 8 & 9, their school is literally 2 mins walk, they could easily stand at the gate and watch them walk to school, but they dont, they are walked to school, my OH thinks they should be left to walk alone, but IDK i think i would still walk them in and pick them up.
i couldnt imagine them being left alone while their mum went to the shop for 10 mins, i mean even just simple things that i know at 20 YO ive done my self, i once knocked the knob on the cooker and turned it on, luckily the hob was clear and i noticed after a few mins, ive also moved the kettle which has got caught under the steriliser turning it on, it couldnt pop back up because the lip of the steriliser was in the way, again luckily i was still in the room so i noticed, but if i can make a simple mistake like that at 20 im sure no matter how mature a 8 & 9 year old could too, OHs nephew (9) also once plugged something into a extention, 5 mins later i touched the plug and it was scolding, because he didnt put it in properly, for all we know any min that could have set on fire.
But in the same sense, their dad is extremely lazy and on school holidays while mum is at work he stays in bed, sometimes until 11-12 the kids are left in the living room, Nephew usually on xbox or both glued to tv, with no one there to tell them not to be glued to tv they hardly move anyway, so is this much different?
also i know how curious little minds can be, OHs nephew once pinched a lighter and got curous about fire, he was playing with it in his bedroom and started a very small fire, not because he wanted to be naughty but as i say he was curious, he does know the dangers of fire, but in the heat of the moment it obviously didnt cross his mind
I know someone who once when young child was asleep (about 5) she would quickly nip a few doors up for 10 mins to speak to neighbor, surely this is the same as going to shop? child is asleep, if they stay asleep what damage could be done..
No personally i dont think i would, i do think its quite irresponsible to leave children probably under 11-12 for any time wether it be 10 mins or a hour, no matter how mature you have brought them up, id much rather have a stroppy 9 YO with me than have to live with my self incase anything happened..
he would have been about 5/6 
