Whats the best age to let children be left alone on there own at home or out?
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In my opinion it depends on trust/intelligent and capability to be left alone, or either can be left with a older friend or older relative, groups of boys are often mistaken for bad gangs, girly gangs mistaken for prostitutes. Whats your opinion?
Answers (7)
Hi Sunflower apparently there is no legal age limit on leaving children alone which does surprise me, however the law does say it is an offence to leave a child when they maybe 'at risk'.
Yes I would agree it depends on the maturity and level of trust of the youngster and whether or not you would feel they are responsible enough to cope if a problem should arise.
I know I was left alone at fourteen and was babysitting for 7/6d for the evening but that was back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth.
Hi again, I found this after doing a little research, I wonder if helps.
Hi Sunflower
I think that as well as abiding by the Law, the parent would need to take into account the child and the circumstances in which they are going to be left.
My niece at 12 years (in my opinion) was not mature enough to be left on her own and definately not in charge of other children, but my mother-in-law was working full time at 14 years old.
This week when going shopping I spotted a little boy no older than 3 years old fast asleep in his parents car and all alone. I waited to see if they were just returning the trolley and after several minutes nobody turned up I thought that I should alert security at the supermarket - in my opinion there is no excuse for this kind of behaviour and any parent leaving a child alone at any age should make sure that their safety and welfare has been considered and provided for.
OH I dread hearing and reading stories of both children an animals left unattended in cars, how thoughtless and senseless are these people.
I find that little boy being left on his own in the car quite shocking, Vettriano. I'm glad you cared enough to alert security! I wouldn't leave a 3 year old alone anywhere, you did the right thing!
I am amazed that there is a generic age at which some 'professionals' believe a child can be left at home alone. I was a very responsible 9 year old and coming from a broken home I would sometimes be left on my own yet my two older brother's were more of a liability and somewhat irresponsible. As others have said the maturity of the child and their acceptance of their responsibility is something that just doesn't come with age but is determined by so many other factors.
How many times have people heard of disaster stories where the grown ups have gone out and come home to a trashed house because they left their child in charge and they saw this as a licence to have an open door policy?
I would be interested in knowing how an insurance company would deal with this outcome or any situation where a house or property is damaged because a child was left alone and by doing so the house caught fire etc.. I know very drastic but as an ex-social worker I have heard of parents being prosecuted for neglect because of leaving their children alone and a situation has arisen, which has required the intervention of neighbours and therefore the police. So where the 12 years of age guidance comes from, I don't know!!
after reading some of the comments on here, im left very bemused. Im ENGLISH through and through but my Irish grandmother on my mothers side was a Romany and the man she married was a Grenadier Guard and English. My mother (an Irish Roman Catholic) married my father, an Hungarian Jew who survived Auschwitz at age 13. My Italian Jewish grandparents did not. He came to England as a refugee in the 50's after the Hungarian uprising and my mother, who came from a poor family, emigrated to England for work so she could send money back home to her 12 brothers and sisters. But I am most definetly ENGLISH through and through as Im sure you are too. Im very tolerant, but like a child, I do not like to be told not to publically display my Christian Cross, nor do I like hearing that the people around me are no longer speaking the language that I was raised to speak, namely English, this is ENGLAND after all, Instead of the Italian, Hungarian or gaelic I know. I save those languages for when I am in those countries. Its called common courtesy. All immigrants, remember, you are in ENGLAND now. You chose us, not the other way round. You gave up your countries to live here. You are now ENGLISH PEOPLE, for better or worse, act like it. As for the original question. The age at which a child can be left alone still stands since the 1940's by law and that age is 13. Take care everyonex
I can't offer a specific age but I do think that children reach a mature/responsible state a lot later now than they used to. When I was young in the 70's I was very responsible, could be left alone, make my own meals to an extent and by eleven or so I could make a full roast dinner. I babysat for neighbours when I was barely teenage. I don't know of any 10, 12 (or even up to 18 for that matter) year olds who are remotely mature enough to be left alone or let loose in a kitchen - times have changed so much. Oh I sound so old............
my daughter is 21 and left home and rang me the other day on how to boil an egg lol so kids these days have everything done for them i do everything for my children my son is 17 and i wouldnt dream of letting him in the kitchen to cook something , i was just like you wendiew i baby sat at 12 years old cooked roast dinners at 13/14 , since i had my children i wouldnt dream of letting any 12 yr old babysit or cook a roast.
This is indeed a difficult question to give a stock answer to but I think there is a lot of sense in what you say about the maturity, intelligence and level of trust you can put in your children. The perception of fear out there is a lot greater than the reality but that doesn't mean there can be room for complacency. Indeed look at the case of Jo Yeates who was recently abducted and killed without known reason. No one is ever 100% safe wherever the are but in the same breath, you cannot put anyone in cotton wool and you have to venture out on your own at sometime. I started to leave my children alone probably around the age of 14 and I think they walked home from school at the age of 10 or 11. But as someone has said here, the question only arises if an incident happens or you are challenged in some way. Basically, I think that responsible adults breed responsible children. It's such a shame that there is gross irresponsibility out there.
Absolutely there snoopster we are of one mind!
Responsible parents is key and having lots of male children will lessen the worry. Females in this day and age have a lot to worry about I feel.
My friend David worries every time his girlfriend even walks back from work on her own as she has to walk through a muslim area. Its terrible because she is blonde and attractive she gets spat at and called names. What is it with the muslims and the so called religion of peace?
OD ... your thoughts were echoed in the last few days by the MP Jack Straw when he was at the wrath of the Asian Community for suggesting that Asian white men saw white English girls as 'easy meat'. My view is that if any group is going to take the established 'Engishness' out of this country by whetever means i.e. taking over shops almost mob handed, forming ghettos and 'no go' areas and high ranking criticism of centuries old British traditions such as celebrating Christmas or waving the national flag when appropriate, then they must, without exception, expect and understand the British point of view. Rightly or wrongly, Britain has indeed become a multi-cultural society and that change will no doubt continue until our society bears no relation to what it was say 60 years ago. The big question is how do we make it work so that safety never becomes an issue?
Alexander the Great couldnt make it work so I would also say it is unworkable.
I have a few Caribbean friends in London and Surrey and they say their communities are having the same problems with Pakistanis - There was a riot over the exact same issue some poor wee black girl was attacked by some pakistanis near a barbers shop and when their community found out it was all out war.
Strange it doesnt seem to be all Asians ie. Indians only the muslim element but i suppose with all the repression of women in their own countries they think its ok to do it here!
Yes I saw Jack Straw funny how things turn around as it was the BNP who have been saying the same thing for 10 years or more.
Its been going on for 20 years in Europe - its called tourne aronde (sorry if the spelling is wrong) it means take your turn - muslim rape gangs targetting white christian girls - I read one story of a young 15 year old who was attacked by 15 men - can you imagine how horrific and how can 15 men all have the same mindset - shocking is not the word.
Maybe 2012 wont be a zombie apocalypse after all maybe it will be the muslim-christian war at Meggido as foretold in the bible, with all the attacks on christians and jews it isnt that far from the truth - Two jewish women were out walking in the woods near Israel a few weeks ago and because the two guys in the forest they were in saw the Jewish star of david they decided to stab them to death - i mean what sort of religion encourages that behaviour - only one!
Well OD ( spoke from the hip as usual .... ) this all boils down to a few conclusions ... intolerance, ignorance, animalistic reactions and of course the proven inability to inegrate even under the cloud of equality and diversity laws. Every nation/culture will have its own traditions and beliefs, some fair, some irrational, some barbaric. Some cultures grow up with violence as an element within. Some cultures never see beyond the reasoning of their tribal mask.
And a common element among all nations/cultures is the need for power within, even supremacy.
If the world is going to live peacefully, and that would support a vibrant and effective global economy, then we all need to change as to how we perceive and accept each other.
I don't have any answers to that, after all it's hardly a one stop shop is it? I just don't think that uncontrolled integration/immigration is the way forward.
Yes im afraid you are right.
I am religious myself and have always believed but i think people have kept their heads in the sand for so long they are now stuck there.
Me I always say it as I feel it and experience it.
Not good to make decisions based on anything but real life experience.
Would be nice if everyone adopted the tenets of Jesus but its hard to be good - its just to easy to be bad!
Wow, this seemingly innocuous question has unleashed the tiger methinks.
I have no problem with living in a multi-racial society, but multi-culturalism is another matter entirely. Like it or not, Britain is a Christian country, living (largely) by Christian principles and following Christian traditions. Those who choose to live in our country and be welcomed into our society should respect those principles or go and live somewhere else.
I was horrified by a recent news story about institutional caterers using halal meat so as not to offend muslims. No thought for the Christians or indeed, those of no religious faith, who would be deeply offended by eating meat that had been slaughtered in such a barbaric way.
Can you imagine what would happen if we went to live in Pakistan and objected to the people observing Ramadan?
I'm afraid I feel a mega-rant coming on - I think I'd better go and lie down with a cup of strong tea.
Why should pakistan always get the blame for everything, its cruel.
Sunflower, I was not 'blaming Pakistan for everything' I was merely illustrating a point.
Hi folks ...Although tempting isn't it better to avoid discussing religion/race on this site. The issue only provokes and causes insults to flourish.
Sorry, Donk. I do agree with you but it's hard not get sucked in when people post things that are blatantly rubbish and are crying out to be corrected.
Sorry but as an ex police officer i can tell you the Pakistani community is responsible for the majority of fraud , high incidences of rape and domestic abuse and just about every other type of crime.
I only say as i have seen it.
Ask any police officer the truth.
Ask any African person down South the truth.
Jack Straw finally told what we have seen for the last 20 years!
It is also the most corrupt country in the world.
Its not a case of where there is smoke there is fire.
Its a case of where there is fire there is fire and I dont see why i should cower behind the racial barrier and not tell the truth as it is on the front line.
This is the problem Britain has.
And Pakistan is a problem britain has - just look at what the US just said about the UK being a haven for terrorists - the greatest threat in Europe now comes from the UK.
Time to get your heads out of the sand.
I was going to say before it is too late but it is actually too late.
We had surveillance in London for 50 terrorist cells - there are estimated to be over 500 and that was years ago when i worked down there!
And that is just one city alone!
hello omen how about the majority victims of fraud rape and domestic abuse are they pakistani and african people?
A number of these comments appear to nothing more than an outlet for people's personal biased agenda's.
You are spot on there Parchester. And it seems to be removing the ethos of what this site is all about and that is a shame. There has also been some criticism about humour on the site but I consider that a hundred more times acceptable and wholeseome than the comments that you refer to,
Another topic for the veil, I think.
I remember that I was left alone many times, did shopping, errands etc and travelled around London on buses to/from school etc. all on my own from the age of 7. I believe the earlier you can do this the better it is for the child to become more alert, be responsible for money and learn how to look after themselves. However, my mother was quite strict about what I could do/not do etc and what time she expected me home.
Donk, not sure what age group you are, but I suspect you were allowed to do this in a time when the public were not nearly as aware of the risks and dangers to young children as they are now. I grew up in a rural area and played in local woods and fields etc from a young age. Times have changed, most people wouldn't leave their tv's in the street or their laptops unattended and in full view in their cars, yet clearly some will do that with their most precious 'possession'...their children!
Totally true and sad isnt it.
So many evil paedophiles around im glad that muslim rape gang down south got 19 years should have been life in my opinion.
When I wur a lad we used to roam far and wide on our bikes but i must admit if i had kids - particularly girls i would be scared witless i think i would be bald by now!!!
Children are the most stressful thing in life and it only seems to get harder for parents what with all the bullying in schools , paedo-teacher-priest-etc, drugs , alcohol you name it they seem to do it!
muslim people should not rape and commit other bad sins, as they are muslims. Muslims have to be respectful and lawful people.
Yes but they follow a religion that is only 500 years old - headed by a man who ruled by the sword, killing and pillaging as he spread his word and had concubines as young as 12 and is a so called Prophet of Islam - Then we have Jesus - the exact opposite of all that!
Clear as Black and White!
Go figure!
Islam is a great religon.
Hello mister donk I think chidren must have lots of love and kindness so they grow up to care for others, children should not be left alone until they are old enough to know about safety I think that 13 years is ok not 7?
Hello omen muslim and jesus teach same things but some muslims read muslim teachings the wrong way same as some christians ?
It would be lovely if everyone was like yourself Indo-g.
The world would be a really nice place if all adults could go back to their childhood.
I can nary remember a nasty incident all life was happy and joyfull gallumphing through those tulgy woods I would gaily jire and gimble in the wabe and there were no momraths were there to outgrabe me!>;O)
So rested me by the tumtum tree!
Hence it came whiffling through the tulgy wood!
But fear not my vorpal blade went snikcer snacker and to that end the jabberwocky's head did knacker!
It was indeed a frabjous day calloo callay!
I'm so impressed here Omendata, positively all gooey inside that you should wax so lyrical, aaah.
Oh and before i forget if you do get a bit of a rash after an encounter with the frumious bandersnatch i can recommend a bit of bioyog - slap it on gets rid of the itch quickly!
>;o)
Off out now to get some 'bioyog' ???
Hang on I might still have some in the fridge...
Ooh, Jabberwocky...truly frabjous!
Truly, truly frabjous.
I know all about the benefits of bioyog for certain itchy conditions, but I had a problem once when the silly girl in the healthfood shop (they didn't sell it in Tesco's all those years ago) kept trying to sell me Fruits of the Forest and Cucumber & Snail. I had to work quite hard to convince her that I only wanted the unflavoured variety but she didn't quite seem to understand what I was intending to do with it.....
I know a woman who has a chihuahua that once had a thrush like itching conditionn and a vet friend recommended natural bio yoghurt to save on expensive therapies. She asked for this in Waitrose and the assistant asked her if she wanted it flavoured. 'Oh no' she replied, 'its to rub onto my chihuahua' ...... at which point she was escorted from the shop and pointed towards the local pharmacy!
Hi, Snoops. First laugh of the day nd it's nearly midnight!
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hi the law is 12 as when i used to be out of work and had to go job focas intevews they said you can leave your child at home at 12 if you go back work and i thought that was disgracefull at 12 as they would burn the house if they cooked something, and have every one in the house.