[The Old Bag]

Hi all,

Just after some tips. I think my kids are old and responsible enough to leave alone at home for short bursts when necessary and am going to prepare them and give them some practice runs so if I do need to pop out alone or with one, we are all ready for it. They are 8 and nearly 7.

So they know fire safety, they know how to use the phone which has numbers for me, DH, next door neighbour and emergency on speed dial.
I have drilled them not to open the front door, don't let the dogs inside, stay out of the kitchen.

Can you think of anything else I need to cover? I don't want to make a massive deal of it or overload them with instructions, but don't want to overlook something obvious either.

TIA

Old Bag

[Leafprincess]

Hope you don't live in Queensland.

Law here is that children under 12 can't be left alone.

A whole bunch of parents have been charged for leaving children in the car for a shorebird of time (run in and grab something from the chemist) or home alone, when he father was 150m away.

It's made the news a lot lately.

You might just want to check the legislation in your state.

[Guest_holy_j_*]

Get them to actually practice using the phone. As in waiting for the dial tone, and how to redial if it doesn't work. Also if they are going to be answering the phone, make sure they know not to say they are alone.

[annasue]

You're kidding right !

[SomeAussieChick]

I might be old fashioned but if I had a 7 and 8 year old I would NOT be leaving them at home.

Wtf?



I have a nearly 10 year old DS and I don't leave him at home on his own.

I hope you are not for real OP cause yeah.....wow.

This post has been edited by ~Lady_Muck~: 17/08/2012, 08:28 PM

[Jen1]

Can you think of anything else I need to cover?

Yes, a parent home looking after them!!

Hmmmm, I wouldn't be leaving my 8 and nearly 7 year old at home by themselves.

[idignantlyright]

Hide the alcohol and make sure they know not to have any parties.

Well, not to get caught anyway.

[belnryan]

Ummm they are 8 and 7, why would they need to stay home alone?

[PatG]

I wouldn't leave them I don't think...

But if you are going to what about you get them to think about what could go wrong and work with them to work out what they should do in each situation.

[Petrichor]

My kids are pretty mature for their age too and I think they would be ok home alone as well. The problem is, they are still kids. They might hurt themselves playing and then the other sibling is in the position of being responsible for that child's health. I don't want my kids to be resposible for the wellbeing of their siblings. Until they are older my policy is: If I (or another supervising adult) can't hear them then I'm too far away.