Children travel alone

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caring star
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:19 pm

Children travel alone

Post by caring star »

Hi
14 year old travelling with 7 year old on their own
Just want to know whether my 14 year old boy can take my 7year old boy to park, picking up from schools, travel in bus especially , not long distance just to town centre on their own. is there any rule regarding this?
can both them can do cycling in a quiet place /pavement near park on their own?
Please give your ideas as early as possible I have to plan something tomorrow/week end
Thanks
scary mum
Posts: 8841
Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:45 pm

Re: Children travel alone

Post by scary mum »

There is no law about babysitting age! Or the ge at which children can be left, but you would be legally responsible & if anything happened you could be charged with neglect, so it is your decision based on knowing both the children.
scary mum
pheasantchick
Posts: 2439
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:28 pm

Re: Children travel alone

Post by pheasantchick »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12380329" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I found this article. It explains the 'rules' governing teenage babysitters.

My eldest turns 14 later this year and I have an almost-11 year old. At present, I only leave them together for very short periods of time at home, although will allow them to got to the local shops, down to friends etc. I would feel unhappy leaving them both at home for several hours.
aliportico
Posts: 888
Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2007 12:19 pm

Re: Children travel alone

Post by aliportico »

I'd be quite happy for a 14 year old to look after a 7 year old - assuming that you are happy with your own children doing this, and are asking about how it would look from outside.

The NSPCC are often scaremongers, imo, and I think their suggestions are quite insulting to most 15 year olds tbh! I would urge anyone who got into any trouble about this to reread what Ms Gilliatt, the lawyer, says in the article - accepting a caution is an admission of guilt. I'd be quite happy to let the police try to take a case to court if it were me.
Last edited by aliportico on Thu Feb 21, 2013 8:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Kingfisher
Posts: 416
Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2012 7:08 pm

Re: Children travel alone

Post by Kingfisher »

From Year 7 many students have to travel to secondary school on their own. I am sure many of us on this forum have DC who have to do just that. With a 7 year old in tow? Of course. Why not?
ToadMum
Posts: 11946
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:41 pm
Location: Essex

Re: Children travel alone

Post by ToadMum »

Wary as I usually am of making such comments, but I can't help wondering, do Thames Valley Police have too much time on their hands?
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mystery
Posts: 8927
Joined: Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:56 pm

Re: Children travel alone

Post by mystery »

Yes it would seem like it, unless there was something clearly odd about that particular 14 year old. I wouldn't like to leave someone in charge of a child who wouldn't do the right thing in an emergency, but many adults wouldn't.
wonderwoman
Posts: 511
Joined: Thu Oct 23, 2008 11:07 pm

Re: Children travel alone

Post by wonderwoman »

I leave my 14 yr old to look after a 7 yr old sometimes, when the older siblings aren't around. Although generally a pain like most teenage boys he is excellent when left in charge. I have no problem with him taking and collecting from school etc. I might not let them go on a bike ride outside the garden due to the traffic.

My sister used to be in charge of me travelling to boarding school on a train, several hundred miles from home. We were put on by our parents and collected by our grandparents and frequently had to change trains during the journey. She was 12 and I was 8.
ourmaminhavana
Posts: 966
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:14 am

Re: Children travel alone

Post by ourmaminhavana »

I actually find this quite a difficult one, despite being one of those who babysat at around 10 for two toddlers which was the norm in those days... :roll:
I have a very responsible soon to be 14 year old and a 7 year old and still spend time finding babysitters who may be only a couple of years older and arguably less responsible than DS! I frequently leave instructions with the babysitters to ask DS if they need any help....
I hadn't even considered the idea of them going out of the house together, without me. :lol:
On one occasion I did leave them together having put DD to bed and made sure that she was asleep first. I'm not really sure what would hold me back when he is 14, but nevertheless I do feel concerned, not through any doubts about the kids' abilities to cope with the situation, but more lest an 'outsider' looked in.... :oops:
caring star
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Children travel alone

Post by caring star »

Thanks for all answers.
As the rule in this country remains like this nobody is going to learn responsibilities even if they become mums/dads . That is why so many babies die when they are under their own parents care.
Children should be taught how to take care of others when at their young age . Accidents can happen at any time , anywhere and in anybody’s hands. Even this accidents can happen if we left child with child care people who makes the law or with the police who warns others.
No parents leave their children alone if they are not responsible and we can’t guarantee that no accidents /incidents will happen when they left their responsible children alone.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12380329" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Start Quote from the bbc ..
Child development specialist and author of Toxic Childhood Sue Palmer argues that parents, as well as too much legislation in the UK, are part of the problem.
"Children are becoming less competent because they are being treated like carefully protected pets.
"Unless you let them take on chores and take responsibility for their own behaviour and learn to deal with real time, space and people, you won't be able to leave them in charge of another child."
"We are almost legislating ourselves into a world built on accountability procedures and bureaucracy and statistics, and that's a very unpleasant world."
And this is, she says, fast making the UK a laughing stock among its European neighbours, where a 14-year-old in charge of a three-year-old is considered normal behaviour.
Because of this law and caution no parents dare to leave even their responsible children alone . The quote is absolutely right !! :shock:
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