How many British people feel it is ok to go out an leave your children alone?

Question

I will ignore all nasty responses as I am simply asking a question nothing more. I am British by the way but have travelled around the USA where their attitude seems to be a bit more pro-active when it comes to child care.

I have looked at many, many forums both British and American and whilst the American forums condemn the actions of the McCanns the British forums for the most part seem to either want to disguise that this has happened, state that it was a little error, or simply overlook the point completely by saying "what is done is done".

I am not pro or anti anything. I am asking a question and abusive responses which I have seen a lot of on this forum will simply be ignored..

The question again is do you feel it is ok to leave children under a certain age by themselves. If so under what circumstances?? I have my own thoughts on this matter ...

"Robert C" I think that you have enabled me to finally make my mind up as to which group I shall be supporting in this debate. Thank you for that!
Gosh what an truly aggressive and deeply unpleasant individual you are..

Hmmm so are all McCann supporters like yourself.....? Makes choosing sides much easier for people like me. Thanks again!! Horrible, nasty little man that you are!

Answer 1

Prior to this case I would have thought the exact opposite of British parents. They have been accused of over protectiveness and 'cottonwoolling' their children. As a result, so received opinion goes, their children are both fat and anti social. From my point of view, this is not the case at all. I don't know about the over protected children but there are still a lot a feral kids around, who are roaming the streets until all hours.
Whatever sort of parent you are, it remains a harsh and cruel country where criminals go unpunished. The very least any parent can do is to acknowledge this and care for their children accordingly. Robert C's views are not representative of British parents and he does the McCanns no favours at all.

Answer 2

I am English and no it is not all right to leave a child of any age alone for hours. That includes 3/4 years olds asleep in bed while you go to the shops for 5 minutes and feel guilty. Why wait till they are asleep take them with you make it a fun trip take advantage to improve their language skills.

My son now 19 was not left alone until he was 13 and that was when he came home from school and within half an hour I was back from work. Each child matures differently but anyone with children under 13 should think strongly before leaving them for a time alone.

I too was shocked at the amount of people who seem to think its ok to have done what the McCanns did and those are the people who make me very angry. Why have children if you are not there to nurture them. Yes they have to learn life lessons but at the same time our Adult life lessons change when children arrive no more going out when you feel like it. Great thought before you go anywhere the logistics of babysitters etc.

The laws in the UK really dont set down a legal its ok age I believe the Social Services have to make their own judgements. But I feel sorry for those parents who step out for just those five minutes because thats all it can take, a stranger, a fire, a pet not being too happy at being home alone.

Today on the news a mother has gone missing and her young child was found wandering in the streets in a nappy and nothing else. It is believed the child managed to get themselves out by climbing a chair and getting under a security gate. What trauma that child must be going through.

No all those who think its ok next time stop and think" there but for the grace of god go I "an old saying but a good one.

Answer 3

I'm English and never left my children at home alone, even to pop to the shop, and I don't consider myself to be an overly protective parent!

My youngest two are now 14 and 15 and I would still not leave either of them at home alone for any prolonged period - mind you these days that is more about not wanting to come home to a house full of partying teenagers or to find the boyfriend/girlfriend there alone with them!

Answer 4

There are only two people in the UK that think it is perfectly normal to leave three babies alone while they go out to stuff their faces and that is The McCanns and it would seem, Robert C.

I think the rest of the UK are pretty shocked at the appauling behaviour of this couple. They pain they have caused their daugher is beyond belief.

Answer 5

NO you shouldn't leave young children unattended.
but years ago we did ,and so did millions of others through
that years that went to BUTLINS holiday camps.mum and dad
went out to the shows leaving children in the chalets,
relying on the chalet maids to look after them.
but today we live in a sad sick world, where no child is safe.
But in a country like Portugal i suppose the McCanns felt that their children would be safe.two of them were.
Those that choose to criticise should remember if some evil
person wants to steal our child, the opportunity is there
everyday, we leave our children at nursery and at school
we can only hope she is found safe,

Answer 6

in an ideal world we wouldn't leave young children alone and go out ever...
personally i think it is wrong BUT in all honesty a lot of people do, in order to nip to the shop, or pop to a neighbours or relatives house just nearby...and would i condemn this? well i would be hypocritical if i did because i am a single parent and yes i left my son sleeping in the house to run to the shop from about age 3/4...and i always felt guilty and worried the whole 5mins it took me to do so!
but would i ever have left him to go out for a meal or round the corner to the pub, or to a neighbours for a few hours, no, because it's not safe, even if for nothing more than that the child may wake up and be terrified because noone's there..

as for an age to leave children i think everyone will have their own belief and that it depends a lot on the child/children involved because it is as much about the childrens maturity as anything alse

as far as i am aware as a parent you legally are responsible for them until i believe age 16 so if you leave them for any amount of time and anything happens it IS your responsibility unless you have left them in the care of another ADULT.

Answer 7

I would say around 13 is a good age to begin leaving a child alone for a short amount of time, depending on their maturity of course. There are no circumstances in which I would leave a younger child alone - to me the child is the priority. I'm British btw.

Answer 8

I do not leave my kids home alone, and never have. However they are now 9 & 10 years, and like to go to their friends house about 1/4 mile away with out me, their Dad. I let them go, but tell them they must stick together, and look out for each other and not talk to strangers, and take my mobile. They would not want me following them around while they're at play, and I would feel rather silly doing so. It would embarris them, me being there watching them, and chasing around after them, I haven't the energy or time to do so. You just have to give them more freedoms, and responsabilities as they grow. Commit it-the situation, to prayer and hope for the best. U.K dad, with disabled wife, kids mum.

Answer 9

they only time i personally think children should be left alone is when they are tucked up in bed asleep and you are close by sleeping yourself
having said this from looking about on the net thousands of people seem to think pedos are hidden in shadows waiting to snatch any stray child the moment you drop your guard.
this simple isn't true it only seems like that because of the Media coverage these rare cases get. sadly most children are molested and/or murdered by their so called guardians. parents, uncles, grandpa, brother, cousin, baby sitter, that 'nice friend of the family'.
evilly sad but shamefully true

Answer 10

in case you by no ability observed the infinite grievance right here interior the united kingdom over the McCanns leaving their toddler in a holiday apartment, then you definately ought to have been residing below a rock for the previous 5 years. additionally, your question's meaningless. what's 'below a definite age'? What 'particular age' are you conversing approximately? i wouldn't go away a toddler of 'a definite age' on my own, yet go away a toddler of a distinctive 'particular age' on my own for hours. in case you desire a significant answer, be sparkling approximately what you're asking. you're for sure conversing nonsense once you say you're 'no longer professional or anti something', as you in addition to mght say you 'have your man or woman strategies in this count'. for sure you have made up your strategies what you think of is right, hence you're 'professional' or 'anti'.