Indeed. They are far to young for such responsibilities

I realise its not law but I imagine social services would be concerned about any child of 10 being home alone. I know I would be.

I remember my aunt and uncle being warned by the school when they found that my cousin was going home to an empty house untill 7pm and he was 13!!

Sorry, I just assumed you meant it was illegal when you used the word "can't".

Well according to the law it would depend on.the individual child. Ckearly a child of infant school or younger would be incapable of reaching and carrying a full kettle, let alone undestand boiling it safely (as one example) so clearly wouldn't be mature enough.

However children do mature, both physicslly and mentally at different ages do some 10 year olds might know how, and even have experience if basic cooking, know what to do re getting out and getting help in the event of fire, not opening the door to any strangers, etc, etc whilst a 14 year old might not.

Thats why they leave it to the parents who kniw their chikd the best and I inagine that Social Services would talk to the child to Ascertain their level of understanding and capability before deciding whether they'd been neglected. It wouldn't be automatic as there isn't a legal set rule.

However, most people would always err on the side of caution I think, especially teachers if giving advice, just in case somebody (say a neighbour) dud alert social servuces and they took a different view re the childs maturity.

As said, personally I wouldn't leave a child that young on their own even if they were 'old' for their age.

Max comes across as quite small and vulnerable for a 10 year old compared to say Amy when she was that age.

They are much safer with max, the only danger in that house is that whacko David and his open cans of gas. I bet he stores them next to the gas furnace. The children of corry don't appear to be too mature, this is a result of the producers only employing non speaking extras as babysitters.

A really stinky and rotting Callum is looking after the kids wayyy down in Gail's manhole. i mean, hes in the house so it must b him

edit oh wait, they had his funeral didn't they? so he's not in the house no more. i forgot

yeah i dunno who's looking after Max, Lily and Harry, aka the Platt kids. maybe Gemma or Nick?

Nick and Leanne are away that's why Sarah and Bethany were planning to have secret rendezvous there

Not only Corrie, but Emmerdale and EastEnders, the parents out at night and where are the kids, or poor little devils being shoved off upstairs when they are not needed in the scene. Perhaps Mary is the Corrie Street babysitter on those occasions.

Bod and Brenda havent seen the twins for months

Didn't Tracy in Coronation Street (in 1983) go upstairs and wasn't seen again for two years?

A 10 year old is to young and inexperienced to be looking after any younger children. It's too young to be looking after their self let alone any one else

I forget those two even exist most of the time they appear or are even mentioned so rarely. I remember them playing with April about a year ago in the background of the cafe and honestly not knowing who they were until Bob called one of them over by name.

ha ha ha ha

when did we last see Matthew in EE ?

All the dingles are regularly in the pub together. Samson must be home alone constantly. The only child we see actually being looked after is Moses. He has a disastrous family, ross, charity and Emma, but at least they keep their eye on him.

Victoria Wood copyright