Leaving Kids in a Waiting room

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assuming there is a receptionist there just to make sure theyre not taken by a pedophile I would leave them at those ages. I would give screens or a definite activity for them to do though.

That is not the receptionist's job. She does not want to assume liability for your children.

I would have no problems leaving my kids in the waiting room. I do not expect the receptionist to babysit them. I am not worried that pedophiles are going to steal my kids from a doctor's waiting room - that is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the kids, what type of appointment, etc. My 7 year old came into a meeting the other day with my attorney. He had an iPad and headphones, but also sometimes listened in and commented. Our attorney has kids and knows things come up...all was fine.

[Anonymous]

As long as you know they are not hellions, no reason why 10 year old can't take care of 6 year old. We had a baby sitter who was 12 for younger kids. She was the best baby sitter we had.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assuming there is a receptionist there just to make sure theyre not taken by a pedophile I would leave them at those ages. I would give screens or a definite activity for them to do though.

That is not the receptionist's job. She does not want to assume liability for your children.

Ugh, you must be a lawyer or play one on TV. No one is assuming liability.

99 percent chance my kids don't bother a receptionist. Worst case, she has to call or walk 25 yards to get me for some reason. Big freaking deal.

[Anonymous]

10 is fine to leave. 6 is not.

[Anonymous]

At 4. I'd have them bring a book or crayons and paper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10 yes. 6 no. And not 10 watching the 6.

I was babysitting other people's kids at 11. A typical ten year old should be fine watching a 6 year old for 20 minutes.

[Anonymous]

My son was fine at both these ages, but not my daughter at 6. Depends on your kids.

[Anonymous]

Agree that it depends entirely on the kids themselves and how well they are going to heed you when you tell them to stay put and stay focused on whatever you have given them to pass the time. If you cannot be assured they'll do just this, it will be far less stressful on you to leave them with a sitter or set up playdate(s) for that time, OP.

You don't say what kind of consultation you mean and whether it's medical or legal etc. If it's medical, well, I might not take a kid into an office where they deal with communicable stuff like flu and colds; the chances of picking up something in a general waiting room in a general doctor's office is higher than, say, in the office of an ob/gyn or a dentist etc. You're likely to get posts saying it's no big deal but having sat in doctor's waiting rooms where there are people near me who clearly are coughing, barely suppressing sneezes, pale and dazed and hot-looking -- yeah, I don't want my kid one seat away from them, much less breathing the same air during a flu outbreak.

And check first. Some medical offices actually do not permit anyone to leave kids in the waiting room, iPads or phones notwithstanding. I had one ob/gyn who wouldn't allow unattended kids, too.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the kids. I have a 6 and 8 year old boys. I could absolutely leave them separately for 20-30 minutes and something to do (iPad, book, coloring/activity book, etc). I would not leave the two of them together, as I couldn't guarantee that they wouldn't bicker.

[Anonymous]

It's an orthodontist consultation. So, the waiting room would have teenagers and their parents most likely. I might leave the 10 year old in the waiting room with an ipad and bring the 6 yo with me if she didn't feel comfortable waiting.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on your kids--mine would be fine for 20 minutes (and they're 4 and 6). The 6yo would not have been fine when he was 4, though. And I would never do it without leaving them something specific to do, and without being within earshot. I'd also probably ask the receptionist if he/she was okay with it or would prefer I bring them in, and act accordingly.

[Anonymous]

I have a 9 year old and 6 year.
I wouldn't hesitate to leave the 9 year old. The 6 year old... I'm not sure. Right on the border. She'd almost certainly be fine, but I also could see her deciding she was bored or lonely and then she'd try to find me.
I'd also be concerned that the receptionist or other adult in the area would feel an obligation to take care of her, even though I would never expect that of them.

[Anonymous]

Completely fine. Burdening the health service provider receptionist with the task of keeping an eye on 2 elementary kids glued to an iPad, boo hoo.