Kids staying home alone
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AKLRULZ · 05-27-2002, 11:27 AM

Hey - ya'll with older children - at what age did you start letting them stay home alone? Call me fairly overprotective, but some of my oldest son's friends (10 y/o) sometimes stay home by themselves. [img]graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] I don't think my parents left us until maybe I was 12? And my mom just "can't remember" (LOL!).

Any advice would be helpful! Thanks, group!

Chrissi · 05-27-2002, 11:32 AM

I was a latch-key kid by age 7. Always got home from school before my parents were home from work, but I had a great sense of self-preservation and knew how to stay out of trouble. I got home, did my homework, and waited the hour and a half for my mom to get home. No catastrophies and my mom said she'd let me start babysitting when I was 12. I started the day after my 12th birthday!

Bert & Sully · 05-27-2002, 11:32 AM

I'd be curious as well. Someone told me that here in Florida you aren't allowed to leave children under 13 home alone. DH's daughter just turned 12 and thinks she should be allowed to stay in the house all day alone [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] (she told us her mother let her but turns out that was just when she had a very quick errand)....we don't think that a good idea quite yet....A friend told me that when her kids started asking she told them that it was "an earned privilidge"....after they turned 12 or 13 I think she said.

kadterp · 05-27-2002, 01:17 PM

Funny that this thread was started because I just asked my father this question the other day! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

He told me that I was about 12 when I was being left home alone. They would drop me off at the bus stop in the morning and then I would be home after school for about 2- 2 1/2 hours until they got home from work. I was thinking about this for my daughter is 10 and sometimes I do leave her home but again that is only for about 15 minutes.

Hope this helps!

luvnwdwgal · 05-27-2002, 01:19 PM

We started letting our son stay home alone (I emphasize "alone", he was never to have any friends at the house while we were away) at the age of 12, and only for short periods of time. I think it depends on how mature your child is.

Bert & Sully · 05-27-2002, 01:56 PM

Steve, thank you SO MUCH for posting this topic. Now I know I can stay firm and confident when DH's daughter starts bugging us. She's a trustworthy girl; but still lacks the maturity necessary to be left alone for more than an "errand"'s time. I'm really grateful you brought it up!

sammycat699 · 05-27-2002, 01:56 PM

The first time I remember letting them say alone was an emergency. My father had broken his hip and I had to take my mom to the hospital which was an hour away. I left my 11 and 14 year old at my mom's house. DH knew they were alone. They walked to the town pool for the afternoon and then went hom with DH.
I didn't know who to worry about. The boys home alone or my dad. It was a stressful day.

Beth L. · 05-27-2002, 02:11 PM

Well, the way my DS is I may leave him alone when he's 20 and even then I'm not sure. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]
Seriously though, I think it depends on the child. Some children are very mature for their age while other's like my DS who has ADHD is not. The legal age in CT is 12 for a child to be left alone but I don't think he will be ready at that age.

tinksmom · 05-27-2002, 02:21 PM

I didn't realize there was a law about this. I can't believe it's illegal to leave a child alone in the state of until they are 12.

I wouldn't leave my 8 yo DD alone for another two years, and then only for a short time, but to make it a law . . .

tinksmom

Heidi · 05-27-2002, 02:32 PM

I was 12. I also started babysitting at that age too. It was next door and my parents were usually home when I was there so that help me feel safe. Always kept the doors locked and didn't let anyone in (This was also the early 80's and we were in an extremely safe neighborhood). We usually played lego and watched TV so it was the easiest money I think I will ever make. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

But I'm in agreement with the age 12 - eventhough I don't have any kids, it just my opinion.

Good topic Steve.

mcneal · 05-27-2002, 02:36 PM

I agree that it all depends on the child and also on where you live. My DH and I were both single parents while our oldest were in elementary and left them alone at times. We usually had trustworthy neighbors that the kids could turn to. My DD was 9 and I could leave here for several hours. With DS ( who is now 9) I only leave him for maybe an hour. We live in a rural area plus he is quite curious and tends to get into stuff. This is always a difficult decision for any parent. Good Luck! mary

Bert & Sully · 05-27-2002, 02:44 PM

I was caught unawares of this type of law as well. It took me completely off-guard. I was just asking a friend how old her daughter was when she first let her stay alone.

allysonh · 05-27-2002, 03:17 PM

I was babysitting at age 11 (only in our apartment building though) but I started staying alone at age 10 and staying home alone with my older brothers when I was 8 (my brothers are 4 and 5 years older than I).

I think it all depends on the child(ren) in question. If you feel that they are old enough to stay home alone, then they are.

Have a great day all!

**disneyknut** · 05-27-2002, 05:35 PM

My DS will be 10 in October & I have left him home alone for 5-10 minutes tops.. to run to Co-Go's which is 10 houses down from my house or the school which is about 1/8 of a mile.. I would NEVER leave him with his brother & sister as they wouldn't listen to him...
I think the leaving at home decision should be based on the childs maturit...My son is a VERY mature 9YO & I would feel very confidant leaving him here by himself.. To which DH & I disagree.. DS was sick a couple weeks ago &I had to go to work right after his Dr visit & DH had to go to the pharmacy to pick up his RX.. I felt that DS could have been left alone for that 1/2 hour while DH was at the store but DH wouldn't hear of it & made DS go to the store with him..
Also, my FIL lives in an attached apartment to our home so he would be there in case anything would happen ( even tho he is disabled & has a severe brain injury~ he's got the mentality of a 12 YO on a good day [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] ) FIL would still be 'there' physically ..
But like I said it all depends on the child...