Kids staying home alone About This Page:

[Tara O'Hara]

I think my oldest was 15 when I actually let him babysit! Now it is not an issue with any of them, but I still wouldn't leave my 12 year old by herself for too long. ( She is the only girl and probably the most mature, but she is still my baby!)

Tara

[SMG]

My 2 DS's have stayed at home a couple of times alone for about 30-45 minutes. They are 10 & 11 1/2. I don't plan on letting them stay in the summers until next year. I am over protective too! The few times they've been here alone, even for that short of a time, I've had to call and make sure everything was O.K.! I on the other hand was staying by myself at age 8! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] I remember being scared all the time! I asked someone at the police dept. the other day about the law on this in Texas and she said 12 yrs. old.

[ 05-27-2002, 12:21 PM: Message edited by: SMG ]

[DVC_Don]

Our Jason turned 11 a couple of months ago. We have decided to let him stay home for short times starting this summer. These would be just for the drive to the local milk and gas store 1.5 miles away. 10 to 15 minutes tops.

[Cinderella_68]

The legal age here in San Diego is 12. Don't know if it's a state or county thing. My friend's daughter just turned 12 a few months ago, and has been wanting to take the babysitting class that is offered by the Red Cross. She finally took it, and last Friday night we were her first-ever babysitting job. [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]
I was a latch-key kid, too, at about 10 years or so. I started babysitting when I was about 11, I think.
As for my own kids, I think I'm going to start with little errands like some of you do, when they are 12, then work slowly up from there. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Sheesh, it's bad enough they are growing up without my permission! [img]graemlins/pout.gif[/img] I don't want to encourage them! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Mariposa]

I started stayin by myself for an hour or two at a time at about 7 or 8.. and I was babysitting full-time for family at about 10 or so.. But I was a pretty capable kid. I've been cooking since I was about 8 as well.. (oatmeal, etc..)

I really think it depends on the kid. My DD won't be allowed to stay home by herself until she's married and on her own. [img]graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] She's just far too.. inquisitive.. Into EVERYTHING!

Alicia

[Ursunique2001]

My son is 9 and I absolutely hate for him to be in the house alone. I mean what if something happens?

Usually when he is off from school, my mother will watch him. But she goes to dialysis 3 days a week and she also has massive amounts of doctors appointments. So that means his daddy has to get him at least 3 times out of the week. He seems to feel that him being in the house for 1 - 2 hours alone is okay. I remind him each time he is running a little late that if something happens to my son (notice he is mine during this issue) that I would never forgive him.

Most times his father is there on time, but when he isn't Matthew will call me and ask me is his father on the way. He really does not mind being in the house for 15 - 30 minutes by himself, he just doesn't like long waits. Matthew will probably be about 13 or 14 when I let him stay in the house for a few hours by himself. It really depends on how mature he is, though.

[m_green]

In Oregon, kids have to be 12 to be home alone. I remember coming in the house a few times, when I was in 4th grade by myself. That would make me what, 9? But it was only for a few minutes. My dad did leave me here overnight with a friend when we were 11 or 12, I think, but her parents just lived up the street. If I were to go away though, DD & DS would NOT be doing that. LOL!!

My DD has been home alone for about 5 minutes a couple of times. She has a house key, and she thinks it is way cool. If I send her on the bus, and can work until 3:30. But if I get behind someone slow on the way home (28 miles), then I may miss the bus. When that has happened, I have called her from my cell phone, and she's just walked in the door. I have her go and take her key out (like I said, she was just walking in the door), lock the door, and turn on a video. Within 5 minutes I've been home. It has happened twice that I can think of. Anything more than that, and I'm not comfortable with her being here alone.

[patty c.]

Nebraska does not have a minimum age requirement, although there was a case where someone left a 7 yr. old for 15 minutes and was charged and prosecuted (don't know what the exact charge was).

My kids are 10, 11, and 13. I began leaving them for 20-minute errands when they were 8, 9, and 11. They were not left alone for more than an hour until oldest DD had taken the Red Cross babysitting class and knew first aid for children -- this was when they were 9,10 and 12. We now can leave them when DH & I go to dinner/movie and they do fine.

If it's just my 10 & 11 year old together I don't leave them for more than an hour, and I never leave my 10 year old alone. I agree that it depends so much on each individual child.

By the way, I highly recommend the Red Cross babysitting classes -even if the child will only be babysitting himself/herself. Local hospitals usually also offer these classes.

[ 05-28-2002, 09:39 AM: Message edited by: patsy-c ]