At what age? About This Page:

[loobyoxlip]

At what age do you think it's acceptable to leave a child at home unattended?

Kylor thinks I should let him stay home while I just make a quick run to the shoppette (just down the road) Ya, right!! Got me to thinking, though, when will I feel comfortable leaving him alone? Probably never! Our rule is you can never be out of calling range (as in shouting! )

[my2girls]

Things are not like they were when I was growing up. My parents both worked and left my twin brother and I home after school alone for a couple hours before they got home from work. But, that was in the 70's. Nowaday's, with kids getting taken by family members and or strangers, I am not a believer in leaving my kids home alone until they are at least 16. And then, there would still be rules to follow. That might seem a bit old, but, unfotunately, we live in a society that makes it so children cannot be left alone.

Kristine

[SarahJ]

That's a tough question. I don't think I'd even consider it until at least 10 and only for short periods of not more than an hour or so. Even then I think it depends on the child's maturity and if they could handle any emergency that might come up. There would definitely have to be some ground rules, like keeping doors locked and not opening them for anyone. And a list of emergency numbers posted where the child can easily see them. Also having a trusted neighbor that they could go to would be good.

[Jennifer2003]

I was 10, but that was in 1988...I'd reconsider a 10 year old right now...maybe 12/13??

[goofysdtr]

I have a very responsible 10 yo & still wouldn't leave him home alone. My DH & I think that maybe when he's 13 or so it'll be o.k. to leave him to run to the store & back; but I just may change my tune when we get there. I can't imagine how I'd feel if I did leave him & something happened. I guess I'd rather be safe than sorry.

[graygables]

I was just thinking about that today...I really think it also matters *where* you live. We live in a semi-rural area, so I left my oldest 2 at home alone when they were 10 and 8. They were also fairly responsible, versed in what to do in an emergency and Grandma lives next door. If we lived in a city or more suburban area, didn't have relatives nearby, or DDs were too immature, I would certainly make them wait until they were older. I really don't think there's an age as much as a "stage". I, for one, will be glad when DDs can stay home alone and I can have some quiet time to run errands!!!

[CRCrazy]

LOL Tina!! Kylor is just a little older than Sarah, and she came home from my sister's camp with this story. Since I am big enough to ride my bike on the road at camp (Private camp - they can ride on the dead end road where my sister's place is, and that is it - Like you said, in hollering distance!), can I ride my bike on the streets in Whitefield - I'll take a walkie-talkie!" I do NOT think so!

With the older girls, I let them stay home during the day for short periods of time when they were around 11-12, sixth grade anyway! Of course, they couldn't stay home with Sarah until they did the babysitting course at around age 12 1/2-13, so that was somewhat of a moot point!

[Las17]

My DD is 11 and my DS is 14(15 next month) and I leave them home right now while I'm at work. I get home around 2:45, so I guess it makes me think it's not too long. Their dad is home until around 9 a.m. (I leave around 6:25).

Sometimes I wonder if we've made the right decision, but with my son being older I feel like it's okay. They've also been tested many times on the rules(no opening doors or answering the phone unless it's my neighbor or one of us.)

It's a tough decision to make but I think you just have to judge for yourself when your child is ready. Every child is different.

Laura

[LBAK]

I think it depends on each individual child. My oldest DD was 13 when I ran up to the local grocery (6 blks away). However I would not leave her alone more then 20 minutes. (she is ADHD) Now my youngest DD is only 9 and far more mature. I might consider leaving her for a quick run to the store at age 11.

[buckysmom]

I remember staying home watching my younger brother when I was 11. Of course, we were in an isolated military base, so there was a feeling of safety (if you ignored the Cubans on the other side of the fence with Russian machine guns ). Anyway, that now sounds pretty young to me! Guess I'll have to wait and see how my DD is around 10-12. No time soon, that's for sure!

[rescuesk]

DS was about 13 when we started to leave him alone. We live pretty close to our family, so there was usually someone's house to send him to. I think we left him for a few hours between work/one of us being home, etc. It was only in the last few years that I have actually felt comfortable with him alone overnight (and he is now 20!! )

[goofy4goofy]

I was 10, but that was in the 80's. It's a tough question and depends on the child, but I'd probably say 13. That would only be for an hour or two..and then see how it goes from there.

Kelly

[BritDisFan]

I was also 10 but I think my younger sister was not left on her own until she was 15, times change don't they?

Karen

[HiddenMickey]

My son turns 11 in August, daughter turns 9 in July. We live in a small suburban neighborhood with a pool and pond about a block away from our house. Currently we do allow our son to stay at home for up to about 1/2 hour or so if he doesn't want to accompany us to the pond to fish or to the pool. He knows where we are and we usually leave a 2-way with him, so we can keep in touch. We would not do the same for our daughter at this time, as she is still a bit young. We are also starting to let him walk alone to a friends house about a block away, where we used to deliver him to playdates.

We car pooled with a single mom of an 11 yr old last year. She would leave him home without her for about an hour each morning before we came to pick him up so that she could get to work. They worked into this gradually and it seemed to work quite well (originally, she would drop him at our house before leaving for her work).

-HiddenMickey

[Teddysmom]

I was 9 when my Mom started working. My Dad had passed and my Mom needed to be out working. But that was a long time ago. I have a friend that needs to leave her boys alone for a few hours in the afternoon. Same situation, her husband passed from Cancer a few years ago and the boys got incredibly sick of going to a sitters at 13 and 10 yrs old.(They were actually 12 and 9 when they first started). I think it depends on the maturity of the child, the distance of the nearest adult relative,friend or neighbor and the area you live in.