Leaving your child at home alone??

ChristinaOrtiz23
ChristinaOrtiz23 Posts: 1,546 Member
in Chit-Chat
at what age did you leave your child at home alone for the first time? not the whole day, just for like an hour? Just curious on other peoples opinions? I have a almost 5 year old and know that wont be ANY TIME SOON!!! Just curious on the age that would be ok to do it! I know every state has different laws but i know not everyone follows them! So what age did you leave them alone?

Thanks
:wink:
«13

Replies

  • Tryxxie2013
    Tryxxie2013 Posts: 1,489 Member
    My son turned 10 this year and the only time we leave him alone is when we take the short trip to the store. He knows what he's supposed to do and not supposed to do, he knows the emergency numbers & my cell, he knows not to let anyone inside the house. Still, I freak out when we do it, of course, but sometimes you have to let them prove that they are capable of it.
  • ScorpionQwean
    ScorpionQwean Posts: 1,013 Member
    My daughter was 12 and son 10. Now they are 17 and 15 and wheww whooo, I don't have a curfew :)
  • RozayJones
    RozayJones Posts: 409 Member
    My oldest is 9 but much more responsible than his siblings, also a 9 year old and two 7 year olds.
    We have left my 9 year old home to run and get a pizza a couple of blocks away but I still freaked out.
    I am not sure if I EVER see myself leaving the other 3 kids home alone LOL. I think a lot of it depends on their maturity level.
  • ChristinaOrtiz23
    ChristinaOrtiz23 Posts: 1,546 Member
    My son turned 10 this year and the only time we leave him alone is when we take the short trip to the store. He knows what he's supposed to do and not supposed to do, he knows the emergency numbers & my cell, he knows not to let anyone inside the house. Still, I freak out when we do it, of course, but sometimes you have to let them prove that they are capable of it.

    i was thinking that age too!!! but i know it all depends on maturity too!!! Im going to be freaking out the day i do it too lol
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    at what age did you leave your child at home alone for the first time? not the whole day, just for like an hour? Just curious on other peoples opinions? I have a almost 5 year old and know that wont be ANY TIME SOON!!! Just curious on the age that would be ok to do it! I know every state has different laws but i know not everyone follows them! So what age did you leave them alone?

    Thanks
    :wink:

    11, and that was the legal age for a child to be left home alone in Wisconsin. And I called home every 1/2 hour to check on them.
  • ChristinaOrtiz23
    ChristinaOrtiz23 Posts: 1,546 Member
    My daughter was 12 and son 10. Now they are 17 and 15 and wheww whooo, I don't have a curfew :)

    lmao! you lose you curfew when you move out but then you get one again when you have kids lmao
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    My daughter was 12 and son 10. Now they are 17 and 15 and wheww whooo, I don't have a curfew :)

    lmao! you lose you curfew when you move out but then you get one again when you have kids lmao

    Then they grow up and move out and life is wonderful.
  • ChristinaOrtiz23
    ChristinaOrtiz23 Posts: 1,546 Member
    My oldest is 9 but much more responsible than his siblings, also a 9 year old and two 7 year olds.
    We have left my 9 year old home to run and get a pizza a couple of blocks away but I still freaked out.
    I am not sure if I EVER see myself leaving the other 3 kids home alone LOL. I think a lot of it depends on their maturity level.


    see my mom started leaving my brother alone at 9 (hes 11 now) but my sister is 10 now and she couldn't do it with her!! even now!
  • ChristinaOrtiz23
    ChristinaOrtiz23 Posts: 1,546 Member
    My daughter was 12 and son 10. Now they are 17 and 15 and wheww whooo, I don't have a curfew :)

    lmao! you lose you curfew when you move out but then you get one again when you have kids lmao

    Then they grow up and move out and life is wonderful.

    lmfao!! :laugh:
  • ScorpionQwean
    ScorpionQwean Posts: 1,013 Member
    My daughter was 12 and son 10. Now they are 17 and 15 and wheww whooo, I don't have a curfew :)

    lmao! you lose you curfew when you move out but then you get one again when you have kids lmao

    Exactly !! Curfew as a teen / then no curfew / had kids (had a curfew) / now they are teens and I'm done bearing and now no curfew... but now I am too old to stay out late... LMAO...
  • willrun4bagels
    willrun4bagels Posts: 838 Member
    I think I was around 10 or 11, and had two younger siblings that were also home. My mom would run out to the grocery store down the street to grab a few things. We kept all of the doors locked. That was before we had cell phones and we all survived lol!
  • fitfreakymom
    fitfreakymom Posts: 1,400 Member
    10 for short trips and 12 for longer
  • ChristinaOrtiz23
    ChristinaOrtiz23 Posts: 1,546 Member
    My daughter was 12 and son 10. Now they are 17 and 15 and wheww whooo, I don't have a curfew :)

    lmao! you lose you curfew when you move out but then you get one again when you have kids lmao

    Exactly !! Curfew as a teen / then no curfew / had kids (had a curfew) / now they are teens and I'm done bearing and now no curfew... but now I am too old to stay out late... LMAO...

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
    My kids are 9 and 6....won't be for a few years.
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,078 Member
    I don't think you can go by age alone, it depends on how mature and sensible they are...or not!
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    I think this picture is lifesize...but wth.

    home-alone.jpg
  • ChristinaOrtiz23
    ChristinaOrtiz23 Posts: 1,546 Member
    I think this picture is lifesize...but wth.

    home-alone.jpg


    lmao!!!!!!
  • ChristinaOrtiz23
    ChristinaOrtiz23 Posts: 1,546 Member
    I don't think you can go by age alone, it depends on how mature and sensible they are...or not!

    I totally agree!
  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,834 Member
    We started leaving the boys home at 12 and 9 for about an hour at a time. Gives us time to get a quick date night in or run to the grocery store. They are 13 and 10 now and we can leave them for the evening if needed.
  • Hauntinglyfit
    Hauntinglyfit Posts: 5,537 Member
    I am not a parent, but i was left alone at age 7 to dress myself, eat breakfast and walk to school (it was only a block away). Make sure i locked the door and keep the key on a chain around my neck because i used to lose things. Other than the fact that i used to throw away my food instead of eating it, i was fine.
  • skullshank
    skullshank Posts: 4,323 Member
    10 for short trips and 12 for longer

    right around this for us too.
    i started hittin the grocery store (close to home) for around an hour, once in awhile when he was 9.

    he's 11 now and i do it more and more. my wife isnt quite on-board with it yet, but she thinks 12 is a good age. she knows i do it and is ok with it....just doesnt want to do it herself yet.

    he knows the rules, no one in, no one out...no stove/oven...no knives...lol

    he's a good kid and is very trustworthy.
  • 1113cw
    1113cw Posts: 830 Member
    My son turned 10 this year and the only time we leave him alone is when we take the short trip to the store. He knows what he's supposed to do and not supposed to do, he knows the emergency numbers & my cell, he knows not to let anyone inside the house. Still, I freak out when we do it, of course, but sometimes you have to let them prove that they are capable of it.

    Same here... although I think it depends on the individual child and their maturity level.
  • kenzietate
    kenzietate Posts: 399 Member
    My mom always said it depended on the child. My mom left me and my brother on our own when I was 12 and he was 9 and she left me on my own at that age as well. But my brother would have done something crazy on his own at 12 so it was closer to 14 for him. My sisters are fine together and they are 14 and 10. The older of the two has been completely fine on her own since 12 but the younger will probably be a bit older before she is on her own like my brother.

    Also, we had a next door neighbor who was always home if we ever needed anything and now my sisters have me right down the street also. I think knowing neighbors and having people the kids trust somewhere close by is a good factor to consider.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    I don't think I'd go by laws or a random number to decide this. I think when you get to that point, you'll know by your childs behavior and responsibility in other situations. If at that time his/her age is above what the law allows do it. If the law says it's okay but you know in your gut they aren't ready, don't let a legislated number decide your life for you. Most laws are limits top or bottom. Add your own common sense and there's no way to tell ahead of time either.
  • BamaBreezeNSaltAire
    BamaBreezeNSaltAire Posts: 966 Member
    10 for short trips and 12 for longer

    right around this for us too.
    i started hittin the grocery store (close to home) for around an hour, once in awhile when he was 9.

    he's 11 now and i do it more and more. my wife isnt quite on-board with it yet, but she thinks 12 is a good age. she knows i do it and is ok with it....just doesnt want to do it herself yet.

    he knows the rules, no one in, no one out...no stove/oven...no knives...lol

    he's a good kid and is very trustworthy.

    About the same here.
  • kennie2
    kennie2 Posts: 1,170 Member
    I think I was like 8-9 when i used to get the bus home and be alone till my mum got home at like 6pm so like 4 ish hours?
    but i was always a very mature child
  • pawnstarNate
    pawnstarNate Posts: 1,728 Member
    boy was 12, girl was just this past year. She's 11. He's 16 now and she's still more responsible than he is. Also have a 7 yr old girl. Not sure yet on her. Will just wait it out and see.
  • SexKittenlovesitrough
    SexKittenlovesitrough Posts: 486
    i was left home alone by age 8. however, that being said, we lived in a small town with very friendly neighbours who I knew and who were always home should there be trouble.

    my parents would also call and check in especially since I was often babysitting 3 younger siblings (2 from 8-10 and then 3 from 10 there on). I was always a very mature child.

    My child is also incredibly mature, and stays at home alone. I obey the legal laws for children in my area and I check in. My child also has a cell phone so if there is any distress, just even a little unsure, i can be contacted at any time and I will come home. There are uncles aunts and grandparents who all live within minutes of us and the family dog is always at home.

    Had any of those support systems not been in place I don't know that I would have felt comfortable leaving them alone.
  • summertime_girl
    summertime_girl Posts: 3,945 Member
    My son is 18. I think he needs more supervision now than he did at 10. Sigh.
  • ChihuahuaLover864
    ChihuahuaLover864 Posts: 13
    My mom had to go back to work when I was 11 and my brothers were in sports. So I was home about 2 hours after school. I will say I lived in a neighborhood with alot of my class mates and friends of my parents in case there was any kind of emergency.

Categories