What age to let a child stay at home alone?
Replies
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Their are LAWS about this. Check your local law first.0
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Wow 8 seems so young. I don't think I was ever home alone until I was 15 maybe.0
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My oldest, now 17 ( who has a mild case of autism) was occasionally alone at 5 or 6 years old. I worked 10 minutes away and sometimes was not able to be home in time for his bus. The rule was that he let himself in and called my cell IMMEDIATELY to let me know that he was home safely. His little sister ( almost 13) has been home alone sometimes when I have to take her brother to doctor appointments. Same rule, but occasionally I will arrange for her to get off the bus down the street at a neighbor's house. My 7 year old has never been home alone.0
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Up until the age of 18 I had to go to my grandma's house after school, and write on the fridge where I was going that day (ie a friends house), their address, and phone number.
I resent them for it up to this day.
And what do you know, my brother is 13 and allowed at home and to go whereever he wants whenever.0 -
I think a child home alone should be around 12...if someone left an 8 year old home alone in the UK they would have social services on their case about it. 8 years old is still a child IMO0
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Well I was home alone starting around 5th grade and on.
I always just sat downstairs and watched TV... and then if I was hungry or bored, I'd walk to the local strip malls and look around. If a friend called, then I'd call my mom and say I was going over there or I'd leave a note so she wouldn't worry.0 -
Depends on the child and the environment... I grew up in the country and I managed fine being alone at home when I was 8. But if I have kids in the city (which I prefer not to do) I'd probably not like to leave them home alone before about age 11.0
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My older daughter just turned 12 in October and so far we have not left her home alone- although at this point if an emergency came up then I think it would be fine for an hour or so. My 8 year old- not so much.0
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I was left home alone past 10 years old, but I had older sisters around and we were in a small friendly town.0
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I was 7 ...I live in the safest neighbourhood here (though I still think that was too young) after 12 seems alright though0
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My eldest is 9. I haven't even considered leaving him home alone. Call me overprotective. I think half of the problem is that his is sister is 6 and I would not make it his responsibility to look after her as well until he is at least 12 or 13.0
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Well it sounds like she wasn't home alone long maybe an hour or less. i wouldn't let A child that age stay at home alone for much longer like all day. But it sounds like it was an emergency.0
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The law here in New Zealand is that the child may not be left unsupervised if under the age of 140
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To be honest, I don't know. My oldest is 7 and she's not quite ready yet. She now walks home from her bus stop (very close) after a long discussion with her about rules (straight home, no talking to strangers, screaming like a banshee if someone touches her). She does not wait at the bus stop in the mornings by herself though. I will say that some of these laws on the subject are a bit ridiculous. I'm finding that while you don't want to push too hard, children will respond if you teach them and give them responsibility.0
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It's different for every kid. Some are more mature than others at younger ages. You know your kids. I don't. Just check with local ordinances and state laws to see if there is a minimum age where you live.
My parents left me alone for short periods starting at age 7. I wasn't allowed home alone after school until 12 (though I think that was more my mother's paranoia than that I wasn't ready). My daughter stayed by herself by age 9 and was fine.0 -
13 is the age in my ex husbands and mine custody agreement.0
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The law here is 12, and I would not feel comfortable with an 8 year old home alone at all....but then, it does vary greatly with the maturity level of the child, there are probably some 8 year olds I would trust more than some 12 year olds....
this.
my 16 year old niece can't be left alone at home0 -
There are so many things that factor into that equation. How trustworthy is the child(ren) being left alone? How long will they be left alone? The neighborhood is safe, but what about the house and yard? I was routinely home alone when I was about 7-8. I'm sure there were plenty of people in the neighborhood that were watching me when I didn't know they were though.
My oldest is now 6, and while I couldn't imagine truly leaving him home alone, I will leave him in the house now while I am working outside or talking outside with neighbors. I keep increasing the amount of time between checking in on him to build up his confidence in being alone and my confidence in him being alone.0 -
Their are LAWS about this. Check your local law first.
Some states do not set a minimum age. Florida and Georgia are both examples of this.0 -
It depends on the child.
I would let my older daughter to be home alone at 8 but her younger sister, no way I would have left her all by herself.0 -
It depends on the individual child and the local law. Every child is different and the law varies. Some places have a law and some don't. Call your local PD and ask. My daughter is ten. She has a key and is ok for an hour or so.0
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Their are LAWS about this. Check your local law first.
there not their.
but actually most states dont have laws. They have recommended ages but not an actual law. OH is one.
this site (from 07) says only 2 states had laws: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/homealone.cfm
this site (though it seems to be a campaign lists ALL states and is recent): http://www.latchkey-kids.com/latchkey-kids-age-limits.htm
State
Minimum Age of
Home Alone Child
Reference
Alabama
None
Alaska
Unknown
Arizona
None
Arkansas
None
California
Unknown
Colorado
12 *
Connecticut
None
Delaware
12 *
Florida
18 *
Georgia
8 *
Hawaii
None
Idaho
None
Illinois
14
Indiana
None
Iowa
None
Kansas
12 *
Kentucky
Unknown
Louisiana
None
Maine
None
Maryland
8
Massachusetts
None
Michigan
11 *
Minnesota
None
Mississippi
None
Missouri
None
Montana
None
Nebraska
None
Nevada
Unknown
New Hampshire
None
New Jersey
None
New Mexico
None
New York
None
North Carolina
8
North Dakota
9 *
Ohio
None
Oklahoma
None
Oregon
10
Pennsylvania
None
Rhode Island
Unknown
South Carolina
Unknown
South Dakota
None
Tennessee
10*
Texas
None
Utah
None
Vermont
Unknown
Virginia
None
Washington
10 *
West Virginia
Unknown
Wisconsin
None
Wyoming
None0 -
Their are LAWS about this. Check your local law first.
Some states do not set a minimum age. Florida and Georgia are both examples of this.
Here is a reference for state laws and guidelines:
http://www.latchkey-kids.com/latchkey-kids-age-limits.htm0 -
Oh man, I was probably 8 or 9 (I remember it was 2nd grade b/c I faked being sick). Then my parents both had to work early, and would leave about 20 minutes before the carpool picked us up for school. I faked sick and stayed home all day by myself. Lived in a city, and not in a very good neighborhood.
My son is 4 and I'll probably be right around that age with him. I've already started giving him some time by himself like if I'm working in the yard or in the car. I'm always still right there, but I'm trying to encourage his independence.
Fortunately Indiana doesn't have a stupid law about this. They do provide some information about making the decision if your child is ready to stay home. http://www.in.gov/dcs/files/Home_Alone_Brochure.pdf0 -
I am a mother and I live in Florida and lived in GA. This is incorrect about both states. There is no law in either state.Their are LAWS about this. Check your local law first.
there not their.
but actually most states dont have laws. They have recommended ages but not an actual law. OH is one.
this site (from 07) says only 2 states had laws: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/homealone.cfm
this site (though it seems to be a campaign lists ALL states and is recent): http://www.latchkey-kids.com/latchkey-kids-age-limits.htm
State
Minimum Age of
Home Alone Child
Reference
Alabama
None
Alaska
Unknown
Arizona
None
Arkansas
None
California
Unknown
Colorado
12 *
Connecticut
None
Delaware
12 *
Florida
18 *
Georgia
8 *
Hawaii
None
Idaho
None
Illinois
14
Indiana
None
Iowa
None
Kansas
12 *
Kentucky
Unknown
Louisiana
None
Maine
None
Maryland
8
Massachusetts
None
Michigan
11 *
Minnesota
None
Mississippi
None
Missouri
None
Montana
None
Nebraska
None
Nevada
Unknown
New Hampshire
None
New Jersey
None
New Mexico
None
New York
None
North Carolina
8
North Dakota
9 *
Ohio
None
Oklahoma
None
Oregon
10
Pennsylvania
None
Rhode Island
Unknown
South Carolina
Unknown
South Dakota
None
Tennessee
10*
Texas
None
Utah
None
Vermont
Unknown
Virginia
None
Washington
10 *
West Virginia
Unknown
Wisconsin
None
Wyoming
None0 -
I am a mother and I lie in Florida and lived in GA. This is incorrect about both states. There is no law in either state.
The asterisk notes a guideline, not an actual law.0 -
I am a mother and I live in Florida and lived in GA. This is incorrect about both states. There is no law in either state.
I just copied from the site and checked the date of the site. It also said they were a guideline and listed resources for you to check out the law.0 -
My parents had to leave my son home alone for 2 hours once this year and his 9. It made my brother and sister boiling mad. But what made me decide that his not ready was...when I reached home. It was in food disaster zone. Cookie crumbs all over the house. He face, hands and clothes plastered with chocolate. And he was super hyperactive for the rest of the evening and night.
No thanks NOT again for me till may be his 12.0 -
I feel that it should be based on that individual childs maturity! But I never left my children at home until they were 12 years old!0
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I will let my boys stay home alone when I run to the store or the gym, no more than 2 miles away. My oldest is 11yo and very, very responsible. I will not leave the 9 yo alone without his brother. And they don't like to be alone at night. But I must also point out that I have a house full of dogs and NO ONE could get near my kids to hurt them. So I always put one of the dogs in charge. lol. a la "Remy's in charge, I'll be back in an hour, text if you need me!" And they have texted before when I was at the gym, 2 miles down the road, when they got scared about a noise. I raced home. It was just a dog that had been left outside.0
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