What age to let a child stay at home alone?

I think it all depends on the maturity level of the child. I'm a single parent and when they were younger than they are now I had to leave them home but the oldest had a cell phone and house phone for to keep in contact with me and feel safe.

When we lived in NY our neighbor would leave her 7 year old alone all the time. This kid couldn't take it. She would come over crying and just stay and play with my at the time 4 year old. I had this kid in my house for years. The mother didn't care. Never said thanks or even sent a bag of chips (this girl ate at my house for 2 years straight).

And I am not talking short bursts either. These parents would be gone for 6 hours at night, drinking at the bars. Some nights this little girl would just stay over. Never once did i get a call asking where she was. The older sister was supposed to be home, but she had a night job and couldn't stay. It was the weirdest thing.

That just makes me so sad for that little girl that no one related to her cared enough to see to her emotional needs. She's so fortunate that she had such a great neighbor . . . because (quite frankly) she could have ended up on the door step of some creepster.

I took her everywhere with us. She was like another child to me. Even tho we like 800 miles apart now and she is a beautiful young lady with a job of her own now, we keep in touch via FB. I had a neighbor like me when I was young. Someone who always had my back. I am so grateful to have been able to pass that good karma along.

She goes to college in the fall of 2014 and she said she wants to go to Coastal Carolina (very near us). I have my fingers crossed. I'd love to have her back in the fold.

Just here to read.

I was about 8 or 9 when my parents let me stay home alone and I was pretty responsible! The worst I ever did was bake a lot of cakes without permission... hahaha

My oldest son could do it at 8 for brief amounts of time and does great. My middle son is almost 9 and can't handle it. I don't like to leave him home alone (even with his older brother). He picks on both his brothers and causes lots of grief. I know it is a call for attention and we are trying to give him more attention. So yeah, I am one of those that believes every child is different maturity at different ages. I think it is a decision that needs to be made with each child.

I would say 11 if they are a mature, responsible kid.

A lot of that, IMO, depends on the child's maturity level. I've seen some kids, where I wouldn't leave them home alone at 18 or ever if I was their parent. However, I know a couple of cousins that would be fine by themselves at younger ages. It all depends on the kid, how they are raised, and what they are capable of. There is always a "legal" age where you can leave them home alone, In the state I live in it's 13, but again, I think it depends on the kids themselves and how responsible and mature they are.

Legally I believe it's 12 or 13. I could be wrong. But even then, I think your child's maturity level should play a big part in that decision. And solid rules should apply in regards to answering the phone/door, spending time outside, use of the stove, etc...you know your child best.

Just throwing in my two cents:
My parents would let my brother and I stay home alone when he was about 15. I was only six, he was old enough to watch me, and was responsible enough to know what to do in case of an emergency. However, they were overly-cautious and much more strict with him growing up than they were with me. I was allowed to stay by myself (for short periods of time, like an hour to two hours) when I was about eight. It wasn't until I was about 11 that I was fully allowed to be on my own.

To be honest, it's really up to what kind of kid(s) you have and how responsible they are. Trust plays a huge part in it, too. My parents knew that I was pretty easily entertained by the computer and drawing--they trusted me that I wouldn't invite people over, and drilled me over and over on what to do if someone knocks at the door, if someone calls, etc.

Heck, 17-18, they let me stay on my own for days at a time. Perks of being a wallflower, I guess.

Like previous people, I think it all depends on the child. My son (8) told me that his guidance counselor at school told him he could stay home alone at eight. While this came up in random conversation, it made me start thinking. So I've allowed him to be home alone for short perids - like while I run to the grocery store. If he can handle it responsibly, then we'll take it from there. I was a latch key child and was home a lot by myself while my parents had to work full time jobs, so there are times I think we underestimate our kids. However, once again - it all depends on the child.