How old should kids be before being left home alone?
Some states say 6 years old, some say 12. Ds is in 3rd grade, and has a key to the house. If I run to Walmart while he's in school, I don't flip out if he's there for 10 minutes alone. BUT, his father (my ex) threw a fit that I let him walk 3 blocks home in 2nd grade. Long story, but he called DHS and the lady said straight out he was over-protective and kids are fine walking home or being home for up to TWO HOURS at that age. Too much for me, but whatever. The schools where we were didn't even have busses for kids who were "close" to school, ie were inside the 1.5 mile radius (even if walking the sidewalks took 3 miles).
Just wondering what the consensus is. How old would you start letting a child stay home, and for how long?
I think a lot depends on the area you live in and the maturity of the child. I live in a very small town with a very low crime rate. My 11 yo niece used to babysit my 7 yo for a couple of hours after school. But if I were to leave mine alone, she would freak. She's just not ready for it, and I'm not sure I am either. I guess if I had to pick an age I would say, maybe 10? (I'm overprotective, too)
Here in DE a child has to be 12 before you can legally leave them home alone. I don't mind leaving my daughter (age 8 ) alone for 20 minutes while I'm up the street at the bus stop waiting for my son's (age 4) bus to get home, but the house is locked and we have big dogs 
I would probably feel comfortable leaving her home alone at age 10 because she is very mature & self-sufficient. Not all day, but while I ran to the store, sure. Did I mention the big dogs? With DS I don't know - I can't say what he'll be like when he's older, but I can't think I'd trust him alone until he's 12. I think it just depends on the maturity of the child. But as far as walking home from school - my daughters friends do it everyday with no problem. I'd let my kids do it if we lived in town & they were designated walkers, but you can be darn sure I'd check the local sex offender registry first. I'm definitely overprotective in that area.
-Lisa
Really depends on your child. Here they can get the babysitting courses at 11. Some insurance company won't pay you if something happens at your house if your kid was alone at the time, and that he/she is under 12. My 8 y-o can stay alone while I'm picking up his sister or his brother. My dd will take the babysitting course this Spring.
I agree it depends on the child, I spent the summer I was 11 babysitting my 2 cousins who were 3 & 4 for a couple hours at a time. My uncle and grandparents were working in the town (750 residents) the house was in and would come home to check on us.
Latter those same cousins had to have my sister come over who was the same age as them to be left, this was when they were all about 12 or so and lasted until they were about 15.
My oldest is 8 and I won't leave him alone yet, I have to drag the youngest with anyway so it isn't really extra work because there is no way I would trust the 2 in the house.
As for walking home alone I know that when we lived places where we could walk my mom would walk whoever was in kindergarten to school and after that we were on our own.
Mine is mature enough to handle short runs, like when I go across the street to grab something from MIL or to go out and get the mail. But I tell him to stay inside and that I'll be right back. My MIL will do the same, but she has a dog and that dog is very protective of Alex when it comes to strangers.
I used to be home alone for a few hours after school when I was in 4th grade ??, but I was an only child and could take care of myself for the most part.
I took a baby-sitting course when I was 11 and started getting paid baby-sitting jobs shortly after. Looking back I think those parents were crazy leaving their little kids all day with an 11 year old. I don't think I would leave my kids with anyone who was not old enough to drive. My stepson is 11, almost 12 and there is no way I'd let him watch my kids or stay home by himself.
I MIGHT let my kids stay home by themselves for short periods of time when they are 12 but we'll see how responsible they are when the time comes. I am in shock over the young ages that some of the states say it is ok to leave a child alone. I just don't think it's safe, I mean, what if there was an emergency, would an 8 year old really know what to do? Scary.
I mean running across the street is one thing, that's no big deal but do they mean it's ok to actually drive off somewhere and leave the child? I can't believe it.
I disagree with my husband about this also, but for different reasons. I have that kid with bad luck! He's gotten into a car accident already without any assistance from a running engine. If you could set the house on fire with a piece of glass and sunshine, it would happen to him. I left him alone in the house while I took my other son to the bus 6 blocks away to avoid getting sick in the van, and he got lonely and called me.
I have to agree it will be closer to 12 years old before it is an extended period of time. Somewhat because of his luck and sometimes because of T.V. news and horror stories about running an errand a few blocks away and the house catches on fire.
If I went by, "when I was your age", he'd be making my dinner by age 10 at home and babysitting his sibling. I have to agree that it depends on the child, your community, your neighbors, and household safety.
I took a baby-sitting course when I was 11 and started getting paid baby-sitting jobs shortly after. Looking back I think those parents were crazy leaving their little kids all day with an 11 year old. I don't think I would leave my kids with anyone who was not old enough to drive.
I mean running across the street is one thing, that's no big deal but do they mean it's ok to actually drive off somewhere and leave the child?
SAME HERE!
I can't believe I was baby-sitting when I was 10 and 11 years old, and the parents were completely okay with it! I look at 10 and 11-year olds now and think they still need baby-sitters! I'm sure it's fine, but my sister leaves my 18-month old niece with a 14-year old baby-sitter and it makes me nervous. She just seems SO young, ya know!
But like many others have said -- you know your own children and what they're capable of!
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought 6 was too young! We're in a SMALL village, the landlord lives 10 yards from our front door, and we know all the neighbors. Family is 5 miles in either direction. BUT, I won't leave him home very long at 8 years old. He wants to, and just watches a movie if his homework is done, and knows how/when to get help, but I'm just not ready.
The problem is when we have to go up for doctor appointments, it's over an hour away. We try to schedule them so we get home no later than him, but at times we won't get home until about an hour after he does. He wants to just come home, but I think we'll continue to send him to a babysitter for the time being.
I am another one that says it depends on your child, neighborhood, etc... I used to stay home by myself after school for 2-2.5 hrs in 3rd grade. I was in a small town where everyone knew eachother and my house was at the end of a dead end block with retired couples on the rest of the street and most (i learned later) always watched for me, even they knew when I should be home. I used to walk home if it was nice enough wheather or a friends mom would take me home. I was an only child and everyday when I got home i had to call my mom at work. If it got past a certain time she would call my grandma or aunt who where withen a few miles and have them look for me.
However I know of a few cousins that I wouldn't have trusted at home 12yrs old.
So i guess in the long run I would have to say trust your gut and make sure if you leave your children at home alone they have emergency numbers and know what to do if they feel uncomfortable. I knew I could go to any of my neighbors homes without a problem if I wasn't comfortable or had something go wrong.
I live in a pretty small town with a very low crime rate and have a pretty mature 7 year old but still I dont like the idea of leaving him home alone occasionaly I will have to run my husband to work in the mornings and my son will stay behind to get ready for school and I did give him a house key just incase im in town and theres some kind of hold up on the freeway that prevents me from getting home on time but I dont think I would ever say stop and have lunch and think that he would be fine for that 30 min's he walks himslef a block and half to and from the bus each day something that I was reluctant to let him do but apparently hes just too big to have his mom walk him to the bus that hurt a little. I watched kids all the time when I was 11 and 12 but its different with your own kid while I would permit a 12 year old cousin to watch my 3 year old outside around the house I would never leave them home alone it's a tight rope walk protecting your kids and letting them have a little independence. and while we are on the subject kinda how old do you think a child should be before they are allowed to walk or ride there bikes down to a friends house several blocks away (but without crossing any busy road's.)
I also babysat when i was 11 and the real kicker it was for a family with 6 kids........can you even fathom that today! I am about ready to start letting my neighbor come and watch my son as she is 13 and SUPER grown up...just the sweetest girl ever. Still though I can't imagine leaving even her for more than an hour or two.
When I was 13 yrs. old and on summer break I babysat for an 18 month old for 10 hours a day, five days a week, while his mother was at work. I lived across the alley from them, so my mom was close by. I was a pretty responsible kid, which helped. Today, I wouldn't dream of letting a 13 yr. old watch a child that young for that many hours.
My oldest son was 10 before I let him walk down to the corner by himself to meet his friends at the park. I admit, however, there were a few times when I left him snug (and locked in) in the warm car while I ran in the convenience store, keeping him in my line of vision at all times, to grab a gallon of milk. My younger son is 8, and I am much more protective now because it seems that compared to only 10 yrs. ago, the world has changed significantly - and unfortunately not in a good way.
his father (my ex) threw a fit that I let him walk 3 blocks home in 2nd grade. Long story, but he called DHS and the lady said straight out he was over-protective
My ex pulled the same stunt on me, only he called the police!! They told him that the girls were fine, and that they knew how to contact both me and DH. The 9yo can recite my cell #, my work #, my email, DH's cell and work #'s. I don't worry too much!! 
My 9 yo stays home by herself for about an hour and a half before her 11 yo sister gets home from school. From that point on, it's about another hour and a half before DH and I get home from work. We live a small town and everyone knows whose children they are and where they belong. My girls are very responsible, BUT I wouldn't dream of leaving them at home alone if we still lived in the city. I still have limits. I will not let the 9yo stay home alone all day, as she doesn't like to be alone for long periods of time.
You really have to judge their individual level of maturity.
I totally think it depends on the child. My mom started letting me come home by myself after school when I was 7 or 8. Now, if that was a wise decision is in question but I was a really mature (meaning: goody two shoes) as a kid. My child is only three so I can't say REALLY what my opinion is on this yet.
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