What is an acceptable age to leave your kids at home alone?

My parents left me home alone when I was 12, but it was different then from now. If I have my children, I won't leave them alone at home until they are about 16 years old. There was too much burden on me, and I have to make sure they know what they are doing at home alone.

I started staying home alone at 8 years old. I started babysitting at 8/9 years old as well. I think it all depends on the maturity of the child. Personally I dont think kids these days have the maturity level as children did 15+ years ago. My 2 oldest are pushing the 8 year mark and wouldnt dream of leaving them alone. Now a days that is considered child neglect. I am thinking my children wont be left alone until about 13 or 14 years old. Maybe even a little bit older if they are as careless and disrespectful as they are now. Every child is different. I know in the state I live in you can leave your child alone at age 12 without getting in trouble with the state.

My parents left me home alone ever since I was 5 or 6. I wasn't scared and actually, it made me more responsible. After that, I wanted to be home alone and I would clean the house (not my room, the whole house) to surprise them when they got back. It made me feel nice that I could do whatever I wanted so I set my own limits and I'm glad I did. It really depends on how you've brought up your child and how well you've taught self preservation. For example, I rented my own place when I was 16, stayed at school and worked to pay my bills. My brother is now 16 and he doesn't even cook or clean. It depends on how responsible the child is, not how old.

Well i have never experienced such situation in my life but later i faced it at the age of 15 when i left to study out. It depends upon the child's mind that can he/she is capable of taking the responsibilities or not. But it is better to make them to take their responsibilities as quick as possible and that is really good for them.

My daughter is 12 years old and because i'm a working mom i have no choice but to leave her at home.She goes to school from 7am-4pm.I make sure i'll be home at dinner.

I personally think that parents never know when it is acceptable to leave their kids alone. Kids always manage to cook up mischief. We all know how kids are. They want to figure things out almost all the time. But, I guess at 14 or 15 kids may be left alone without supervision.

my daughter is 13 and we have left her alone during the day for a few hours but at night, it would have to be older. i think she would have to be at least 11 or 12 before we would do that. same with our older daughter. (she is 17 now, but it was around the same age).

My parents didn't start leaving my siblings and I home alone until I was around that age too. By then we were old enough to know what to do and what not to do. And even then we were always told to go to the neighbors (they were good friends of the family) if anything happened. Before that we always ending staying at a friend's house which was kind of fun because they had kids too. I guess things are different now because I know some people that would leave their 8 or 9 year old kids at home for hours on end. Things like that makes me worried because we never know what can happen in those few hours without any adults around.

I believe that in this state, the age at which one can leave a child alone and not be charged with child abandonment is 10. However, their mental age varies from child to child.

I have four children and didn't leave any of them home alone until they were 13 or 14. Even if the child is very responsible they still may not know how to react in an emergency. You have to consider everything too, where you live, who your neighbors are. Terrible things happen in the world and they can even happen to adults, some adults are fooled into openning the door for a stranger. I don't think children have the wisdom to always choose the right action in an emergency and I wouldn't take the risk, life makes us pay for our mistakes.

my mom left me home alone starting at about age 11, just for a half hour or so at a time, then gradually working up. I was not left alone with my brother, 4 years younger, until I was able to drive. It may have something to do with the fact that my brother was a sneak and liar. It would have been too much for me to handle.

Wow, I would never have left my child home at the age of 8! OMG! I left my child home alone for about two hours during the day when she was 13. I would never leave her alone at night. She is now almost 16 and I still don't leave her home alone at night.

Around age 10. It depends on how long he/she is home alone and how responsible your child is. It's a judgement call. There are plenty of adults out there who have no business being left home alone.

I believe that this all depends on the child's maturity. I was left home by myself while my dad worked at the age of 10; my sister, however, was not left alone until she was 14, because she always wanted to order pizza, buy pay per view movies, etc. Maturity is a key factor; if the child can't handle being alone, they shouldn't be left alone. However, if you feel as though they can handle it, knows when to call 911 etc, then they can be left on their own.

I think that would depend on the maturity of the child. I don’t exactly remember from what age but I’ve been staying alone at home for a few hours after school in my childhood, till my mom came home from office. Since I am a single child, I had no other company except myself. mom would keep food like bread and biscuits and chocolates etc in the fridge for me with which I managed. Since I don’t exactly remember my age, so I think I too was quite young then…maybe 8/9 years or even younger. We did have staying maids on and off but nobody permanently. My grandparents stayed in the floor below us, so in that way I was ‘safe’…but regarding everything else, I was very much on my own from a very early age… I even carried the key with me to school LOL

I am a primary school teacher and we once discussed what age is appropriate to leave a child alone at home. We thought age 14 years was acceptable if the child is responsible enough. He or she should be able to contact someone to help if necessary like a neighbor. A 10 year old girl might be very sensible but a 15 year old boy might be quite silly. So there parents wouldn't be able to let their 15 year old son stay at home alone. When the girl reaches 12 years old she might be as sensible as a a 14 year old girl. I think 8 years old is a too early to leave a child home alone. If the child is disabled he or she might not be safe if left alone at age 14 years. For that reason the government of my home country let the parents make their best judgment. Each child is different and most are sensible enough at 14 years old.

i think it depends on the culture you are in because here in our country, Philippines we love to be with our love ones even if they are already old.. unlike in the states they let their kids left them if they reach 18 and the old are send to the home for the aged. here in our country, we prefer that we take care of our grandmothers and grandfathers or just be with the family.. most of us here are extended family and its nice because we have a lot of fun, that's why the more the merrier..hehehe

I was left home all by myself when I was 9 or 10. I was in primary school then and when I get home at noon, everyone was out already. My parents are at their work and my other brothers and sister are in their respective schools. As long as the kids are responsible enough to take care of themselves and the house I think it is acceptable for them to be left at home alone.

I don't remember the time that i was left alone, anyway i have my daughter already and she will turns 3 next month. I don't see her leaving alone it will be terrifying. Anyway, i don't think there's a right age, i guess maturity is the answer. If anyone is matured enough, you can leave him/her alone.

HI, I really can't remember when is the first time my parents left me at home together with my siblings. When I was young, I used to stick to my mother or my father when they went out, I like to join them to everywhere and now, I can see those same habit at my son, He just like to follow me to everywhere. He is not a homely boy,for sure,not like his daddy. From my point of view, If i were to leave my son alone at home, I have to wait till he is 15 years old,at least he is old enough to takecare of his own and he know better of what is right and what is wrong. I have to concern about safetyness while leaving him alone at home. Or else, I will ask my relative to help me takecare of him while I am away, At least, my son is not alone at home.