Kids Home Alone

I would be worried sick because kids can be unpredictable even if they know the basis rules. But i guess it's a big problem for a lot of parents who have to work out of necessity. If I had to do it I'd make sure that a neighbour knows that my child is alone.

Yes, I do. As long as you have taught them rules, and the dangers of breaking such rules and have faith that your children are following these rules. My brother and I stayed home as kids and I still believe it is okay for kids that have passed a certain age to stay home.

My parents let us stay home after school alone when I was in 5th grade. We were there for a very short amount of time along (probably 1 to 1 1/2 hours. I would do that when my child hits 6th grade probably depending on how mature my children are at the time. I have boys so I don't know if they will be ready yet. As long as the family has talked and the kids know what to do in emergencies and are old enough to handle it, I see nothing wrong with it. I think 10 is a little young but that's just my opinion.

I am in the same situation. I work a few days a week and my children come home and are by themselves for close to three hours. They can call me anytime or text me. I also have a couple of neighbors that keep an eye out for me. Before I went back to work I did call our local police department to ask them what the age min. was on leaving your child home alone. I always thought it was 12,but to my surprise there is no age limit. The officer I talked with said he new of some eight and nine year olds that were very responsible and were being left home alone. Once again I think it's the parents choice and what they are comfortable doing. If, someone is so concerned then why don't they offer to watch the childern for the working parents?

I hate leaving them, but i am home shortly after lunch, so they are only home in the morning...they are in school mostly, but this week has been interesting (march break)...i try have things for them to do and by the summer, i hope to working from home...they are pretty good girls and don't argue too much, so that helps!

It really depends on the child. I have friends whose kids I would never leave alone however there are others that are very responsible and able to handle being left alone without issue. It important for the parent to establish guidelines and I think also to ease them into a whole day alone. Myself I would (and did) leave my children alone for a short time on a regular basis and as I knew how they were handling that add a little more time until I was comfortable with them being alone for extended periods of time. I always left them a list of who to call for different things and of course where I could be reached also. Often in the beginning there would be a neighbour close by who knew there was a child home alone so if there was an emergency they had a quick responder. I think it's important to give your child a sense of responsibility and independence by doing such things as they grow. I know of many older children who don't have a clue since they were never given this opportunity to grow.

actualy that is a hard decision to make, to leave the kids home alone, but sometimes thats the only choice they have.when i was 8yrs old i also left alone with my brother who is 10yrs old while my mom working.

We leave my kids home alone a few times a week actually....sometimes its for a couple hours (to do the groceries) and sometimes its for 5 or 6 hours at a time cause we're out running around doing shopping, goin for our coffee, running errands and sometimes just for a long drive.....We've been doing it for well over a yr now and there has never been an issue with it....My son is 13.5 and my daughter will be 12 in May and they know the rules, how to handle themselves, they are responsible, have the dogs to protect them and so on.... As far as i'm concerned, if the kids are responsible enough and will follow the rules then there is no problem with it at all IMO...

Well I know as a child I was left home alone in the third grade so I was 8 at the time. I had the mumps and my parents worked. I was home alone for a good 6 hours between the time everyone left and my siblings got home from school. We lived out in the country so no one was close by either. I know in Florida at age 8 DCF says that they can be left home alone for 2 hours. This is to allow for most latchkey kids. After that they really don't have a set limit. Technically in Florida by DCF if they pass the babysitter's class they can babysit at age 12. Personally though I think it depends on the kid. Some kids are mature enough and able enough to be alone at 6 while others could be 17 and not mature enough to be left alone all day. As a general rule though over 10 I wouldn't have a problem especially if they aren't alone as the impression I am getting from your post. If they are going to be alone then there should be someone within a close range (10 to 20 minute drive) that they can get in touch with if need be.

My children are almost 12, next month, 11, 9 and 8. I leave them alone while I grocery shop, after school for tops 3 hrs, for short errands. If I'm going out for the evening, I hire a babysitter. Unless I'm right next door. Even though I feel they would be safe alone in the evening, I have fantastic neighbours. I would not be able to enjoy myself leaving them alone together after dark. Funny thing though, my daughter babysits for her Aunt, sometimes until 2 in the morning, but babysitting for someone else then your siblings is different. It was to me, at 11 with a friend I sometimes babysat over night. During the summer though, because I have a pool, I always make sure there is someone over the age of `6 there. I do agree with other posters, it all depends on the individual children involved.

I think it depends on the child as well. If you think something is going to happen OR it has in the past NO. But I was able to be left alone around 10 or older. I think it was closer to 12. I cant recall exact times or the event. But I recall in my teens early ones being home alone sometimes. It wasnt when my parents worked. My dad has been the only income in our house our whole lives (mom hurt herself and also has to take care of my handicappted sister too). So yeah it all depends...

I depends on the children and their ages. If you leave 5 12 year olds alone...think about it.

yes, i think its o.k to leave them home depending on their maturity. only a parent really knows how mature their child is. i leave my home and they are 17 and 15. i have a 10 yr old too but i would only leave her home alone for very short times and call her a few times too.

well i dont think it is correct to leave the children home and parents go to works....this is because it is the time during 10 to 18 tht a person undergoes a lot of changes...a child's character may become good or bad during this time...so if they are left alone in home they may get into the wrong path....so it is during this time the parents should give a lot of love and care to children.... so atleast one of them should be in house...

I have an 11yr old son and the longest I would consider leaving him home alone is 2hours. As he gets older the time will increase but to get him started I think 2 hours is enough.

I did and it didn't cause any problems. The problems came later after they were married.

I have a 16, 9, and 4 yr old. I do leave my 16 yr old to babysit but i am not yet ready to let my 9 yr stay home alone with my 4 yr old. He hates going shopping with my little one and me but i make him go. I think it depends a lot on the maturity of the kids. My daughter was very mature at age 9. while i would not leave her home to babysit, i was not worried when she got home from school and was alone for 2 hours before i got home. she was very responsible. my son that is 9 does not have the same maturity as my oldest child did. i worry that he would try to cook something and burn the house down. so maturity really plays a key role.

I think it's normal. Kids over 10 but under 18 are not little children. Parents should teach them to be self-dependent. I was left at home alone for the first time when I was 9. I was very afraid, but then became pleasant to me. I was free.

depends on their age.if they are btw 11-13 i dont think that is reasonable coz yu neva can tell wat they might be yu too.but if they are btw the ages of 14-17,that is still considerable in a way.but generally i feel that attension shud be given to every child coz they deserve it.can i ask this question.why exactly are we working?i believe is to get money to feed and take care of our children.aside from dat i think every child deserve mother and fatherly love and shud be given plenty of attension.

truthfully, i dont think its wrong for the kids to be home by themselves. but if it gets to some point, you wont know what the kids would be doing when your not home. i guess you can say they might turn to the bad side? they might be doing things that they shouldnt be doing when they arent home, and they know that they wont get caught, so whatever it is, they finish it before the parents come. It's hard for the parents to not work and stay with the kids forever, and thats why we should have more homebase jobs for moms!