Home Alone

What age do you feel is OK for being left home alone?

  • 5

    Votes: 1 2.1%

  • 6

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 7

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 8

    Votes: 2 4.3%

  • 9

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 10

    Votes: 10 21.3%

  • 11

    Votes: 8 17.0%

  • 12

    Votes: 11 23.4%

  • 13

    Votes: 5 10.6%

  • other

    Votes: 10 21.3%
  • Total voters
    47
Depends on the kid. I leave my 2 oldest alone for a couple hours at a time if we go to the gym or out to dinner, Karsten is 9 and Jo is 7. I wouldn't leave Jo home alone and I'm not sure if I'll feel he's responsible enough at 9 either...he's much less responsible than Karsten. I won't leave Finn home with them any time soon either.
 
I am another one for depending on the kid.....Abby and Ben totally...Sam even got herself up and dressed and walked to the bus in 2nd grade (but we did live in base housing so she walked with all the neighborhood kids to the bus stop)......Sam (20) has pretty much always stayed with them if needed and if she wasn't available then some kind of daycare.....but Peyton...NEVER EVER EVER....you can't even take your eyes off of him when he is like 2 feet from you....But Abby is Nic's age and she could totally be ok at home and she would know what to do in an emergency situation as well....I would recommend (if you can) to get him a phone and take yours with you, so if he really needed something he could call you :)
 
He does have an iPod Touch and could FaceTime. I actually just thought of that, it had worried me before, not having a house phone.
 
Mari I think if he could facetime you in an instance, that would be perfect! and I am not sure if you are in a house or an apartment complex, but I would certainly make sure he knows where to go in case of fire....
 
I voted other . . definately depends on the child, and the circumstances. I couldnt leave my kids at home by themselves for too long - I have left my girls (5, 10 and 16) at home while I go to the shop, maybe 20min tops. The oldest is very bossy with the younger ones, especially if she thinks she's 'in charge' so I cant really leave them unsupervised for long. I cant leave the 16 year old at home alone for any length of time as she would just eat her way through the cupboards *sigh* the joys
 
lovely1m said:
He does have an iPod Touch and could FaceTime. I actually just thought of that, it had worried me before, not having a house phone.
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Mine both have ipods thats how they chat with me while gone. They can imessage or facetime me. They have to check in every 10 minutes if I'm not around. Every hour if they are at a friend's house. :) I don't think either need a full phone right now, so this is a great compromise.
 
Just cause I mentioned to him earlier trying it, today he says, I can just stay home by myself mom, all day, I will be fine. lol Umm, no, child.
 
I have not left my kids home alone yet. I do remember as a kid, my mom left me home alone with my younger siblings when I was about 9 or 10 but she had no other choice (no babysitter and she needed to go to night classes). However, my aunt and uncle lived next door so she told them we were home alone. I did not like it but then again, I was a timid child but responsible.

My sister leaves her kids home alone when she runs to the store and they are 11, 5 and 3. My 11 year old nephew is mature beyond his years. As for my son, I don't think he is ready to tackle being alone with his feisty sister. I think he needs to grow up a little more. Plus, I don't live where my parents live and don't really know my neighbors.

In hindsight, I think that's why my mom felt it was okay to leave us home alone when we had family and neighbors we knew living nearby.
 
Lukas is 11 in 2 weeks time, we have been leaving him home alone since just before his 10th birthday while we go shopping. We started doing it because he was such a PITA when we took him, it's never for more than 60-90 minutes and we could be home in 10 minutes if we had to be. To be honest Lukas is too lazy to get himself in trouble. We have lots of rules about what he can and can't do while we are out, and he always follows them, to the point where when I accidentally left my keys at home he wouldn't answer the door to me and I had to ring Mark to come home from work with his lol. He usually sits on my computer or up in his room watching youtube videos until we get back.
 
I should point out my little brother is 20 and my mom still doesn't willingly leave him in the house alone. lol She'll call me or my older brother and ask us to find excuses to go to the house.
 
We have started to let the boys stay home alone for an hour or two. They are 10 and 8. However, they have strict rules. They may not go outside, etc. They are both really good, though, no rule breakers here. Plus, our neighbors across the street are always home, so if they need an adult immediately, they know they can call them.
 
I said 10, I'd trust Keira (8) now and Cooper(5) for that matter, with Keira. They are usually up a couple hours before me and Harper, like they get up at 7, and I get up around 9. Sean feeds them before he leaves for work and they play in the basement or their rooms. I wouldn't leave them for long periods. But Cooper would be scared.

When I was 9, stayed all day by myself, and I loved it! LOL!

I've left them in the car, only if I can see the car from where I'm at. Like if I had to run into walgreens or the post office. But my van, you can take the keys out, lock it and turn it back on. I've only done that because Harper is so dang heavy for just 5 minutes in and out of somewhere.

I've never left them at home alone though. And probably won't anytime soon.
 
I couldn't leave J home alone for any length of time. Ever. He's 7. I could leave Abby here but wouldn't.
 
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