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Would you leave a responsible 9yo and 5.5yo at home alone for about 10 minutes? - Page 4

Poll Results: Would you leave a responsible 9yo and 5.5yo home alone for 10 minutes?

 
  • 58% (107)
    Yes, if they have proven themselves to be responsible
  • 27% (51)
    Not under any circumstances at those ages
  • 14% (26)
    Maybe
184 Total Votes  
post #61 of 71
3/10/10 at 11:27pm
A lot depends as in maturity level ect. But I was babysitting for a few hours a night starting at 8 for family members. So in that case if I felt my child was mature enough then yeah I would.

To me if falls into common sense and what you feel your child is capable of. Who cares what others think. Because for some its not an option while other wouldn't bat an eye.
I have to laugh at the Georgia Guidelines. Who determines the maturity level? I mean really.
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post #62 of 71
3/10/10 at 11:37pm
For some reason, I tend to agree with the others that say they would walk somewhere, but not get in a car. I don't know why I have that feeling though, since the chance of something happening in other case is small.

Honestly though, I would probably never leave my kids in the scenario you describe because I never run 10 minute errands. If I had to go to the ATM, I would go in conjunction with another trip (grocery store, whatever) or ask my husband to get money on the way home. Same with trips to the bank, post office, etc. I always combine trips because it just seems wasteful to me otherwise (not preaching, just stating my feelings). The only situation I could envision where I'd be gone literally 10 minute is to run something over to a next-door neighbor's house. In that case, sure, I'd leave the kids home, why not?
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post #63 of 71
3/16/10 at 7:51am
not in a million years. BUT I don't have any clue what responsible behavior in a 9 year old would be as mine has ADD. So emotionally she's closer to her 5 year old sister. She doesn't hav ethe impulse control not to burn the house down and the 5 year old doesn't have the willpower and maturity to stop her. So with my kids, I'd rather gouge my eyes out with rusty spoons.
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post #64 of 71
3/16/10 at 8:27am
I would not. My main reason being what if I had an accident even if I am not badly injured it would be awhile before I could get back to them. And heaven forbid that it was found out during the ensuing mayhem that I left them home CPS would become involved.

I dont even want to think about what would happen if I was horribly injured with no one knowing my kids where home alone

After all the majority of car accident with injury happen within a mile of home. My last wreck was in site of my driveway.
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post #65 of 71
3/16/10 at 10:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pigpokey View Post
I believe there are only TWO out of FIFTY states that have any such laws and they are MD and IL.
is there a list of these laws somwwhere? I have no idea about the laws in my state (NJ).

nak
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post #66 of 71
3/16/10 at 12:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X View Post
After all the majority of car accident with injury happen within a mile of home. My last wreck was in site of my driveway.

I have heard this statistic also. That's why they say to buckle up even if you're driving around the corner.
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post #67 of 71
3/16/10 at 12:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NicaG View Post
is there a list of these laws somwwhere? I have no idea about the laws in my state (NJ).

nak

google Latchkey Kids.
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post #68 of 71
3/16/10 at 6:54pm
I would be OK with my 7-year-old stepdaughter and her 9-year-old friend (who sometimes stays by herself after school and is pretty streetwise).

However, unless there is a huge uptick in maturity in the next two years, I won't be leaving my stepdaughter with a 5-year-old, when she's a 9-year-old. I think she's pretty good about handling herself, even now (though she hates to be alone, so I wouldn't leave her in the house by herself longer than it would take to walk to the corner and back), but not at all capable of supervising others.
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post #69 of 71
3/17/10 at 2:23pm
Meh

Maybe I read too much at Free Range Kids? I guess my standard answer is it depends on the kid. I'm confident my oldest DD (now almost 20) was fine at that age. My current 8.5yo, probably not. She's just too flighty and dramatic. My 16yoDS could easily handle it at that age.

I'm also of the opinion that the state can recommend to their heart's content, but ultimately I am the one raising my children, not the state. If I let myself get caught up in the 'what ifs' of life, we'd have to live in a thermonuclear protected underground bunker surrounded by bubble wrap, and that's just not nearly as much fun as it sounds like it might be.
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post #70 of 71
3/17/10 at 3:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Theoretica View Post
If I let myself get caught up in the 'what ifs' of life, we'd have to live in a thermonuclear protected underground bunker surrounded by bubble wrap, and that's just not nearly as much fun as it sounds like it might be.
Are you sure it's not as much fun as it sounds like? Have you tried it? I suppose we would need to replace the bubble wrap pretty often though.
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post #71 of 71
3/18/10 at 3:11pm
not me.
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