Home Alone - what age?

[Rmeg]

Interested to know what other Mamas think is an OK age to leave your older kid(s) home alone for a short period, with the obvious precautions taken.

[Melda]

i would say 12-13 .... not sure why ... but i did catch my kitchen on fire at 12 because i was trying to cook something ... wait i change my mind ... it would depend on the child ...

[BelovedK]

I think it depends on the child. 11 or 12 seems fine for a very short time if the DC is responsible (and is doing homework or something)

[Ann-Marita]

I think it depends on the child's personality, the length of time, and whether or not the child can contact a parent (or other responsible adult) immediately.

My DD is nine (almost ten). She's a responsible kid, and mature in some ways for her age. I work around the corner (walking distance). I have my cell phone with me. I can leave her for 2 to 2.5 hours without it scaring either her or me.

[kewb]

I am pretty sure by law in my state you can not leave a child alone at home until they are 13 years old.

On a personal level, it would really depend on the childs maturity level.

[amydidit]

My DD is 9 and I don't think I'd leave her home alone for another few years... maybe 12 or 13. But my SIL leaves her DD home alone (or watching younger siblings) and she's only 11 (well, maybe 12). I've let my DD stay over there with just her and not worried about it. They're very close to neighbors they trust and live in a quiet, safe area.

Bottom line, for me, depends on the child and the area they're in.

[Periwinkle]

Depends on the child. I was left home alone at age 9 and was fine. Also depends if it's at night, etc. After school for an hour until mom gets home from work... I guess sometime between 8 and 11.

[JenniferH]

I started keeping my three younger sibs when I was 11, but we lived in the country surrounded on all sides by family. I know in Mississippi 11 is the minimum age to be home alone, and I think to supervise younger kids you have to be 13.

That being said, I would probably wait until my daughter is 12 or 13 to leave her home by herself. This is a small town, but it's not as quaint as it used to be.

[ryansmom02]

I have a very mature 11 yr old who is home some times after school by herself. I don't leave her with her brother but I do ler her stay home by herself.

[ebethmom]

I'm trying to remember when my Mom let us stay at home while she ran errands . . . I think we were 11 and 12 when she would leave us for a short while in the afternoon. She didn't leave our younger brother with us until we were 13 and 14.

[Ruthla]

It depends on the child. Some are ready at 9, others not until 13.

I'll leave my 9yo or my 10yo home alone for up to an hour- with the door locked, and instructions not to answer the phone or the door nor leave the house unless the house is on fire (at which point they should go to a neighbor's house to call 911.) They are not allowed to use the oven, stove, or toaster oven while I'm not home.

[LovemyBoo]

My ds will not be ready for QUITE some time. He is impulsive, immature, and not terribly responsible. I swear he's not staying home alone until he's 18 and it's his own home. Okay, maybe not that long. But close.

Dd is too young to call.

I think it really depends on the kid, how close responsible help is (are there trusted neighbors next door willing to check in?), and for how long. Each situation needs to be evaulated individually, though for me nothing under 9 for more than a few minutes.

[Parthenia]

Depends on the child and where you live. I was allowed to stay home alone after school when I was 9 or 10. But it was only for about an hour until my mom came home (she taught high school). I also had to check in with the neighbors once I got home, so they knew I was home. I didn't do it every day. Most of the time I stayed with the neighbors because they would give me something to eat, and I adored "Nana", our neighbors mother who lived with them.
I started babysitting a 3 month old at 11 and continued to baby sit him until we moved to Memphis when I was almost 15, so someone thought I was mature.
I have a 6 yo dd, and at the rate she's going, I'm not sure I'd leave her home alone at 9 or 10 for an hour. She'd probably get bored and destructive.

[tiffer23]

I think it completely depends on the child. Some aren't okay to be left alone at 15 still, while some (by maturity level) could be okay at 8 or 9 for a while.

I know a 7 year old and 9 year old that are alone for 30 minutes between the time their bus drops them off and the time their mom gets home from work, and they do just fine. They are very mature and responsible boys. Most kids wouldn't be okay for that long alone though. (Plus, their mom has asked me to be here for them to call if they needed anything, they live a block behind us)

I don't think there is any set age that a child magically can stay alone and be okay though. Most state laws are 12 or 13 though, I think.

[johub]

I have never heard that there are even state laws governing this. In my state I believe there is a law that a child cannot babysit unrelated children before age 12. But there is no minimum age to be home alone, even with younger siblings.
That said, I confidently left my 9 year old home alone on several occasions.
In fact I was MORE comfortable leaving her home alone at 9 than I am now at 13.
Depends on the kid.

[srain]

Y'know, when I was a kid way back in the 80s, kids were left home alone a lot. I was no- my brother was 7 years older than me and a built-in babysitter by the time I was 5- but the kids across the street were alone for 2 hours or so after school at 6 and 8. Amazing how norms change....

[oldermamato5]

I think 12 yrs. and depending on the maturity of the child.

[Drummer's Wife]

I'm thinking between 10-12 yrs but then again it depends on the maturity level of the child. I know I was babysitting for families with 3 young children at age 12.

[crysmomofthree]

I was left in charge of my 4 younger siblings when I was 11, it all went okay. I really think it depends on the child. My ds is 9 and I considered leaving him home alone for an hour yesterday. But I was really only comfortable with that if they neighbors were home (which they weren't) so he came along.

I figured I let him play outside (bikes, basketball etc) relatively unsupervised for up to 2 hours at a time so if he can handle that with minimal to no conflict that I am sure he is capable of being in his house with the door locked by himself for an hour.
crystal

[MidwifeErika]

I was left home alone from an early age if I was sick and my parents had to work. I must have been 6 or 7. However, I was a mature kid who never touched the stove, ran water, open the door, anything. Also, I lived in a town of less than 3,000 people, my parents worked only 7 blocks away (and came home for lunch breaks and school prep hours) and our neighbors were good people who could be trusted to help keep an eye on the house. this certainly isn't the ideal,but in my case it worked out fine. My brother only now at almost 15 is left home alone if sick.
I was babysittinig for others at 11 and actually we had a babysitter (before we moved) who was 11 when she started for us. She was sooooooo mature and her mom was just a few blocks away and I felt completely comfortable with her. Most 11 year olds I wouldn't, but this kid was 11 going on 35 Oh yeah, and when we needed a sitter it was for a few hours, before dark. Look into if there laws governing it and then base it on your own kids and what you feel comfortable with.