Home alone?

[sha_lyn]

I think it really depends on the kid. I recently had this talk with a friend that works with 911. Seems that either the guidelines have changed or my neighbor was lied to yrs ago when she talk to the police. she was told 13 to stay alone and I believe 15 to babysit. Now in the state of GA there isn't a set law, but guidelines. 9 is consisdered OK to leave them alone during the day. I believe it was 10 to babysit a sibling and 11 (might havebeen 12)to babysit other children. I have to say I was shocked. I wasn't comfortable leaving DS home alone until he was 11. DH thought 11 was way to young. Then againI have to look at it from DH's perspective. For yrs he was the older sibling (older by 2 yrs) watching an out of control preteen/teen. For yrs he blamed himself for all the trouble his brother got into.

 

[XYSRUS]

I'll leave my 11 yo to watch his 9, 5, and 3 yo brothers. They're all really great and have been instructed and we practice fire drills, phone calls, friends knocking at the door etc. They even clean and vacuum! Once we even came home to them all asleep in their beds. My oldest is quite responsible. I don't do it often, but you would be surprised of what your kids are capable of doing! Good things and bad things- Each family is different, and kids personalities are all different too. Good luck.