How old were your kids when you left them home alone while you were at work?

[Robinrs]

I don't think it's really so much of having to be a 'certain age'...it should be more about 'how mature/ready' the child is.

I agree. My son was mature enough and had no distractions as an only child by the age of 10. He's more disciplined than I am!

He's 17 now and still has WAY more sense than I do!!

 

[Sleepy]

I have not read the entire thread, so forgive me for repeating if I am. My concern would be whether you live in an apartment or a house. There was a time when my son was about 11 that I allowed him to stay home alone while I worked. He knew the rule about not opening the door to strangers and if there was a stranger, don't even verbally acknowledge they are standing outside. The first day he was alone, he called me scared. Someone was trying to use a key to get in the apartment. Fortunately, we changed the locks shortly after moving in. Turns out it was the maintenance man. The apartment manager called my cell phone explaining the need to have access to the apartment that day. Also told me I was not authorized to change the locks. I was thankful I had. I made arrangements for my son to stay at a summer activity center that evening.

 

[shortbun]

I think 11 is young for that much alone time. A day here and there but I think I'd be making some other plans for her to mix it up a bit. You have a while to get it organized.
Would you be able to come home for lunch and take her to a friends or somewhere else?
Does she have a responsible friend who could come over once in a while? I left my son alone after school often with friends that I knew I could trust at that age. His Dad was always a possible available for emergencies, transportation or other things. That was 2 hours and not every day due to school activity; they had homework too. I think your daughter will be bored and unhappy by herself for all that time.

 

[NHdisneylover]

It sounds like you are pretty confident in her ablities to handle herself but worried about boredom and lonliness (as many of us have suggested). perhaps you can split hte difference and hire an odler teen or college student to do thigns with her 2-3 days a week. It wouldn't cost as much as hiring someone full time and would and she would still get that independence, but she would not be sitting aorund bored and lonely all of August. If you had a college student who drives who could take her to the movies, swimming, hiking, museums, library etc on Monday, Wednesday adn Friday then yoru DD may enjoy a couple of down time days a week in between to be on her own at home.

 

[McKelly]

Somewhat OT, I told my DH this seems to be a common concern for a lot of people. I told him I will stay home with my kids until their older but try to make some money this summer by offering "tween" care. Just curious, and this is not a criticism in anyway, just information, do you not want to put them in daycare because of the cost, or because they are too old? If it is strictly cost, then I probably won't make any money and shouldn't waste my time!! What would you consider reasonable as a per day cost for your older child?

 

[LynnTH]

This is a great thread. I too am going to be going through this soon. My DS will be 11 in February and my DD will be 9 in June. Right now we leave them home alone (together) for a few hours at at time. They do great and are very responsible when we are out. They can call us whenever they need to and usually the only time they call is to ask if they can have a snack.

This is the first year since they were born that we do not have before and after daycare. My bosses let me come in late every morning and I get my kids on the bus. I think they would be responsible enought to do that but the winters here can get nasty and I don't need them sitting out at the bus stop in -15 degree weather and then the bus is 20-30 minutes late. So, I feel better being at the bus stop with them (if it's tool cold they just sit in the car til the bus comes). They do come home alone and they must call me when the get home. I am usually on my way home by that time. They usually get a snack and then both are sitting down doing their homework when I get home (House rule - homework done ASAP).

They have both done really well and both are fine staying alone. Still trying to figure out if we send them to daycare for another summer or try letting them stay home. We do have neighbors that are home all day. Boy, it sure is nice not having to pay the extra daycare costs but I also want to make sure they are ready. The both did just attend a 'staying home alone class' also. We do have a nice daycare lady but now that we moved it is a bit out of the way.

This thread has given me lots to think about. Thanks.

 

[Mermaid02]

My daughter was 11, and my son will be 40 when I leave him alone in my house.

 

[traces7]

I have not read the entire thread, so forgive me for repeating if I am. My concern would be whether you live in an apartment or a house. There was a time when my son was about 11 that I allowed him to stay home alone while I worked. He knew the rule about not opening the door to strangers and if there was a stranger, don't even verbally acknowledge they are standing outside. The first day he was alone, he called me scared. Someone was trying to use a key to get in the apartment. Fortunately, we changed the locks shortly after moving in. Turns out it was the maintenance man. The apartment manager called my cell phone explaining the need to have access to the apartment that day. Also told me I was not authorized to change the locks. I was thankful I had. I made arrangements for my son to stay at a summer activity center that evening.

We live in a house. But in some ways that seems almost scarier to me.

I think 11 is young for that much alone time. A day here and there but I think I'd be making some other plans for her to mix it up a bit. You have a while to get it organized.
Would you be able to come home for lunch and take her to a friends or somewhere else?
Does she have a responsible friend who could come over once in a while? I left my son alone after school often with friends that I knew I could trust at that age. His Dad was always a possible available for emergencies, transportation or other things. That was 2 hours and not every day due to school activity; they had homework too. I think your daughter will be bored and unhappy by herself for all that time.

No I work too far away (25 miles) to come home and check on her or take her somewhere. That would be great if I could.

Somewhat OT, I told my DH this seems to be a common concern for a lot of people. I told him I will stay home with my kids until their older but try to make some money this summer by offering "tween" care. Just curious, and this is not a criticism in anyway, just information, do you not want to put them in daycare because of the cost, or because they are too old? If it is strictly cost, then I probably won't make any money and shouldn't waste my time!! What would you consider reasonable as a per day cost for your older child?

We only have a couple daycares in town and her old one for sure doesn't take older than 10, the other one might take up to 12, but she's not real big on going to daycare. Last year I thought that would be a good business for someone, starting a childcare facility or camp that kids 9-12 could go to in the summer. We literally have nothing in our hometown. I'm not sure how much day care for an older child would cost. I was kid of wondering that myself. Any ideas?

 

[aprilgail2]

We only have a couple daycares in town and her old one for sure doesn't take older than 10, the other one might take up to 12, but she's not real big on going to daycare. Last year I thought that would be a good business for someone, starting a childcare facility or camp that kids 9-12 could go to in the summer. We literally have nothing in our hometown. I'm not sure how much day care for an older child would cost. I was kid of wondering that myself. Any ideas?

They don't have any summer camps near you? We have summer camps for all ages- when they are 11 they can start going to travel camps, they go different places each day - Ball Games, Water Parks, Bowling, Roler Skating, Amusement parks....great fun!

 

[Sleepy]

They don't have any summer camps near you? We have summer camps for all ages- when they are 11 they can start going to travel camps, they go different places each day - Ball Games, Water Parks, Bowling, Roler Skating, Amusement parks....great fun!

The summer my son was 11, I had him in a daycare center across the street from where I worked. Although it was a daycare center, they were never at the center. Like the place you describe, they went bowling, skating, etc. I will say the cost of the daycare center itself was not bad. I think around $80 a week (this was 7 years ago). The problem was the cost of the daily activities. It almost doubled the weekly cost. Each activity was a different cost.