I swear sometimes I think I am imagining things!!!

[Becky2005]

I to am curious the age since it's against the law to leave the child in the car alone, there MUST be an age that it isn't against the law.

I mean, 16 year olds can drive, they are still minors but obviously they can be in the car alone.

Does the law go up to 10, 12, 13? I know I have actually done it the other way on occassion here, where I send my 13 year old into the corner store by herself to go grab a gallon of milk while I wait in the car.

I really don't know as I have never looked into the law. I do know a TON of us parents break the law though at the elementary school pick-up time if we choose to park rather than do the car-line. I've left the younger ones in there to get the older ones & bring them over to the car but there is no way a car theft is going to be able to get the car & go anywhere.

Most of the time us parents can't even leave because we are stuck in the big old traffic jam that takes the crossing guard time to unsnarl by directing traffic. I've been known to sit there for 10 minutes just to get out myself because no cars could move.

 

[meandtheguys2]

I can't believe some people leave their kids in there like they are a purse. or something that's not valuable.

Judge much?

And I can't believe that people live their lives in fear. And are teaching their children to do the same. I value my children too much to do that. I guess it just depends how you look at your valuables. I think that mine are passing, and that I am meant to teach, encourage and love not grasp out of a desperate need to comfort myself.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Judge much?

And I can't believe that people live their lives in fear. And are teaching their children to do the same. I value my children too much to do that. I guess it just depends how you look at your valuables. I think that mine are passing, and that I am meant to teach, encourage and love not grasp out of a desperate need to comfort myself.

I don't think this was a judgement. I think it's just hard for some us us (myself included) to think that most people wouldn't leave a valuable material item in their car unattended but would leave their kids which are more valuable than any trinket. We do not live our lives in fear. On the contrary, but we do teach safety and common sense. I wouldn't just cross an intersection without looking because most people will not get hit by a car so why live in fear? Sure, most people won't have their car stolen with their kids in it, but what if your car did? This is not some obscure crime. This happens alot. I do not live in a hotbed of crime, but the world is what it is. I would not leave my child sitting on a bench unattended outside of a store while I run in so I wouldn't leave them in a car unattended. This is not some "desperate need to comfort myself." This is about their safety and well-being. I am their parent and that is my #1 priority. Do you not really think it would be easier to leave 3 kids strapped in their carseats while I run in to pick up a pizza? Of course it would! Would I ever do that? Never. To be honest, I think your post was very judgemental. Perhaps you haven't had to witness parents who have had their car stolen with the child in it while they "ran in to get a paper". I can assure you that in that moment they are not thinking "Oh well, the kid will learn not to be afraid of every stranger. Maybe the thief is a nice guy." Those parents are scared out of their mind. I think teaching fear vs. common sense is two different things. My kids will learn common sense. If you think that is teaching fear then so be it.

 

[Kellyscrapbooks]

What I'm finding very intersesting in this thread is the amount of fear. (no judgements, just a sad commentary on the state that this world has gotten to)
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I have left my kids in the car in the driveway when I forgot something in the house, and I've begun to consider it when we are at the convenience store but have yet to actually do it, they still seem too young to me, YET...... I have begun letting them go to the playground alone, they have to cross a non-busy street but are less than 2 houses from mine, I cannot see it from the window however I can hear them. Mine are 9 & 5. As my mom tells me on a regular basis when I was their age(insert eye roll here) I walked to and from school and used to be out of the house by 7am in the summer only coming home for things like meals and continuing to be gone until the street lights came on. I'm so not ready for that. There is a church across the street from me, my kids have to come home to check in every time the bells ring (each ½ hour). It's a different world than it was when I was a child, and this is the EXACT same neighborhood I grew up in, 2 streets over from my childhood home in fact.
Since this was posted, I have begun trying to look up things like how a child has to be before they can be left alone at home, in a car, etc. (NOT that I'm intending to do it, but I really was curious) and it appears that there is no law. There are guidelines, I found LOTS of guidelines and even those say age 10. Wow.... apparently they (like Disney) think that adulthood starts at age 10!
http://www.nccic.org/poptopics/homealone.html

http://www.operationlookout.org/lookoutmag/deciding_to_let_your_child_stay_.htm

I'm shocked that there are no actual laws.