Is there a legal age limit for leaving kids alone in the room?

[lmhall2000]

Now, let me first preface this by saying I'm VERY conservative with this issue...Our children are 13, 10, & 9 and just recently will I leave my 13 year old at home while I run to the store to get some groceries or a short trip to the post office....I don't leave my two younger ones...just not there yet. (we homeschool...so I don't have lots of time during the week to run errands)

That being said, when we go to Disney in September, I thought it would be nice to go to a dinner with just dh...they're really too old for the Peter Pan club sites and my son and younger ones are becoming very responsible (we have a farm which requires lots of chores/responsiblities that they've been great at helping without the gripes I may have gotten 2 years ago)...

Now THAT being said..I'm a run-on writer...I think my kids could do very well with ordering room service (having fun with that) and putting on a movie for them...we'd walk over to Shula's and be back before the movie ends...but is there a legal age you can't leave your kids alone without you?

thanks!!
Tara

 

[momx2]

I'm sure there is an age limit, but I'm also sure you would be okay. Alot of 13 year olds and 12 year olds babysit. I don't see a problem.

 

[holly7347]

I'm sure it varies from state to state but I'm sure you can look up florida law some how.

I'm just not sure I would be comfortable with it though (myself). At home where you know your neighborhood is one thing. But at a hotel where you really don't know anything about the other people staying or working at the hotel I just couldn't do it.

 

[deedeetoo]

I think I might order the room service food and have it delivered before I left. That way the delivery person doesn't know that there are kids in the room alone.

Otherwise I would feel fine doing it. Just make sure they have your cell phone number.

 

[minkydog]

I agree. In my own home, sure, I'd let my 13yo babysit with a video and a pizza. But in a hotel even at Disney World, there are just too many variables.

 

[bumbershoot]

I was babysitting at strange (meaning "not my own") homes by 13.

Assuming your 13 year old is mature enough to be doing that, I would think he or she could certainly be in charge of the younger two for a little while.

For me, same rules for being at home alone would apply. Set up a phone alert to let them know it's you calling, otherwise no using the phone unless it's an emergency. Don't answer the door for anyone. If an alarm goes off, call the front desk and ask for an escort out if possible. (ok that one wasn't a home rule, LOL).

All that said, and I was left at home alone, with my younger brother, by the time I was 9. We lived rurally, my mom could not find a decent babysitter at all (and she tried), she was single and my dad didn't pay child support so there was absolutely no choice but for her to work, and work long hours, so she finally just gave up, set strong rules (which were followed up with her apparent psychic knowledge of what we were up to when she wasn't there), and put her trust in me. I can't quite imagine doing that, but I don't live rurally, and it doesn't appear I will have to make the same difficult choices that she did, so it's a bit of a moot point anyway.


Anyway, assuming it's legal and you can trust your kids, I would do it, if the oldest is cool with babysitting already.

 

[smidgy]

I guess it depends what they are used to. the BEST babysitter I ever had was 13. yes, her parents were right down the street. the WORST babysitter we ever had was 16. too busy on the phone with friends , or sneaking in a boyfriend!
if a 13 year old is not mature enough to watch her siblings in a motel room, how is that same person mature enough , in 5 years, to go off to , say, Iraq,get my drift? you cannot keep your kids in a bubble until age 18, and then expect them to deal with life SUDDENLY at age 18. at age 13, I was taking 3 busses from my house in chicago to the Lake michigan beach, with my friends. and babysitting small children. and definitely left home alone.
you need to GRADUALLY give them freedoms and responsibilities.
in a different environment...... as long as it's for a short time, and they know where you are. and nowadays, there ARE cell phones.
I think too many kids go off to college, left on their own for the FIRST time!
now THAT's scary!

 

[MSSANDRA]

I think I might order the room service food and have it delivered before I left. That way the delivery person doesn't know that there are kids in the room alone.
.

100% agree here. If your choose to do this they should know not to open the door for anyone.

You mentioned walking to Shula's. Are you at the swan?? I would not go any father than that and really would feel beter in the same resort. Just not sure. 13 is really on the line.
Shula's does offer free child care if you are eating there that might be an option for the younger two but i do not think they will allow the 13 year old. Maybe take just her??
just not sure I would do it. Good luck. We keep wanting to try Shula's!

 

[JeremyGNJ]

just make sure the 13 yr old has a room key and knows how to use it!

 

[averill94]

I believe each state has its own age limits- apparently in NY the age is 14 unless you have taken a "babysitting course"
A mom I know went out with her husband left a 13 and 12 year old home and YES the house went on fire. She was very grateful her children were okay AND she said they couldv'e caused real trouble because of the kids ages.

I also babysat at the age of 12-13 for a family of five kids with a swimming pool.... whatever!

 

[luvmy3]

I believe there is a difference (legally) leaving your own children alone and letting them babysit other kids (non sibling). If you are concerned then I would definitely do some research to find out if FL has any such law.

I personally would have no problem leaving my kids when they were those ages.(They are only 10,7,4 so not yet) They know never to open the door for anyone at home if I'm indisposed and we have taught them what to do in a crisis, on top of the basics about strangers and never letting anyone,even those they know, know you are alone if it should ever happen.
If you are comfortable with it because of what you taught them, and you know how they, and how they can handle the situation, that is all that matters.
I do agree that if you order room service, have it there before you leave, do not let anyone know the kids are alone in the room. And use that lock bar if the door has one and only remove it when they know its you at the door.
Hope you and your dh enjoy your dinner.

 

[LisaNJ25]

We left out 14 (almost 15yo) ds and 8yo dd at POR for 2 hours. We were going to go to DTD with the toddlers. They were in the pool and knew to go back and change and go to the food court for dinner.

We got on the bus and it started to rain so we hopped off at POFQ and ended up eating there, walking around the resort and walking back to POR. We did go to the food court and check on them. they never saw us. and were surprised to find us back in the room when they returned lol

 

[TheRatPack]

I leave my 13 year old alone from time to time when I run to the store, Library...etc. I'm also a homeschooler, so not a lot of time for me. I try and wait till evening or weekend though, that way my husband is home with them. I really do think that I should give him more responsibility though, or he's never going to be ready to drive, work...etc. He'll be 14 in just a few months, so we're slowly adding more time to things he can do on his own....I'm just soooo paranoid so it's hard. I see grown women getting abducted on the news every other night so what would keep them from taking my 13 year old son (even though he is taller than me LOL)? We did allow them to walk to the food court at the POP last year though....twice LOL

I'm going to sign them up for babysitting classes soon....just to make myself feel a bit more at ease when leaving them and maybe reinforcing some things that I've tried to teach them.

Good luck with your decision. I don't know how I'd feel about leaving them in charge of the little ones in a hotel room. If something bad happened I would forever feel guilty for making them take on that 'adult' responsibility before they were ready.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

I was babysitting 4 kids on my own at 13. That was in a house before I had a cell phone (of course, there was the cell phone). I think I would have felt more comfortable in a hotel room, just knowing that there were lots of people around and downstairs if something went really wrong.

I think that if your 13 year old is responsible there should be no problem at all. Maybe offer a reward (of Disney Dollars, dessert, or some other treat) for each kid who behaves.

 

[maxiesmom]

Assuming your 13 year old is mature enough to be doing that, I would think he or she could certainly be in charge of the younger two for a little while.

For me, same rules for being at home alone would apply. Set up a phone alert to let them know it's you calling, otherwise no using the phone unless it's an emergency. Don't answer the door for anyone. If an alarm goes off, call the front desk and ask for an escort out if possible. (ok that one wasn't a home rule, LOL).

I think you should call ahead, and ask if an escort out is even possible. What if something does happen, and everyone has to evacuate? Would your 13yr old be able to get the younger ones out, if they had to leave? Figure out every thing that could go wrong, and have a plan in case it does.

And would your 13yr old feel comfortable enough to watch the other 2 away from home? I know my 13yr old niece does not like to watch her 6yr old sister at home, she just doesn't feel comfortable with it. The 6yr old is willful, but still. Have a chat with the 13yr old and see what they have to say too.

 

[crisi]

There is no law in Florida. In fact, only one state has a law that specifies age (I can't remember which state it is - its on the East Coast - Rhode Island or Delaware maybe?). Most simply have guidelines.

I would really hope 13 is not 'just on the line' - I was off at college by myself at 17. The idea that a 13 year old cannot be alone for two hours watching her siblings is not a good sign for her being able to be an independant responsible adult in just five short years.

 

[kileybeth]

glad to see a few bringing up the fact that we need to be gradually introducing independance to our kids.

That said, I too would feel more comfortable leaving my kids in a somewhat more accesable/more populated area (where help is readily available)then I do at home in my suburban neighborhood where everyone is at work.

My kids have been sitting their siblings since age 10, helping with them since birth tho so that makes a huge differnce. My DD12 is an in-demand sitter for other families as is my DS15. We also have 2 preschoolers (DDalmost3 and DS5 who have been left in their older siblings care since almost birth. We also have 2 older children DS26 and DS20 so this is not a new issue for us but we have over the years seen many things happen in course of a babysitting session. None terrible enough to make us change our policies. We have "awarded" a few certificates of "bravery" or "responsiblity" over the years. I think of the bandaid covering the spurting bloody head wound in particular! Yup, right over the hair. And the many cell phone calls for clarification of instructions.


It really boils down to the individual set of kids. Is oldest responsible enough. Will younger ones obey whomever you leave in charge. We always made a big deal of handing over the reigns before we left AND taking charge back when we returned. Balance of freedom and responsiblity.

and soooo true, you will be dropping them off at college at the ripe old age of 17/18 for a lot of them. Better to drop them off at the neighbors first or at Disney!

 

[jessica52877]

I am not sure if this has been mentioned yet or not but I would try it out at home first. If it doesn't go well there then I wouldn't try it at disney for sure.

 

[lmhall2000]

Yes! I think we will try it at home first for sure...I know after a LONG day at the parks that they are sooo happy to sit and watch a movie and eat room service, we DEFINITELY would wait till their food arrived before leaving....and of course, we'll actually have walkie talkies with us so they can chat with us at any time + what to do in fire alarms and such...we might be staying concierge so I wondered about telling the concierge person just so they'd have an adult nearby who knew..but do I trust them?

My son is amazingly responsible and VERY conscientious about safety and responsibilities, he's going for Eagle Scout in his scouting work...very dedicated young man...and the girls would be busy writing post cards or drawing in their scrapbooks if they get bored with the movie...but we will practice at home for sure!

Thanks!
Tara

P.S. We used to live in TN and there were specific laws about how old a child had to be to stay home and watch siblings, it was a big issue because some families were charged..just didn't want to mess up with any Florida statutes...thanks!

 

[Nanu57v]

In PA you can leave an 11 year old home with a 2 year old sibling for no more than 2 hours. I have an acquaintance who keeps getting investigated by CYS, and shared this tidbit with me. But I'd say a 13 yo with older siblings is no big. I'd make sure they know how to use the phone and you have a cell though. I'd have no problem trusting a responsible 13yo to babysit my DD, so I don't see why it would be a problem while you went out.