Kids home alone? What age?

[Mishetta]

I was 11 y/o & babysitting a 5 y/o girl! Then when I turned 12, I was babysitting a 3 y/o & a 5 y/o girl but that was right next door to my Mom, during the day only.

Fast forward (way too quickly) 35 years later & my DS is 10 1/2 years old & no way is he anywhere near being left alone! I figured maybe in about 6 years I might trust him home alone with his younger brother for maybe 30 minutes but I'll have to re-assess his maturity level then.

 

[disykat]

I started leaving them for short periods (like letting them beat me home by 15 minutes) when my oldest was 11 and my younger one 9, and for longer periods (up to two hours or so) when my oldest hit 12. Now that they are 13 and 10, we have left them in the evening for a few hours. My youngest still can't be home alone, but he'll be 11 soon and then I'll start gradually letting him.

My oldest child has always been extremely mature and my youngest hasn't, so I'm glad they came out in this order! I still don't leave them real often, and sometimes I really have to remind myself to do it. Since we have close neighbors they can call and I have a cell phone, I feel like they are safe. I tend to be overprotective, if anything, so I'm trying to give them the responsibility. I know it's an important step. I'm glad we have a dog though!

 

[Feralpeg]

DD stayed by herself all day during the summers while I was at work when she was 12. Of course, I called her frequently. I babysat for other people's kids when I was 12.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Good to know that it's 11 in NYS. DD is 10 and we've started discussing it, but she's been uninterested in being home by herself, so I haven't pushed it. I also have a DS8 (he'll be left home without an adult in about 20 years!) and a DD2, so usually it would be leave DD10 home while I ran another kid to a function. But if she's not interested, and doesn't mind going along, no biggie.

I remember my mom leaving me home alone, sick, when I was 6. She would do this for days at a time (I got strep throat frequently). Both parents had to work, so I was on my own, in a town with no neighbors nearby. While I was comparatively mature and nothing bad ever happened, I would never do this to my own child. I remember feeling very lonely and abandoned, on top of being real sick, and I just wouldn't do that to my kid. Even a teen, maybe not (if they're sick, I mean). But, karma being what it is, my mother thought she could do the same thing with my brother when he was ~12 (also with strep throat, probably caught from me!). He didn't take his meds and wound up in the intensive care ward. There's a lesson in there somewhere...

 

[MoniqueU]

My son is 12 very mature and I leave him home alone while I am out running errands for a few hours here or there. I did once leave him longer then that when we went to Disneyland and he didnt feel like going. He just plays video games and microwaves things. I also have close neighbors I know are home and I can count on in a pinch.

 

[ReggieB]

I was left home alone at the age of 11, during the school vacation periods. The deal was that I was not to leave the house or have people over. I knew not to ever answer the door also. My Mum worked part time, so usually by the time I had got out of bed and vegged in front of the TV for an hour or two she was home! I didn't have any younger siblings, and to be honest I wouldn't have felt comfortable looking after anyone younger than myself at 11. Actually at 35 I'm still not sure I should be left in charge of DS5!!!

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I started leaving my dd home alone for short periods when she turned 9. She's pretty mature and responsible, so I trust her. I would often let my neighbor know that she was home alone, just in case she needed anything. I really think it depends on the responsibility and maturity of the child and the safety of the neighborhood you live in. When I was a child, I was watching my two younger siblings when I was 8! Of course, I also learned how to cook, do laundry and housework at that age too. I guess times are different, at least that's what everyone seems to think!

 

[Karel]

When they hit fifth grade, they were allowed to stay home for short periods of time, never at night. In sixth, they were allowed to stay home for a few hours at a time. It's different for my youngest, though, because between the older brothers, one tends to be around or across the street at their friends house.

Now my 12 and 13 yo are babysitting other people's kids! Yippee!

I hate leaving them for too long though, because they tend to watch too much tv. Luckily between my two part time jobs, I don't work more than 4 hours at a time. And for the last two years, I didn't work more than three blocks from home.

 

[tiggerlover]

I haven't left DS home alone yet, he is only 9-1/2. But I know when he enters middle school, (6th grade) he will be 11 and will have to be home alone a little bit during the day as DH and I both work and he will be too old for organized care. I remember that I was babysitting other peoples children when I was 11, so I think if we set down some strict guidelines to follow and go over safety precautions we will be okay.