Neighbor WWYD

[Lots-o-Huggin]

According to this government website there are only two states with actual laws regarding leaving children. Illinois and Maryland.

Even the Illinois law is very broad


Otherwise it is recognized as a decision which is best placed with the parents because we all live in different areas with different environments. Being alone out here in my sleepy neighborhood is nothing like being alone somewhere more crowded and problematic.

I don't dispute this. I think generally, it's the parents' call, but I regularly read about parents being arrested for child endangerment when they leave little ones home alone. And of course, you could reduce the argument to its absurdity by dropping the age down further to, say, age 3. I don't think anyone would feel comfortable with that, even in the 48 states without laws on the books.

I'm not arguing either way, just saying the lack of laws doesn't convince me that the parents aren't exposing themselves to trouble - especially if something goes wrong.

 

[RitaE]

I think that by age 6 all my kids were allowed to go into the house to pee and get a glass of water by themselves. They also played out in our yard unsupervised.

To me "Home Alone" is when my husband and I go to dinner and the movies on Friday night and they kid stays at the house. I started leaving my kids at ages 8 and 9 while I'd run up to the grocery store - so for 20 to 30 minutes. Most 6 year olds I know here get off the bus and walk by themselves to their houses.

I think the school has guidelines about not leaving Kindergartners and Pre-Schoolers at a bus stop unless an adult meets the bus. I'm not aware of anything like that beyond First Grade.

 

[ohiomom28]

My son was staying home alone after school in 4th grade

 

[Ceila]

.

 

[Hannathy]

I think that's insane. I have a 4th grader and couldn't imagine having to get him off the bus. And a 5th grader? Good grief.

I know isn't that crazy? then they go and offer babysitting courses to 11 and up BUT they aren't allowed to get off the bus by themselves

If any school tried to tell me that they would have a fight on their hands. Luckily our schools just ring the bell and they are on their own, get on the bus or walk home, and no rules at the bus stops.

 

[islandmum]

My 6 year old would not walk anywhere by himself or stay by himself anytime!!!

dang right!! my 9 year old doesn't either. No need for him to do so. If you're home and can't take the time to pick up your 6 year old kid from school or the bus drop, letting them walk home alone ..... don't be suprised if something happens is all I'm saying.

 

[Hannathy]

dang right!! my 9 year old doesn't either. No need for him to do so. If you're home and can't take the time to pick up your 6 year old kid from school or the bus drop, letting them walk home alone ..... don't be suprised if something happens is all I'm saying.

Wow!

I'm speechless, that is really ignorant.




PS tens of thousands of children walk to and from school safely every single day. Mine included from 1rst grade on. I am really worried about the future of this country with this generation of coddled and unprepared children growing up.

 

[HelenePA]

dang right!! my 9 year old doesn't either. No need for him to do so. If you're home and can't take the time to pick up your 6 year old kid from school or the bus drop, letting them walk home alone ..... don't be suprised if something happens is all I'm saying.

lol that's funny right there... do your hold his/her hand while you cross the street still?

 

[dogluva]

I, too, am scared for our future. Not just on this board but in my own neighborhood. On a half day the bus came early. My neighbor was furious with the school and bus company because she wasn't there to get her fifth grade, 11 year old daughter off the bus. I was floored. My daughter walks home and is 9. She walked this fifth grader half way home because the girl was beside herself. How sad, we are creating a bunch of wimps. Nine is old enough to walk home! When do these kids learn to become independent?

 

[mdsoccermom]

dang right!! my 9 year old doesn't either. No need for him to do so. If you're home and can't take the time to pick up your 6 year old kid from school or the bus drop, letting them walk home alone ..... don't be suprised if something happens is all I'm saying.

I'm sorry, but I think my eyes are stuck from rolling them so far back.

 

[Poohforyou]

I think what matters most in this situation is that the little girl seemed upset that no one met her. Kids develop at different rates. Some 6 year olds are ready to stay alone or walk to a friend's house and some 12 year olds have difficulty with this.

Parents need to do what is best for each child to keep him/her safe.

My 12 yo 7th grade DD started staying home alone in 5th grade. She was capable of staying by herself before that but she didn't want to.

As for our schools, kindergarteners are not allowed off the bus without being met but all other kids are. I can't imagine this being enforced beyond 2nd grade at the latest. Kids can't learn to be responsible if they are never allowed to act responsible.

 

[hereyago]

I, too, am scared for our future. Not just on this board but in my own neighborhood. How sad, we are creating a bunch of wimps. Nine is old enough to walk home! When do these kids learn to become independent?

They don't, because our society is raising little mamby pamby kids, who will grow up with the same mentality.

I wonder why this is so much more prevalent then when I was growing up(i'm 44) now and yes we have all this technology to let us know if a kid gets kidnapped, but more times then not, it is someone that kid knows.

One of DD13's friends just turned 14. Her mom won't let her go to the mall with a friend unless a parent is there. This is a mall that the only time it makes the news is when XMAS rolls around and people are stupid, but there are plenty of cops and security.

Good grief cut the dang cord! This girl babysits for a couple and is at the house alone with a kid for hours,lol.

 

[RitaE]

This thread reminds me of the time when Mrs. Quimby left Kindergartner Ramona alone in the house to watch the clock and then walk herself to school on time.


Obviously, Mrs. Quimby was such a reckless Mother.

 

[Hannathy]

Heck even the epitome of perfect Mom June Cleaver let Beaver walk to school!

 

[hereyago]

Parts of this thread reminds me of Umbilical Barry(Jim Carrey) when he was on In Living Color:


http://youtu.be/Veo6tefwrwc

 

[Teresa Pitman]

So if my six yr old is out playing (along with his older sisters) and I take my 3yr old to the park behind my house. I should run home to make sure he pees alone safely or gets a drink of water? What age do you start to talk to your kids about what to do what not to do when they are home alone?

A six year old with older siblings around is not "home alone."

I personally opted not to leave any my kids alone until they were 12. They walked to friend's homes and to the park to play on their own when they were about six or seven, but I think there is another level of vulnerability when they're in the house alone.

The thing is, you can tell kids what not to do, but you can't possibly foresee every possible problem, and if you could, you couldn't expect a six-year-old to remember everything he was told. And six-year-olds are easily persuaded. You can tell them not to open the door to strangers, but if the stranger says he's found a hurt kitten and needs her to help, or if the "stranger" is perhaps a neighbour the child has seen before, he may open the door anyway. Or he may forget to lock it in the first place. Six-year-olds do. And things can happen - a fire can start, a rabid bat can come down the chimney (as happened to us once!), the child could fall and break his arm - and at six, kids aren't able to figure out the best thing to do in every situation. They need supervision.

By 12, of course you can talk to them a bit about safety measures, but for the most part they can figure out for themselves how to deal with problems that come up.

JMO.

Teresa

 

[maxiesmom]

They don't, because our society is raising little mamby pamby kids, who will grow up with the same mentality.

Some are. And some are expecting their kids to be little adults, and have the decision making capacity of adults. There should be a middle ground in there somewhere.

 

[Mkrop]

Some are. And some are expecting their kids to be little adults, and have the decision making capacity of adults. There should be a middle ground in there somewhere.

 

[hereyago]

Some are. And some are expecting their kids to be little adults, and have the decision making capacity of adults. There should be a middle ground in there somewhere.

True. But I run across more mamby pamby raising parents then I do of the parents who expect their kids to be little adults.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

Some are. And some are expecting their kids to be little adults, and have the decision making capacity of adults. There should be a middle ground in there somewhere.

Totally agree!!!