What age to leave kids home alone?

[Otto's Doll]

My DS is 11 and DD is 9. I have left them for quick trips to the grocery store, or the bank. My son is responsible, but I still wouldn't leave them at night, or for an extended time.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Here's what I found. Seems that only Maryland and Illinois has laws to the exact age. I've only skimmed it over, though.

http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/poptopics/homealone.html#statelaws

T&B

 

[ladydancer]

About the age of 10 I would perhaps run up to the convience store. I wouldn't be away for more than 30 minutes.

Never left dd home alone at night until she was 15.

However I was left home alone starting at age 6 day and night, I was terrified. One evening when left home alone an elderly neighbor lady took me in, I was so happy, I fell asleep. When my mom came looking for me the lady wouldn't let her have me until morning.

 

[momof2OH]

Sometimes I think a city or town can decide on an age, because here where I live I think the age is 13 to be left home alone. We just had an incident with the girl next door. Her parents leave her home alone all the time. She is only 12. Has boys in and out all the time. Last week we saw her drive out of the driveway and down the road in her parents F-150. She could barely see over the steering wheel and out the window. She couldn't even back out because of the cab on it. Very scarey.

Also I really think it depends on the individual child. Some are more mature than others, even at the same age.

 

[Disney Doll]

I think it dpeends on the chld, but it would seem to me that if your kid is relatively smart and displays some common snese, then leavig him alone at the age of 9 or 10 to run to the store for 1/2 an hour is probably OK.

 

[tiggerlover]

I found this from the Children's Legal Center.

Q. What age can I leave my child at home on their own? A. Parents often wonder when it is safe to leave a child unsupervised at home. The law does not specify an age when a child can be left unsupervised. However, parents can be prosecuted for neglect if by leaving the child alone they are putting him or her at risk.

The NSPCC advises that no child should be left alone under the age of twelve, or overnight under the age of sixteen. Even a short period of time on their own can be distressing and lonely for a child, most 8-13 year olds even if happy to be left may not be able to cope with an emergency.

I personally think 12 is a good age for a responsible child. I remember my parents going out for a few hours in the evening when I was around this age and I remember being frightened. We lived in the country and I used to look all the windows and doors, keep my bedroom door locked with the lights on and my music going. It was a very uncomfortable feeling and I was always relieved when they got home. My DS is 8 and I am not even close to ever leaving him home alone even to run to get milk or to the ATM, but that is me.