Cynthia - posted on 03/22/2012 ( 15 moms have responded )
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My son wants to stay home for a few hours but I'm worried he may be too young. So I was wondering at what age has everyone else has left their children at home, just for a few hours?
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Eliana - posted on 04/03/2012
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I broke every rule. my son is 7 and recently I left him for 20 min I forgot something in the supermarket around the corner and he was not willing at all to go again. So I can not give advise on this. I entered him in a self defense class for children 4 up to 12. the basics are to know your addres and full name, mom's phone number or any close relative, police/ambulance/firefighter telephone numbers in case of an emergency. Thank you for the warning about answering telephone calls. My son like this very much, I never thought about a danger in this.
Kelly - posted on 03/27/2012
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In Ontario, the legal age to be left alone for a maximum of 2 hours is 10, and it's not allowed at night, and they have to know how to contact emergency responders(911) family, yourself, as well as know how to help themselves, by feeding themselves if need be, knowing to stay inside with the door locked at all times and no-one comes in, no talking to strangers, even on the phone, if a call comes in when he's home, they have to be mature and responsible enough to handle anything that can happen while ur gone, what if he eats something and chokes? There is a stay home alone program for youngsters to prepare them for these situations, i strongly suggest using it, Information they can offer will greatly benefit yourself and your child, hope this helps!
Cynthia - posted on 03/26/2012
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Thank you ladies. I'm a single mom as well and I take one Saturday class. I'm usually able to find a sitter but was afard for this up coming semester I wouldn't be. That is when my son mentioned that he felt old enough to stay home for those 2 hrs. But honestly I don't think so. I luckly did find someone who will watch him most of the Saturdays....and the ones that she can't.....he will be coming with me to class. I'll feel more comfortable when he is 11 or 12 but not now.
Renee - posted on 03/25/2012
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Thank you Stacey, I am lucky that my kids are so good! My son actually loves to cook, it was hard for me to trust him with things like chicken at first, but he is very good at it. =] They are kids, so of course they do get in trouble some times, and I have to get on them about stuff like laundry and their room, but overall I can't complain at all. =]
They are 15, 12, and almost 11 now, and I have a 9 month old, am remarried and get to be a stay at home mom again. The time I was working was very hard for us, but now I am grateful that they learned so much, and I did too! It made us stronger as a family, and I learned that our kids can be much more responsible than we imagine. They don't have to be baby'ed, and I think they are better for it!
S. - posted on 03/25/2012
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Renee you son sound like someone to be very proud of :) my nephew 16 has left the grill on all day long "twice" needless to say my sister no longer trust him to cook when she's out of the house. Me and my siblings were 12,10 and 6 when we was left alone
Simone - posted on 03/25/2012
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Wow Renee. Impressive. My girls cannot cook when Im not home because frankly there will be no home to come back to if I allowed that. My eleven year old loves to cook and clean. (Yes shes a keeper) They have to know how to do alot of things by themselves including knowing how to travel back and forth to school because my schedule so often changes.I will NEVER leave my youngest alone for more than a few minutes and she will not be ready to do anything independently any time soon.
Renee - posted on 03/25/2012
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Yes, there were people that judged me too, but I tried not to let it bother me, because I knew I was doing the best I could for my kids, they were safe and healthy, and had everything they needed. We do what we have to do, and its all for our kids.
My son did cook, though, because there were nights I had to be at work til 9 PM, and they made dinner, showered, did homework, got their things ready for school, and went to bed by themselves.
Simone - posted on 03/25/2012
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Renee Im with you. I am a single mom and I have to leave my children at home alone at times even though I would rather not. They are the same age as your children were when you had to leave them home. They have strict rules. absolutely no going out of the house..no cooking...do not answer the phone unless its me. I am fortunate because I live in a two family house and there is always someone at home in the upstairs apartment in case of emergency. I do get judged by people who think my children are too young to be left home alone.
Renee - posted on 03/25/2012
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When I had 3 jobs and was a single mom, I had no choice but to leave my 3 responsible kids home alone. They were 8, 9, and 12 at the time. As far as I could find out, there isn't a set law on the age of the kids in Texas, its individually determined based on the kids. There are some kids who should never be left alone, but mine could be. They were messy, but I never worried that they would do anything unsafe.
I don't think there is a blanket age for this. As the parent, you are the best judge of your child's responsibility and maturity level. If there is a doubt in your mind, he probably isn't ready.
Michelle - posted on 03/23/2012
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Laws are state by state. That said, I think 8 is probably too young, but I was left home at age 11. There were strict rules between me & my mother, and there were always two of us. After showing myself to be mature enough to handle it I was left home alone at age 12 (which is actually the age for our state).
I don't know that I'll be leaving my daughter alone at that age though, she's not showing signs she's mature enough to know what to do in basic emergency etc. Though I recently found out her father left her home alone (sound of mother hitting roof!!!!!)
Karen - posted on 03/22/2012
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My daughter was 12 when I started leaving her for short time periods. Cell phone, emergency #'s written down along w/ your address and phone # of your house (kids forget simple things when they are scared) as well as the address or place you can be reached. Definitely checking the laws in your state is good advice.
S. - posted on 03/22/2012
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Claire were did you get your information from? as I can only find that there's no law set on how old a child has to be to be left alone but it is a offence if the child is at risk or in danger and parents can be Prosicuted if the child get injured Or suffers unneasesery injurys (directgov) and nspcc unless I'v missed something, I some times pop out and leave my 13 year old never for long but it has happened, aarrggghhh I do hope I'm not breaking the law.
Cynthia - posted on 03/22/2012
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He's 8 yrs old. And thanks Claire, I didn't know there were laws on this. I'll check it out right now.
Claire - posted on 03/22/2012
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how old is your son? check the law as i know in the uk you aren't allowed to leave a child home alone for any length of time until they are 14
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