Leaving kids alone...

Jami - posted on 06/17/2010

I think between 10-12yrs old. depends which kid...I might not want to leave my middle child alone in my house :)

Kristen - posted on 06/17/2010

Some states have a minimum age to leave your children alone. I believe it's 12 here in PA, but I think the child's maturity is more important. If my daughter is immature at 12, I will wait to leave her alone.

Megan - posted on 06/17/2010

my brother and I were 10 and 11 My older siblings had sports after school and My younger bother and I were alone for a about two hours by ourselves before they got home and my parents were home a few hours after that. we just watched tv and hung out. We lived in the middle of nowhere so the only thing we occasionaly had to deal with was the door to door missionaries. And most of the time we just ignored the door if it was them so they would go away. I think if you feel comfortable enough that they won't open doors to strangers and stay out of stuff. Like they're not going to go into your cleaning supplies and drink them or cut their fingers off with a knife they'd be fine for a couple of hours. Even if we would get into a fight we'd both just yell at eachother for a few minutes then go to our rooms to get away from eachother.

Jessica - posted on 06/17/2010

i know in my area its not legal until they are 13. or thats what i have been told

Jenna - posted on 06/17/2010

It's hard to say. I agree with Angie, it all depends on where you live, your kids behavior, and your situation. I myself was a latch key kid from the age of 6. I got home from school, had my own key, locked the doors and did my homework or played by myself until my mother got home at 5:30 every night. But I also lived in a decent neighborhood. Our neighbors were actually a Pastor and his wife and adult daughter, so I always had someone around I could go see. I had friends with parents home who lived around the block. And I knew I was only allowed to leave my yard if was with a group of my friends or one of their parents.

Becki - posted on 06/17/2010

it really depends on the childs maturity level and the laws in your state. i'd say the earliest we left our children unattended was when they were about 8 and 10 (there was 2 of them together) and no longer then 1-2 hours while we ran errands. now they are 10 and 12 and we are very comfortable leaving them alone for more then an hour or two.

Anastasia - posted on 06/17/2010

Tough question. Well, I was eight when mum left me home unattended for the first time. I, personally never got into any mischief, I just watched telly and played with the dog inside with all the doors locked tight.
But I think maybe 11 or 12 depending on their maturity is more safe. But I don't think it's appropriate until 14 or so.
Personally I probably will at 11-13yo sometime.

Angie - posted on 06/17/2010

i think it depends on the kids, where you live, whether you have neighbors they could get in touch with if they needed something quickly etc.