Age <s> you'd allow your child to stay by his/herself

Oceanbreeze

Oceanbreeze

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My sister and I were 13 yo and 10 yo when my parents started allowing us to stay by ourselves while they ran short errands. By that, I mean not being gone any longer than half an hr to an hour.

At what ages would you allow your child to stay by himself or herself while you ran errands?

Discuss.

* Non-parents are also welcomed to answer.
 
My daughters are 12 and 11

I leave them alone for one or two hours - to start gradually teaching them how to be alone on their own for hours.

Now I only leave them alone up to 4 hours.

I believe it all depends on maturity of each child. My daughters are not the type who would run out of front door to play with strangers. They have cell phone and computer to reach me or their dad if needed.
 
For me, it would depend on the kids' behavior and being trustworthy.

If they always had problems, I wouldn't leave them home alone. If they proved to handle things on their own, then I would leave them home alone.

A few examples would be them doing things without being asked... taking out the trash, putting the dishes away, cleaning up after themselves, not talking to strangers, asking for permission for certain things, getting good grades, etc.
 
I let my kids alone for about a couple of hours at the age of 12,but I had to make one rule and that was their friends were not allow in the house.
 
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My son stayed by himself for an hour after school before I got home from work when he was 12. But he had to stay in the house and no one was allowed in the house unless it was my brother or his grandmother. I was always nervous until I got home, though.

On the other hand, by the time I was 13, I was watching both of my brother's boys while he and his wife would go out to dinner and a movie, or to a party, and they were only 1 1/2 years old, and 6 months old. so, I guess it depends on the kid.
 
I believe I was only 14 years old when I was allowed to stay at home by myself. But I rarely get to stay at home by myself, because my mother usually would have my older cousins to come stay with me while she was working. :roll:

When we lived in the city, my parents would not allow me to be alone for several hours. I suspect they didn't want my father's youngest sister to come to the house while they are away. I wouldn't blame them for that reason. My aunt would steal whatever she could from our house.

After my father's death, we moved to the country where my mother built a house next to my material grandmother's house. I think she was comfortable letting me be by myself with a nosey grandmother next door. :)

As for allowing children be by themselves, I don't know with everything bad going on in this world. Maybe I will allow them by themselves if they can show some maturity.
 
VamPyroX said:
For me, it would depend on the kids' behavior and being trustworthy.

If they always had problems, I wouldn't leave them home alone. If they proved to handle things on their own, then I would leave them home alone.

A few examples would be them doing things without being asked... taking out the trash, putting the dishes away, cleaning up after themselves, not talking to strangers, asking for permission for certain things, getting good grades, etc.
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Yes, that's right. Depend on child's maturity.
 
Accord Vampy's post. I watch their behavior before I do something is first step is:

I leave my boys alone for 15 minutes for go to small Bank or mails in mailbox at first when they were 10 and 7 years old... few months later then 30 minutes .... few months later then 1 hour... few years later then 2 to 4 hours when they were 12 and 9 years old.
 
Very Interesting!! Thanks!!

My girls's age will be 4 and 7 :D
 
Perhaps 12 or 13 for half hour to 2 hours, but never at night time, though.

I don't think kids should be left alone at night time until they're adult.

But it all depends on maturity and level of trust.
 
I was only 10 when I first starting being home alone.... Then by the time I was 16, I was home alone like almost all the time

I would probably let my son start being home alone at age of 11 or 12....It depends on how he behaves.
 
I was around 13 or 14 years old when I can be alone for a few hours, I think. It's a long time ago!

If I had a kid, I would let him/her be alone for a few hours depending on his/her maturity...probably in the early teens.
 
I agreed with Vampy. I was about 12 when I stayed home alone with my former foster brother. And been used to it since then.
 
My son is 13 and I have allowed him to stay home alone, he's very mature for his age, he also has a cellular phone, and he can text me anytime when there is a problem. But, my youngest son cannot stay home alone at this time, he's still young at age. :)
 
My daughter is 11..I have left her alone for up to an hour and only during the daytime, never at night. As for leaving her home alone for a full day, not sure. I havent really thought about it...maybe 14 years old depending on how responsible she is.

My son, who is 2 years old, has a loooonnggg way to go before he will be left home alone. :)

I dont remember when I started being left at home alone...middle school or early high school. It wasnt that of a big deal to me which is probably why I dont remember.
 
shel90 said:
My daughter is 11..I have left her alone for up to an hour and only during the daytime, never at night. As for leaving her home alone for a full day, not sure. I havent really thought about it...maybe 14 years old depending on how responsible she is.

My son, who is 2 years old, has a loooonnggg way to go before he will be left home alone. :)

I dont remember when I started being left at home alone...middle school or early high school. It wasnt that of a big deal to me which is probably why I dont remember.
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I hear you. Although, I do remember when I was left alone without a babysitter. I was 13 and my sister was 10. We were quite a bit older before we were allowed to stay alone @ night. I don't rememeber that, because I guess, it just sorta "happened". lol
 
My sister and I were very young when our parents left us alone for few hours because they're always a phone call away, and we all lived in a town where everyone knew everyone.

Then regularly after school before our parents came home when we were 10-11.

When I was 15, I'd go to the farm everyday and stayed there til Mom got off work. Sometimes to close the farm at 7!
 
I agree with you. For my future kids. I will do that same thing you said. When I was 7 years old. I loved to watch a cartoon on tv. My mom know, I didn't want to miss the favorite show. She let me stay at home for half hour. She picked my dad up from work. I was good girl. They do trust me. I always good behave at home.

For my kids. It depend on my fiance because he will be a father. We have to discuss together. I don't like to be neglect my kid. Other wise my cousin left kids alone when she was on drug and crack user. Their neighborhood called the police on her for left her kids alone at home for all night. She went to prison for charge of Neglect Dependants.

VamPyroX said:
For me, it would depend on the kids' behavior and being trustworthy.

If they always had problems, I wouldn't leave them home alone. If they proved to handle things on their own, then I would leave them home alone.

A few examples would be them doing things without being asked... taking out the trash, putting the dishes away, cleaning up after themselves, not talking to strangers, asking for permission for certain things, getting good grades, etc.
Click to expand...
 
I leave my son home for only 30 min to one hour. But not often. He is 10 years old.
 
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