How Old Is Old Enough for Kids to Stay Home Alone???

Hi D., wel I have a 13 yr old girl an 8 yr old and honestly I have left her alone since she was 11 and he was 7. I think it just depends on their maturity. Ask them questions that a CPS worker would ask like: can you access and make food without using the stove? Do you have a way to contact your parents in case of emergency? Do you have emergency numbers? Also, I bought my kids their own cell phones so that they call me when they leave for school and get home. I know people have their own hang ups about it but the expense of childcare is crazy!...good luck..:)

I have a 11 year old daughter, and I usually leave her at home alone for about an hour.  My daughter is very responsible, and she thinks more mature than her age. I would like also to share to you this safety service that could help us ask for an immediate response from friends, family members or to the 911 dispatch team. It’s SafeKidZone personal mobile application that has a panic button by just pressing the button, simultaneously alerts and mobilizes a select group of friends and family members that you are in trouble, and if needed gets the emergency to the nearest emergency service dispatcher. This application also gives the exact location where the incident takes place using GPS,for more knowledge on how to use this application just check on their website http://safekidzone.com/

I think you'll be comfortable at about 12. If your friend is ok with 10 then good for her.

It depends on the kid, and on the reason you are leaving them alone. I started leaving my older boy alone when he was 10 or 11, for short periods of time, if I needed to run an errand and he was busy with something. However, at that time, we lived in a nice neighborhood, and knew all our neighbors, and his friends would usually come to our house. My younger boy is 12 now, and I still hesitate to leave him alone if I can take him with me. I wouldn't have left him alone at all when he was ten and eleven, because our neighborhood was kind of rough, and because he was more likely to go outside and get into trouble, or get into something he shouldn't.

I also didn't like to leave either of them alone when they could come along, to the market, or to somewhere else, in part because they learn things tagging along on those grownup errands. If I were going out at night, I would definitely still arrange for someone stay with my 12 year old, unless it was an emergency.

I'm sure there are some laws on this (a minimum age) but otherwise it depends on the kids. My youngest two are about the same age as your oldest two. I have left them for about 10 minutes, but I wouldn't leave them longer.
It's not the age, it's just that they make too many foolish choices. They are good boys, but just not responsible enough.

Once, when the boys were younger, I asked their 15 yo brother to keep an eye on them while they were playing outside with their new toys.
Well, I went inside for literally about 2 minutes to get something-- but quickly one of the little ones came running in, to tell me that the 15 year old had injured himself and had collapsed on the ground!!! He was supposed to be the babysitter! (he had done something stupid and dangerous, and was hurt, but recovered in a few days)

Age isn't the real test of maturity and safety, in other words.

But mostly I can't stand the thought of them being alone if anything traumatic were to happen. My husband is the same way.

I have a Tween who will be 11 in two months and have begun letting her stay home alone for periods of time from :30 to an hour. I let her do this when I have to go somewhere that is close by. She has my cell phone number along with my parents' and sister's cell phone in case of emergency. It is working out fine and she's become very comfortable with this. She also feels self assured and is gaining confidence in herself because she's able to handle this new type of independence.

D.,

My thought on this is--- You decide to go to the store- it will only take a few minutes-- maybe 20 max. What I would ask myself is -if it were to take longer, would my kids know what to do in an emergency? Accidents happen all the time-- so would your children be prepared if you didn't come home right away or if they had an accident while home alone? If you are comfortable with them knowing what to do, then I would say its probably ok around age 12. If not, I wouldn't take that risk. Hope this makes sense--

Molly

http://www.latchkey-kids.com/latchkey-kids-age-limits.htm

Here is a link with interesting info. There are actually no age minimums for latch key kids in the state of California! I had no idea.

I think maturity definitely comes into the picture, and how obedient the child is. Some kids would invite other friends over, etc. Others would stay home, read a book, and stay out of trouble.

When I was that age, I walked my younger brother home and we did our homework, had a snack, even cleaned the house a bit. Usually we were only home for 2 hours alone max.

Also, consider this. Some kids start babysitting at the age of 12 or 13. If other parents are willing to let someone that young to watch their kids, makes sense that they are mature enough to stay home alone. Again, think about maturity.