Tween - Chicago,IL

It honestly depends on the maturity of the child. I have a 12 yr old that has stayed home while I drop my other child off someplace or run to the supermarket 5min away. However, my 11 yr old is not comfortable by herself and is not as mature as my older daughter. If the two of them stay together, she is fine. With that being said, we are in a pretty decent neighborhood, if I wasn't I wouldn't do it.

My son is 12 and this year he is going to walk home for the first time, also meeting his younger brother (10) at another school and coming home together. I am going to get home at around the same time they do.
I have only left them alone for 10-20 minutes before, because they are the kind of boys who get into "trouble" if you leave them alone too long. =)
12 is old enough.
I think your daughter will be just fine...
Make the rules very clear, set up consequences for when they are broken,have phone numbers available for emergencies, and make sure internet access is restricted!

I'm a retired police officer in a large city (Portland, OR) tho it's not nearly as large as Chicago. If you live in a safe neighborhood, meaning the neighbors know each other at least to say hi and the crime rate is low, I'd let her walk home from school. First I would be sure that she has the maturity to handle being alone as well as the unexpected. Talk with her about your expectations for her behavior and how she would handle various situations. Teach her what you want her to know. If she's comfortable trying it, then go for it. If it doesn't work out so that you are comfortable you can do something different.

In Portland, the YMCA does have a morning and afternoon program for older kids in some schools. And a community organization has an after school program for tweens and older. If you're not comfortable yet with her walking you could look into a program that is more than after school care.

Later: I was reminded that a 12 yo is usually considered old enough to babysit. My daughter is now 30 and she and a friend did babysit all day, all week for a family when they were 12.

In Chicago this gets tricky. I would say it depends on your neighborhood. Are you in Englewood or North Lawndale? or are you in Lincoln Square or Lake View?

We live near Humboldt Park. My daughter is SUPER responsible and there is NO WAY I would let walk home alone. Ever. For any reason. A really good friend of mine lives in Lincoln Square and when we are there the 2 kids walk over to the Park District park 5 blocks away all the time and play on the playground by themselves. Her son started walking home from school (next to the park) when he was 8. Both kids have cell phones and it really really safe there.

This may help:

Illinois law defines a neglected minor, in part, as "any minor under the age of 14 years whose parent or other person responsible for the minor's welfare leaves the minor without supervision for an unreasonable period of time without regard for the mental or physical health, safety or welfare of that minor."

There are 15 items that determine interpretation of the sentence above. You can find them at http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/pubact90/acts/..., but here they are:

Whether the minor was left without regard for the mental or physical health, safety, or welfare of that minor or the period of time was unreasonable shall be determined by considering the following factors, including but not limited to:
(1) the age of the minor;
(2) the number of minors left at the location;
(3) special needs of the minor, including whether the minor is physically or mentally handicapped, or otherwise in need of ongoing prescribed medical treatment such as periodic doses of insulin or other medications;
(4) the duration of time in which the minor was left without supervision;
(5) the condition and location of the place where the minor was left without supervision;
(6) the time of day or night when the minor was left without supervision;
(7) the weather conditions, including whether the minor was left in a location with adequate protection from the natural elements such as adequate heat or light;
(8) the location of the parent or guardian at the time the minor was left without supervision, the physical distance the minor was from the parent or guardian at the time the minor was without supervision;
(9) whether the minor's movement was restricted, or the minor was otherwise locked within a room or other structure;
(10) whether the minor was given a phone number of a person or location to call in the event of an emergency and whether the minor was capable of making an emergency call;
(11) whether there was food and other provision left for the minor;
(12) whether any of the conduct is attributable to economic hardship or illness and the parent, guardian or other person having physical custody or control of the child made a good faith effort to provide for the health and safety of the minor;
(13) the age and physical and mental capabilities of the person or persons who provided supervision for the minor;
(14) whether the minor was left under the supervision of another person;
(15) any other factor that would endanger the health and safety of that particular minor.

So, based on the above checklist - I would interpret:
One child with no disabilities and who doesn't need life-sustaining medicine who would be able to get in touch with you at work if needed, has access to nutritional food and medical supplies (if she cuts her hand or whatever), in a (relatively) clean house and is old enough to articulate what she would do in an emergency would be fine under IL law.

As far as your gut tells you - go with what you feel is best. Only you know your neighborhood and your daughter. If you're not ready, you have the magical age of 14 to back you up on holding on a little while longer. You can always try it and see how she does.

Good Luck!

A lot depends on the maturity level of the child. My girls started walking home from school at age 9 (3 blocks away). It was also around that age when I started leaving at home by themselves for short periods of time, less than 1/2 hour. Around age 11, I would live them home by themselves for an entire day.

My son started walking to and from school when he was pretty young, but he always had a buddy with him that lives around the corner and they walked together. (After trial runs with me or the other mom following and spying to make sure they followed the rules, stopping at crosswalks, etc).
By 12 my son was staying home by himself after school, but he knew not to answer the door, not invite anyone in, and not answer the phone unless it was me.
When he got home from school, he called me at work to check in and then I was home in just 2 to 3 hours so he would make himself a snack and start his homework. He did just fine. I never had any problems with him.
It depends on the maturity of the kid and them being able to not "forget" the rules. My son was so good because I told him if he wasn't, he had to go to a babysitter and he didn't want to have to do that.
In fact, he was so responsible, he babysits for other kids now and I have no issues with trusting him to make the right decisions.
If you live in a safe neighborhood and have a security system, she should be fine at home. If not, she has to be supervised until she's more ready for it.

Best wishes.

My daughter was walking to and from school when she was in kindergarten but we live in a town of about 15,000. School for her was about three blocks away. We all know each other in our neighborhood. I would go over different scenarios with her and leave a list of important numbers out for her so she is for certain what each one is for. Make sure she feels safe and make sure that there is a way to contact you. I started leaving my son home alone after school when he was about 12 and I just had him call me as soon as he got home and for a couple of weeks we would go over all the safety precautions he needed to take. I tell my son that he can use the microwave but I do not want him using the oven because that could start a fire. Educate her on how to keep herself safe. She will learn fast and she will be alright..........

Does she have any friends that walk home to a parent? Maybe you can make a bargain with them that you will take the girls to a movie or the mall on the weekend (or something similar, maybe shhhh! - educational) if your daughter can do her homework with their daughter and hang out until you get there. This would possibly be a good intermediary step until you feel she consistently makes good choices (her homework is done daily and well). Also, if she has a cell phone she can text you when she leaves school and CALL you when she gets home. No texting when she gets home, too easy to lie. The voice to voice contact is essential. Also, let her know that you can monitor the house via "video" and can track her computer and tv usage (lying, yes, necessary in my opinion.) Lock her out of the computer using parental controls if you think it is necessary but you MUST monitor her computer activity. I taught middle school and computer networking on facebook and myspace can lead to horrible consequences. Learn how to monitor social networking sites and then do it. Makes sure she knows you are too! Talk with her about it. Either don't allow her to have a myspace/facebook account at all (block it, don't just forbid it) or sit down with her and look at her site. Don't allow her to post photos!!! She might think you are the monster but just check out some of the sites and you will see why it is unacceptable for a child her age.

As to trusting her. Do trust her but be realistic. She is at the age where she is "supposed" to follow her friends poor advice. Monitor her every single day. I have heard to many horror stories.

Also, as to after school care. If you are struggling financially check to see if they have "scholarships" to the after school programs and/or check with your local welfare office to see if you can apply to assistance. My kids are younger but I get after school care assistance to help make ends meet.

Good luck. Please know you are so doing the right thing to ponder this rather than let your precious child be home without a thought.

I do believe it depends on the maturity of the child. For us, my only child (daughter 15) is not close enough to walk home from school and she is typically at school after hours for cheer or orchestra practice.

That said, she loves the independence of being home alone when the timing is right and she enjoys it. We have the security system she can alarm if she chooses.

She loves her independence and we encourage that. We have rules of no boys when we are not home and we are aware of anyone here when she is home alone. So far, all has worked well.

Communication is key and we keep those lines open all the time for any topic so as far as my house...... I am perfectly ok with leaving my 15 yr old home and we have a relationship built on mutual respect/trust and lots of communication.