What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

If you have more than one what would be the youngest kids age and oldest kids age?

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

I wouldn't until the youngest was AT LEAST 12 and the oldest at least 16-17 yrs old. If it were only a short time I would go a little younger but ALL day long is a long time and I would want to make sure they were a little more mature and responsible. Any younger than 12 in that case would make me nervous.

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

I don't have kids, but I was allowed to stay home at age 10 (I was an only child, and very mature)

What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

All day? It really depends on the kid but maybe around 15? I was left home for longer periods of time when I was 13/14 but I was always mature for my age. I know some 17 year olds that shouldn't be left alone yet.

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

It all depends on the maturity and not the age. I have a tween and teen who do NOT get along for very long so I don't leave them for an extended amount of time.

The older one came home alone after school at 11 with no problems. The younger one, at the same age, is not as comfortable.

What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

12-13 years old for most kids, but it really depends on the child's individual maturity.

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

All day 17, with a driver's license and car for emergencies. For an hour or two 12.

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

I was 10, my parents divorced and my mother didn't have a choice.

ETS: you do the best you can for your family, and you decide what your kids can handle, and you do what you have to do to make it… My mother HATED that she had to leave me alone, but I think it turned out just fine

Message edited 7/28/2015 12:21:10 PM.

What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

DS is an only child and i felt comfortable leaving him at home (once in a while) at the age of 10

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

I have no idea, depends on maturity. My good friend leaves her kids alone all day and they are 15.5, 13.5 and 9. The oldest 2 are extremely mature, have babysat my kids for years.

I was alone for a few hours with my sisters starting at age 12, for all day, maybe I was 15? Youngest would have been 10. I think that is a good place to start evaluating.

What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

Depending on the child and their personality, I would say about 12.

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

My oldest is only 6, so I can't say for sure yet. But I think he would have to be at least 12, I'm very uncomfortable with my neighbor letting her daughter walk home from the bus to an empty house at 9/10, for a few hours. I also think how far you are would play a big role, if your commute is 10 min in case of emergency I think 12 is fine, but if your 60-90 min away, I would want them to be 15-16, at that point I had friends who drove if I needed help.

I need to add that I am a SAHM, so the only time they have ever been away from me is for school and even though I have 3 kids, I'm still a worrywart and uptight

What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

My mom started around 8 with me which was probably a bit young..I'm assuming I'll start when dd starts middle school, so 11?

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

All day? 16 and hope they will have a part time job. Before that they will be in camp all summer or working at a camp. After school, 14.

Eta: if you can't pay for camps, CIT, or whatever else to keep them busy, you don't have much of a choice.

Message edited 7/28/2015 3:22:15 PM.

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

Posted by afternoondelight828

Posted by stinger

Posted by LSP2005

All day 17, with a driver's license and car for emergencies. For an hour or two 12.

Do you have kids? How old are they? Do you and your kids father work FT and not have family around? Not being snarky just curious cause this seems old. And I don't get the drivers license thing.

I think by 17 a kid needs some trust no?

and you can't start them off at age 17. It has to be done a little at a time. How anyone thinks they can not allow their kids to do something (unless it is a danger to them) like staying home until they are 17 but then in a few months go off to college to live on their own is beyond me.

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

I have two kids. Our family is over an hour and a half from our home. We live oos from the rest of our family. I absolutely feel for you. But I would not leave my kids home alone all day. The police have arrested parents for neglect for having a 12 year old play alone on their front lawn. To me, I would be ok with a 12 year old alone for a few hours. But all day, no. You said all day. I would not want to be locked inside of a house all day and I am sure a kid would not want that either. If they were coming home from school and the parent came home at 5 that would be different to me because they are in school for most of the day, and home for a few hours. But over the summer. Nope
I am sorry. There are too many ways for a kid to get in trouble. I did not say I wouldn't let a teen be home alone. Of course you build up the time. But to me I would not want a 12 year old alone for more than a few hours. They build up the time that they can stay home alone. It is not all at once. But there is a huge difference between 2 hours and 10 or 12 hours.

As for what adults do without a licence I presume they live in an area where there is public transportation. Most homes on li don't have that luxury.

Message edited 7/28/2015 3:34:19 PM.

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

Posted by Millie3

Posted by afternoondelight828

Posted by stinger

Posted by LSP2005

All day 17, with a driver's license and car for emergencies. For an hour or two 12.

Do you have kids? How old are they? Do you and your kids father work FT and not have family around? Not being snarky just curious cause this seems old. And I don't get the drivers license thing.

I think by 17 a kid needs some trust no?

and you can't start them off at age 17. It has to be done a little at a time. How anyone thinks they can not allow their kids to do something (unless it is a danger to them) like staying home until they are 17 but then in a few months go off to college to live on their own is beyond me.

Being home alone all day is a bit much for an15 year old. They need to be kept busy. It's not about trust, it's about being bored to tears and finding trouble. College they will be busy with classes , working, and studying all day. Very different

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

Message edited 7/28/2015 3:34:23 PM.

What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?

No kids yet, but I was babysitting at 12/13.

17 seems a bit excessive- I think a kid whose never been left alone before and now suddenly has freedom AND a car is far more likely to find trouble than a 13 year old playing video games, but to each their own.

Re: What age would you leave kids home alone all day while you work?