What age was your child when you started leaving him/her alone?

[LeeH]

I'm curious to know at what age you started leaving your child home alone, for how long, and under what circumstances. Question prompted by this thread.

[Danny_Ocean]

As soon as they're potty-trained.

[Targa Me]

I didn't read the thread but a lot of our decision on the right age was based on their maturity level.
At first we started off with short time durations, at trip to the grocery store and things like that and then it eventually grew to a few hours and then all the way up to all day.
I think the kids were around 8 or 9 years old.

[Jeff Higgins]

Whatever was right for my wife and I and our kids almost certainly won't be right for anyone else. This is a very, very personal decision. It appalls me that the state thinks it should have any say at all in this. Some kids are fine to be left alone at a very early age. Some never get there, and the only time they should be left alone is in their own house, after they have moved out of yours.

[glewis80SC]

+1 depended on the maturity level, I think for any length of time they have been 12 or so, quick errands they were younger 9-10.

[azasadny]

It's a very gradual thing. Depends on the kid, situation, "supervision" (like neighbors, family, etc...) Very hard to place a firm age on it...

[Mark Henry]

I just posted this in the other thread, but in Ontario you can not leave a child under 12 alone at home. A 12 year old sibling can take care of a younger child for a short period (1-3 hours) but not all day. I would (if I could) leave my 11yr/old daughter in charge because she is responsible, but not my 9 yr/old boy. He would build an Evil Knievel BMX ramp or be jumping off the roof into the pool.

Myself at 6yrs/old I'd go home at lunch and I would cook soup, grilled cheese, fried egg, etc. The school tried to stop me but I was the only kid that stayed at school for lunch, so I'd eat and then still go home for lunch. If I didn't have a key I'd break in.
In the end the school and mom caved and I became a latch-key kid at 7.

[stomachmonkey]

Depends on the kids.

We have recently started leaving the kids, 10 and 7, alone for short periods of time to see how they do.

The circumstances have been, we are down the street at friends for cards, wife has a gig and is getting home within 30 minutes of them arriving home from school, taking the younger to some activity and leaving the older for an hour or two.

We have a pretty tight hood/network of neighbors so someone is always aware of what kids are home alone and for how long. Yesterday wife took son to soccer, daughter was to be home alone for 30 minutes waiting to be picked up by another mother for her activity. I got home early so daughter was only alone 15 minutes but then I got put on detail for Morgan across the street who was home alone.

When I was in elementary school I left every day and went home for lunch. Cooked/made my lunch then went back to school.

I got on planes by myself at 13-14 and flew to Germany to visit family. I'd land in Frankfurt, make my connecting to Stuttgart, take a bus from the airport to Stat Mitte and pick up the S Bahn up to Omi's.

I see no obvious issue with the other threads situation. Not knowing all the facts I think the ex is being a bit of a beotch.

[David]

As a benchmark: I believe the average age a child can babysit another child not related to them is 13. Which means a 13yo can certainly be left alone.

Our son was probably around 10 when we'd leave him home alone for a couple hours.

[Schrup]

I leave my 7 year old boy alone occasionally for short periods, usually when I know his Mom is on her way home & I need to go exercise. It hasn't been longer than half an hour. He is very cautious, semi mature, independent, & well behaved for his age.

[crustychief]

Younger than 6 months ( they don't move very far) and older than 10.

[NutmegCarrera]

Wow. My wife wont leave ME alone.
Seriously, we have a 4 & 7 year old. I'm guessing that the little guy will need to be 10 before my wife even considers it. Of course, we're a little over protective. Wonder how that will change after a couple more years....

[slodave]

I don't remember the exact age, but my parents started to leave me home alone for the weekend in my early teens. It was not long after, that I started to host parties too...

[jyl]

12 y/o I think.

[Laneco]

Our daughter was not left alone even for a few minutes until she was around 10. The kid was absolutely hell on wheels. By 12, she was okay to leave for a few hours. She was never allowed to have the house to herself if we were gone over a weekend. It would have been like giving a chimpanzee a loaded gun...

Our son is a pretty mellow guy. He could be left alone for short errands at 6 or 7, and for a few hours by 9 with confidence. He is now 15 and has been allowed to be at the house while we are gone overnight with no problems.

As you can probably tell, our daughter takes after me.

angela

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by slodave

I don't remember the exact age, but my parents started to leave me home alone for the weekend in my early teens. It was not long after, that I started to host parties too...

Exactly..... leave 'em home alone at the age level where you would expect them to do what you can tolerate.

If it's pretty young, they might make a mess out of the kitchen. If later in years, they might make a mess out of the whole house. Or they might make a mess out of their's and your life.

I know I was left alone for long periods not up to 12 hours by age 15 and I stole the car and lots of other misdeeds. Shoulda seen the time I decided to make french fries!

[Noah930]

What's the range on the baby monitor?