How old should a child be before You can leave them home alone?

Question

?

Answer 1

I stayed home alone since I was 7,but my parents,teachers,and other adults always said I was a mature,advanced child.I would leave my kids home alone at the age of 12,but have a trusted neighbor watch the door and the house.

Answer 2

My daughter is 12 yrs old. I don't leave her here at home alone at all because some new, kinda shady looking, neighbors moved in about a year ago....besides that, I think she's a little young to be home alone for long periods...

She stays at my mom's house while I'm at work - my mom's home during the day mostly. Occasionally, she'll leave my daughter there long enough to run to the bank or grocery, but not more than an hour. The door is locked, and the neighborhood is safe. The same people have lived there since I was a child.

I think it really depends on the maturity level of your child, and how safe the neighborhood is. My daughter is responsible, and I (can't say never) think she makes excellent decisions. I dropped in one afternoon from work early - mom had gone out to the drugstore. I wanted to see if she was in the house, with doors locked. Guess where she was.....on the couch, asleep, with the TV blaring, and the phone was close to her in case someone called.

Just do what you think is right.....but probably not until at least 12 years old, in my opinion.

Answer 3

I was surprised to find out that in California there is no law that says how old a child has to be to stay home alone. I'm not sure if other states have laws or not. Usually you just think there is a law but in fact there may actually not be one at all.
In my opinion though, a child shouldn't be left alone until the child is responsible and can be trusted. The child needs to know what to do is someone calls or comes to the door. I think the youngest age a child can be left alone is 9 or 10 and that is only for a couple of hours if you need to go grocery shopping. If its for longer I think 13 up.
It really depends on your child.
Good luck and check with your local police department if there is a law for leaving a child home alone. They will know.

Answer 4

I don't believe in God any more because of a tragic motor scooter and gun accident that blew off my left foot and three fingers. I often wonder that if I saw Bozo naked would I think that chocolate milk cannot be sold in stores in a plastic container, or could it? That is a very deep and philosophical question that many great people like Coach Ditka and Jesus could not answer when they went before a grand jury for illegal dancing in Utah. Just because Van Halen does not play at your grammar school dance doesn't mean that you have missed out in life or did something wrong. You have to move past those issues and begin to address the fact that Men are from Mars and Women are from Saturn. I once fed a dead rat to a blind man in a tossed salad and he was not happy with the dressing I picked for him. Do you ever reflect on the meaning of extra large shrimp or why plumbers don't lay plumbs when bricklayers lay bricks? Dance freely and don't forget to wear sunscreen when you go to the bowling alley. The government and aliens want you to stop smoking and you are just falling into their plan and trap. Think about all the people in the phone book that cannot play the piano or shoot a cross bow. Why is that? I cannot explain this to anyone unless they open their mind to free thoughts and the acceptance that dogs can teach humans to create a clean burning combustible engine to put in our automobiles. I do generally wear only women's orange panties when I cut the lawn in the morning. I think that is the best answer that I can provide with this limited amount of time and research.

Answer 5

Most states have a law that arbitrarily deems at what age a child can be left home alone. Each child is unique. You have to gauge their behavior, and maturity level. I would also take your geographical location into account. Start out by leaving them for a short time to see how comfortable you both are with the situation.

Answer 6

Depends both on the child and the laws where you live. I was left home alone from the age of 12 (latchkey kid) but I'm not sure it was legal. Check before you get into trouble, and make sure your child is not at risk or apt to cause mischief while home alone.

Answer 7

there are a lot of variables, but i would say somewhere between 10 and 13 (even though most laws say 12, i think)... i stayed home alone when i was 9 or so (don't tell the authorities), but i was a fairly mature child living in a great neighborhood...

Answer 8

Well it's 13 or 14 where i live but I'm 11 and i stay home alone i think it's safe as long as you lay down rules and your child is responsible.

Answer 9

13-15

Answer 10

It depends but were i live it's 12 or 13 depending on how mature the child is.