At what age can a child start staying home alone a few hours or start babysitting?

Question

My daughter is in the 4th grade, the children are approximately 10yrs old. She said the teacher ask those questions to her students and a bunch of them raised their hands for staying home alone and a few raised their hands for babysitting. I was shocked, but I am have been told I'm over-protective. What do you think the ages should be?

I did check to see if ther was a legal age and the law sets it by the maturity level of the child. Those was no set age.

Answer 1

A child aged 10 years should not be left unsupervised for any m ore than a few minutes! If you live in an apartment building or have good neighbours and you have to leave your child, please ask a kindly neighbour be available if needed. You are not being over protective you are being responsuble. Sadly so many parents do not make such a committed effort to protect their children.

I personally don't think children should be left without supervision until about age 16. And this would be the age I would consider safe to allow a child to baby sit. Baby sitting is a very serious responsibility and the child needs to have some training, in what to do in an emergency, very young children would be likely to panic.
I think all babysittes need to have first aid training as well.
You know your own child and her abilities. You seem to be one of the few parents who is doing a good job of parenting. You have common sence.

Answer 2

Wow, I think ten is too young for being home alone, and way too young for babysitting. You are not being overprotective, you are being sensible. If you went over to a neighbors for a few minutes and I mean a few your daughter would probably be fine alone. No matter how mature children are today, you are correct to be cautious, and I think a better age would probably be twelve or thirteen for both things to occur. I got my first babysitting job when I was thirteen, and my Mom was only three houses away, if I needed help in an emergency. Things are bound to happen, in everyday life, that a ten year old should not be responsible for. I do not think that your child should be scared of growing up, but they will have to have adult responsibilities soon enough. What ever happened to the good old days of a child just being a child? I guess we shouldn't be too surprised as some of these children are participating in sexual encounters at that age, God help us all and especially the children. Some of the advancements which I have seen in my lifetime are wonderful, and in some ways we are going backwards. You are safer, and so is your child, if you are a bit more overprotective; and if other parents are telling you this, just tell them it is your child and your choice and walk away. Have a good night.

Answer 3

Age 12 is generally when a child is safe to be left home alone.

Babysitting usually begins when the child is a teenager - age 13+

These should be considered the minimum ages. Some children are not mature or self-sufficient enough at 12 or 13. In such cases, the parents should use their discretion before leaving them alone.

You are right to be shocked that a child of 10 in the fourth grade would be left alone. This is too young, and in some states this is illegal.

Best wishes.

Answer 4

In the military on some bases (we are a military family) the age to stay home alone is 10 for up to two hours, 11 for more than 2 hours but during daytime and 12 to start babysitting but not overnight. Depends on maturity of child too.

Answer 5

i say 11 for staying home alone and 12 or 13 for babysitting but it really depends on the amount of kids and the ages of the kids that they would be babysitting and obviously the maturity of the kid that would be doing the babysitting(i wouldnt trust a 12 year old with babies or 3 kids etc... on the other hand, i think it would be fine for a 12 year old to babysit one kid between the ages of say 3-8 or maybe even 2 in the same age group. ) also if the parents of the kids are going to be very close by (at a neighbors house etc...) then it would probably be ok for a 10 year old to babysit knowing that the parents could be there in an instant if there were any problems.
hope this helps!

Answer 6

My son is in 4th grade and I dont let him stay home alone. Maybe I'll make a quick 10 min. trip to the corner gas station, but THATS it. Your daughter is too young to stay home alone. I called my local DCFS and asked this question. They gave me alot of things to consider. Like how mature and responsible is your child? Does she know what to do in an emergency? Is she a trouble maker? Is there a trusted neighbor near by that she can rely on in case need be? The DCFS rep said there isnt a set age, its not black and white, so to say. At least 12 is the recommended age, but, again, the above questions fall into place. When in doubt, just call your local DCFS and ask for advice. They will help you.

Answer 7

We live on a military base. I'm fairly certain kids can be left at the age of 10 but that is only for a few hours. I think they have to be 12 to be left for longer and they have to be 12 or 13 to babysit and must have completed a certified course on babysitting and CPR.

Answer 8

I say about 12. But it also depends on the maturity level of the child. Most only children are more emotionaly mature than children who have siblings. I was 12 or so when I started to babysit and was about the same age when my mom went back to work and left me and my little sis home for about 2-3 hrs after school. But mom made sure the neighbors kept an eye on us.

Answer 9

In my state the age for babysitting is the same as for being left at home alone. Age 12.
I think it depends entirely on the maturity of the child in question. ( I still wont leave my 21 yr old at home alone lolol.. But my 12 year old son is very capable and I trust him to babysit his older brother (just kidding..heheh) I dont feel your overprotective if you feel that your child isnt yet prepared to make the right decisions while she would be home alone. I say better safe than sorry in this day and age..However, my brother says that if a parent goes overboard then they never will learn to make those decisions..He made sense to me. I hope this helps you.
Blessed Be~

Answer 10

There are some states that have laws regarding this, but I feel 12 is reasonable if the child demonstrates capacity for following rules, understanding how to reach you in an emergency, and most of all if the child feels safe to be left alone.