A 6-year-old alone at home?

Question

I'm 15.Both of my parents work.After I was 2,my parents sent me to daycare(all-day) and when they came back from work,they took me at home.When I was 6 I went to school.It was half-day.After school I came back home and I spent 6 hours alone at home.Many people may consider that their children will do the most stupid things while they are at home alone and they don't want to leave them.Let me clear what's in their mind.When I was 6,my parents didn't have a lot of rules for me.I came home after school and went in the kitchen to eat a sandwich(made from mom in the morning).Then I went in my room and started to write my homeworks.After that I turned on the TV and watched my favourite TV-show.And then I read a book or played cards while mom and dad come home.I spent like this all my life after the age of 5 and I think if something bad should have happened,it would have happened.Children don't seek dangerous situacions.They seek happiness.Why do you think they WILL get in trouble?

Answer 1

They are your parents, they allways worry! Your parents trusted you but parents that see their kids 24/7 get very worryed, your parents didnt see most you growing up, i dont know hwo your relationship with them is, and im not going to guess either, i never saw my parents, when i did they were fighting so i dont want to remember, i took it as beying a rebal and allways getting into trubble so id get notced, you did good im gald you did that and at that age!
wow
jaz + peanut(baby in belly)

Answer 2

I have never heard of an 8 yr old that can't make a PBJ by themselves. My almost 4 yr old can do it alone. Not saying it is a bad thing, just pointing out that the maturity level is definately not there and I am agreeing with you. 8 yr olds, no matter how mature should not be left to care after younger children because if a serious problem happens they might not be able to handle it. (8 might think a baby was sleeping when they were really unconsious for example) Leaving a child indoors and being out in the yard is one thing. I don't know anyone that wouldn't step outside and keep an ear open. But they shouldn't leave the property, or if it is large property, go out of ear shot. I would ask an official person, perhaps from family independance agency, what the laws are and what you can do to make sure he doesn't leave her in charge again.

Answer 3

Mine would get in trouble coz they are very curious and have trouble with self control when left alone. Personal observation. Myself, I've been left alone at young ages, and did nothing wrong after getting the whipping of my life one time for switching the sugar and creamer, which was not a dangerous thing, but not nice. I was four. After that, I could always be left alone because I was a quick learner and easily trained to stay quiet and conscientious. At six and seven I was left in charge of my brother even if he had a seizure that day; Mom would go outside and stay out a long time. She knew she could count on me.

Other children are not that way. I wouldn't dream of leaving my own kids alone. They think up too many things to try when they know I'm only sitting in the next room over.... Plus the world is just too dangerous a place now. Too many criminals and bad people would want to hurt children left alone. There are also too many things for children to get into and hurt themselves somehow, things that just didn't exist even twenty years ago.

Answer 4

I don't assume that they would "look" for trouble. But too many things can happen to them. If the cat turns on a burner on the stove and starts a fire while they're in their room would they know how to escape the second story. If some one realizes they're alone every day and comes in the house what could they do. Don't think it's not trusting kids as much as the rest of the world. At that young age they haven't had enough experiences to handle all the different situations quickly and safely enough. Congratulations on being responsible and living in a safe home and area.

Answer 5

A 6 year old is still a BABY!! That's only first grade!!! Although some children are smart and more mature than others, that's WAY to young to stay home alone. You couldn't defend yourself if someone broke into the house or anything like that - it's ridiculous. It's a good thing nothing ever happened to you, but I hope you don't leave your children home alone at such an early age. It's too risky - especially these days!

Answer 6

I don't think that they will. It is just a sincere posibility. Just because you were a perfect little child does not mean that all the other little children are. Also, it is dangerous to leave a six year old child at home alone. Someone could have broken into the house, and that poor child would have been there all alone and defensless. It's stupid. Even you, the perfect little child, should have been sent to a daycare or had a babysitter just in case something did happen. Little kids are not able to take care of themselves in emergencies.

Answer 7

my kids bus driver isnt even legally allowed to let my kids off the bus if an adult isnt there to pick them up! (they are 5 and 6) how in the world did you get away with staying home alone all that time? you just were extremely lucky nothing happened. things happen all the time we cannot foresee. for instance, one day i had just dropped my kids off at preschool and was going to go shopping but had to go to the bathroom first so i stopped home. well i heard this hissing noise as soon as i walked in. here the washer hose had become eroded and disconnected itself from the faucet and water was spewing out everywhere. water was soaking the carpet at a very quick rate. we had computer equipment a few feet away from it. had i not come home when i did and stayed out for several hours, the water would have reached the eelctrical equipment, shorted out the house and possibly started a fire. i may have come home to a burnt down house. nobody could have thought that one up in a million years!

Answer 8

I am glad that nothing happen to you. The Laws today are different. IN my state it is illegal to leave a child under the age of 13 alone. and the oldest a child can watch younger kids is 14. I know of a 13 that was left alone and burnt herself with boiling water. Kids do stupid things.

Answer 9

For one thing, in most states, this is illegal and considered child neglect. Secondly, it is not that I think the child will find trouble, but more that trouble will find him/her. Would you have known what to do if some perv had followed you home from the bus stop and tried to rape you? Rare, yes, but not so far from home when it happens to YOUR child. What about a fire or an accident? What if you had fallen off something and hit your head? Better be safe than sorry.

Answer 10

There is no way in the world I would leave my 6 yr old home alone. You grew up a Latchkey kid-one left alone to entertain herself. That is very unhealthy, but if you say you are fine then all the best of luck to you in life. But I would never leae my child alone until much later in life-children at that age are very impressionable and need guidance.

Answer 11

Not all children are capable of entertaining themselves for that long amount of time at such a young age. I've been a nanny for 20 years and I would say that not many kids could do it. Also, it's not necessarily the child that can't be trusted but rather the outside influences.