What is the farthest a Child of 13 is allowed to be away from their parents while home alone?

Question

My daughter is 13 she is wonderful, mature and knows how to take care of herself. rescently she has had to go to her aunts while I go to work because I'm a widow my daughter has asked me if she can stay home alone. I know she is old enough but we live 15 miles from work and my friends have asked me if that is too far. What is the farthest she is allowed to be from me while at home by herself???

PLEASE HELP

It isn't that I don't trust her it is just the child protection thatI dont wanna deal with. I wanna be sure its legal to be so far away from her

Answer 1

I was a "latchkey kid" as it was called from 5th grade. My mother worked about 30 miles away and my father the same. My sister who was much younger would stay with a neighbor who's son was in her class but I would stay at our home and do homework, chores, etc until my mom got home. Sometimes I was even in charge of getting dinner in the oven. She would write out a list of what should get done by the time she got home and if it wasnt done I would lose a privelige and it would go onto the next days list with whatever would have been normally on the list. The list was well under what was reasonable for the amount of time I was home. Was just to keep me from watching TV the entire afternoon and laying around. I think your daughter sounds perfectly mature enough to stay on her own. Just leave her a list of pertinent phone numbers in case of emergency. Maybe even ask a neighbor who is normally home then if they would be willing to help her in an emergency situation until you could make it home. I hope everything goes well for you two! and don't feel bad if you call 4-7 times the first time she's alone you're allowed to be paranoid : )

Answer 2

There is no pat answer. It sounds like you have a lovely daughter whom you trust. I cannot see why her being home for awhile cannot be feasible with some ground rules set. Homework time, phone time, knowing emergency numbers and having helpful neighbors nearby are musts. It sounds to me as if she has earned this responsibility. You sound like a great Mom, so I would go with your gut. If there are extenuating circumstances they should be addressed prior to saying 'yes'. All the best!

Answer 3

thirteen is definatly old enough. i am thirteen and i babysit all of the time. have her take a class on babysitting so she knows what to do in emergencies and if anything goes wrong you willl be able to say that she was certified to be alone ( withouth or with another life present)

also post emergency contacts on the fridge or near the phone, if you still worry have a neighbor come and check up on her every once in a while.