At what age can a child be trusted to play alone for a minute?

Question

As a parent, when do you feel it is okay to leave your child in a room alone long enough to grab the phone, go to the bathroom etc.

Answer 1

Experiment first. Try leaving the room and peeking in without the child noticing. If the child is just playing as usual, then it is okay. If the child was waiting for you to leave to decide to destroy the living room, then you may have to wait awhile before you start to leave them alone in a room.

Make sure they know what they can and can't touch. If you peek in and they are not touching these things, then they are ok.

I was very lucky, my daughter was one that you could tell one time not to touch something, but there are kids who will keep touching it and no matter how much you tell them they will. All kids are different.

If the baby is really little, you should try a play pen or a walker. A walker keeps them a step back from grabbing most things and also lets them get around without getting into everything. It also keeps them sitting up so they can see a television or hold toys and play with them or eat a small snack.

Answer 2

It depends on the kid, what they are doing and what kind of trouble they can get into in a minute or 2.

My son was 2, if he was in a relatively unbreakable environment with a soccer ball, a hockey stick and foam buck, or Top Gun on TV. He could play for hours with minimal supervision (I did not leave him alone for hours, but I did not have to actively supervise him). If there was anything breakable, or something he could climb on, I would not leave him alone for more then a minute until about 3. At 2 1/2 he would try and stand on the spring horse and the slide was something that you but a bike on to ride down. He was an active child, by 3, he learned, when I said NO, I REALLY meant it.

When he was 11 or 12, he stayed at home all day alone, at 14, I did not allow him to stay home for more then 1 hour alone.

If there was a pool nearby - not until he passed his life guard test.

Each situation is different.

Answer 3

depends on the kid.. i would say a little less than a year is fine as long as its quick.. just to go to the bathroom or to get the phone.. but for 5-10 minutes or more i would say at least 2 maybe 3

Answer 4

I would say at the age of eight or nine. Although even at that age you still have to check on them occasionally. But to go to the bathroom, or a quick phone call you should be okay. But my experiences with children is that when they are quiet they are sneaking into something, or doing something they shouldn't be doing.

Answer 5

Depends on the maturity level of the child. My daughter is 2 and if I put Dora on the t.v. I know she won't move for the next 30 min and I can get my shower. My son is 6 and hyper so he still makes me a little nervous but so far so good.

Answer 6

18 years of age

Answer 7

16 as long as it is alone and not with a member of the opposite gender.

Answer 8

I would say 3

Answer 9

Before he or she starts crawling i would say no problem otherwise until they are 18 years old it is not safe.

Answer 10

Nine. Maybe eight, but only when they trust themselves.