A statistic for parents?

Question

I just wonder about you,other parents,how often does your child have some privacy and isn't followed after.I have a 6-year-old and usually let her stay alone at home for 2 or 3 hours or I stay at home and if she wants,she goes out.How long are you out when you leave your 6-year-old alone at home and how long do you let your children play outside with no supervision?

Answer 1

In other contries people do it just like you and even for longer.Here in the US someone has threathen all the Americans that every bad person follows their children only and that the children aren't able to think by themselves.So,I guess it's OK for your child's growing up to leave her some time,that's how she teaches herself.

Answer 2

While I think that most parents are too over protective of their kids, I think that 6 is too young to be left alone. My son is 11 and I let him come home after school by himself and if I need to run out let him be by himself, there is a 7-11 down the block and I let him go by himself. Though there are people who don't think that my son is old enough for that.

As far as your child at her age outside alone, in the backyard, isn't a problem. My only concern are the people driving on the street, if you let the child outside in the front unsupervised. Some people drive on side streets like they are the highway at 50mph and up.

But you know your child, we don't. We can't determine the child's maturity level through a snippet of a question on Y!A.

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To get to the first point I made, that parent's are over protective, I'd like to use tkje4's answer as an example. While a 6 year old is a young child, she is NOT a baby. We have lost the true concept of what a real baby is. A baby is younger then a toddler, a 6 year old is older then a toddler. A 6 year old is NOT a baby. And people who think like that usually wind up with an adult child who still acts like a teenager.

Answer 3

she doesn't. I let her walk the dog to the corner sometimes, but no longer than 10 minutes (she's 8). Where I live, she can play outside for an hour by herself if I can see her. She can also walk the 2 blocks to school alone, but I don't let her. Its illegal to leave a child at home alone till 12. Her safety is very important to me. If she wants privacy, she can go to her room. I'd never give a 6 year old run of my house without me here. Its irresponsible.

Answer 4

My boys are only 2 and 4 so if they are outside I check every 1-2 minutes and my windows and doors are wide open. Inside they are "alone" only when I bathe. I would never leave a child younger than 8/9 completely alone (meaning I actually get in the car n leave) and then only for a very short while if the child is exceptionally bright and mature. Should an emergency arise it is utterly unfair to leave them to respond on their own. We, the parents, should be there to handle the fear and anxiety of such a situation. As for privacy, several times a day my lil ones are in their bedroom or elsewhere "on their own" playing/reading by themselves.

Answer 5

Wow! I find six quite young to stay home alone or to play for hours without and adult peeking in and being there to handle any emergency. I think it is more than OK to give kids space, but I find the methods you talked about extreme. A six year old does not have higher reasoning skills, nor the experience to handle a crisis.

I would feel more comfortable letting the child play in their room undisturbed, or playing outside by themselves in their own yard where an adult is there to peek out the windows. I feel very strongly that a child that age needs an adult around--even if that adult is on "standby" in case a difficult situation pops up.

Answer 6

i would never leave a 6 year old home alone un supervised, i am sorry but theirs to much risk i think you are making a bad descion.

if something happened to your kid when you where out you could be done for child neglect (it happened here)

at 9/10 i would consider it, but only for a few hours at most. i personaly would get a baby sitter till the age of 12/13, and if your gone for longer then 6 hours id still have one till the age of 15

Answer 7

wow id never let a 6 year old stay home alone no matter how mature they think they are or i think they are....someone might kidnap her...come to the door and she might answer it...and they might follow her in...and the rest you could only have nightmares about..what if the house caught on fire or something..i dont know maybe its just me but shes 6 she doesnt deserve in privacy unless its her on room..what on earth does she need to be private about? i know these are a bunch of what ifs...but what ifs happen and then your sitting on the news....goodluck to you but i really think you should think that over....and the no supervision is a no no too .....im sorry theres just too many weirdos out there..and i hate when people leave there kids outside with no supervision dont you know kids get abducted? ....just be careful...

Answer 8

I would never leave my six year old child at home alone. That is just asking for trouble. As far as letting them play outside alone, that wouldn't happen either. It only takes a second for someone to take a child.

Answer 9

You should never leave a 6 year old by themselves. My oldest is 12 and I don't even leave him alone. Child Protective Services will take a child that young if you leave them alone. They don't have the concept of what to do in an emergency situation. What if the house were to catch on fire because the 6 year old tried to cook themselves something to eat. Do you really think that child's mind is old enough to think get out. No they are going to panic. Grow up and find a sitter for your baby, because that is what a six year old is. A baby.

Answer 10

Never ever let a 6 year old stay home alone. I hope your joking.