how old was your child when..................?

Question

you first left them alone?

Answer 1

Well, my daughter is 8.. and VERY mature.. I think she could be left alone for short times.. but I am not ready for that.. With the way she is going, I am thinking 11 or so.. I don't remember how early I was left alone.. but I remember I used to baby sit at 9 for about 4-5 hours a few times a week.. when I was 11 I had a full time baby sitting job in the summer for two (rotten) boys.. ages 7 and 4. I got $90 a week and was the richest 11 year old around..lol.

Answer 2

Latchkey kid. from about 8 or 9. I like to think times were different back in the olden days ;)

In a lot of ways they were. Lived in a large city, but small suburb. 1 cop and he lived next door. By 11, i was driving a mile to the mom and pop grocery store (1950 dodge standard shift with a pillow). Had my license at 14 and a 1952 Chrysler (same age as me) that i bought for $50 (I think my uncle paid some without my knowledge).

Now, everyone is terrified to leave kids alone - even if a cop lives next door. Kids frequently aren't driving until 17 or 18. Sixteen is the youngest to legally drive. And once they start driving, the car better be new.

Wait, you asked about my child? My girls stayed alone from about 10 years.

Answer 3

my two oldest children are 20 months apart but the first time i left them alone my son was 12 and my daughter was 11 the first time i left my youngest child alone was when she was 9-10 and it was only for 1-2 hrs a few times per week after school with several numbers and neighbors keeping watch

Answer 4

I think my daughter was 13 at the time but I would just run down the street to the store for a few things so I wasn't gone long. It is good to do little test runs first but make sure you have explained what to do in case of emergency and not to answer the door to strangers and all the other things moms worry about when they have to leave even for short periods of time. By the way, I think 13 is the legal age otherwise, if something were to happen and the child were under age 13, you could get in trouble.

Answer 5

11

Answer 6

There are laws in some states that decide for you, I think its 12 in Illinois.

I have left mine alone for no more than 20 mins when they get home from school, sometimes I'm running a little behind but only my older 2, 8 and 9.

Answer 7

she is still not old enough to be left home alone
she is only 8 yrs old and in my books still to young
maybe when she is 13 or 14yrs old she will be old enough to stay home alone... for an hr or so but till then i have made the proper arrangments for her to have a sitter pick her up and stay with her until i get home from work at 5:30pm

my daughter doesn't even like when she is left in my hall way for 2 secs if i run back into the apartment to get something i have forgotten she runs to the door and holds it open.
i don't let her walk to school alone even though i have seen children as young as 6 walking to school alone there are sicko's out there and i wont do it she always walks with me or her nannie or her sitter or sitters son who is 22yrs old . I AM WAY PROTECTIVE

Answer 8

Obviously it depends on the maturity of the child. Some of my oldest son's friends are left alone at age 9/10. I have not or would not leave mine alone that early but he is very immature.

Answer 9

At 11 but it was never for very long as she does not like being left alone for too long. So long as they are mature enough to know what to do in an emergency children can be left for very short periods preferably not all day.Also to call them to make sure they are okay.Now she is 12 nearer high school then I can leave hertodo some shopping nearby for longer periods.

Answer 10

When I was a little girl, I can remember being home alone at 4 (I also was very neglected, and never believed in Santa). I have 2 kids and all I can say is that by the time I feel they will be old enough to take care of themselves at home alone, they'll probably be old enough to do things they shouldn't, so I'm guessing........college.