my parents did this when we were growing up all the time. My sister was able to babysit all of us at 13...we always had a list of phone numbers and they always would call if something happened. What is the proper age for kids to be able to stay home alone? not for a long time but daily aarons?
2007-01-02 05:53:21 · 26 answers · asked by johnjd_cmu 4 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
l980
2007-01-02 05:55:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
About 10
2007-01-02 05:56:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I was left home alone after school at the age of 6. I was able to cook up a snack, and was expected to do some household chores before taking myself outside to play. If a mother were doing that now, she'd be arrested. By 8th grade I had a steady baby-sitting job minding 3 children, ages 4, 3, and 18 mos., and made $140 weekly, which sent me to Europe when I was a sophomore.
Here in Maine, children may not legally be left alone until they reach 13 years of age, but I don't know for how long. It seems ridiculous, but I suppose times have changed. The country is losing its rural places, and no one knows his/her neighbors anymore. It seems like we can't even rely on the judgements of an individual child, who are likely to know best, since there are state regulations. But I also think the less you expect of people, especially children, the less you will get. Sometimes I think people will "better safe than sorry" their lives away. I wish every child had the freedoms I had - to be outside unpoliced, to live liberated from schedules, to learn innovation and self-reliance. I am grateful I was a latchkey kid. All that time spent alone taught me more about life than anything a teacher tried to drill into my head. I learned how to manage, which is much more than kids seem to get these days.
2007-01-02 06:38:42 · answer #3 · answered by Medusa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think people should be really careful now because of the Internet, at 13 and up they get tempted to talk to people they shouldn't. I know they can do it when parents are home, but when parents are not with them anything could happen..I don't think kids should be Left alone until they are at least 15 and yes I know they can get into trouble to,but by then they should be able to handle situations more...I have 2 kids and they were not allowed to stay by themselves until they were 15
2007-01-02 06:09:16 · answer #4 · answered by baby shih tzu 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All I can say is Wow! She must be the reason I have to watch that horrifying commercial of the Dad forgetting the baby in the car and then finding it dead over and over again. Babies and children should NEVER be left alone in a car. There are too many ways for them to get injured. If I ever see a child left in a car, I call the police immediately with the license plate number. This is child endangerment and you can lose your baby that way. Your SIL is a twit, a lucky twit, since nothing bad has happened yet but a twit nevertheless.
2016-05-23 06:44:39 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it varies from state to state now that the government has stepped out of things like welfare and child care. I too watched my siblings (I'm the oldest of six) during the 70's and I was given power of attorney in 1982 ( senior in high school) when my parents went out of the country for vacation.
Today the only way to know for sure what a "safe" age is is to call your local Social Services Department and ask. I would say if the child shows signs of being responsible and has a level head it would be ok, but again to keep your own butt safe it is better to get that age from someone in authority before they find you and it is too late.
2007-01-02 06:02:03 · answer #6 · answered by enoughmichele04 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've got two daughters (ages are 9 and 5) and I hope that when my oldest turns 13 I'll be able to leave her "in charge". I'm pretty sure that's the age locally that children can be left alone and the parents not be cited for child abandonment.
2007-01-02 05:56:42 · answer #7 · answered by Jayna 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My mom did the same thing. She worked two jobs and I had a key on a chain around my neck. We would let ourselves into the house when we got out of school, eat dinner that she'd leave on the stove for us, then we would do our homework and get ready for bed. We watched TV with the volume low and played with toys or whatever until she came home. Usually our downstairs neighbor would check on us but most of the time we were fine. I would never do that with my kids but times have changed and things are just so different and more dangerous these days.
2007-01-02 06:20:08 · answer #8 · answered by lovelee1 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
long time ago when i was little it was wrong to do. but my mom used to do it all the time..
its called child neglect and child endangerment
i dont think any child should ever be left alone only god knows what could happen or what thay would do thid day and age. theres kids 10 and up getting pregnant aint that the some sh!t. my kids will never ever be left alone. if i have to go somewhere thay will always come with me. even know thay are only 20 months old and 7 months old
2007-01-02 05:56:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I could have stayed home alone since I was 5 years old. But, it depends on the kid. I started babysitting when I was 9.
2007-01-02 06:36:54 · answer #10 · answered by kimmys 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it depends on what state you live in. you should call your local child protective services or social services department and ask. here in california the legal age to babysit is 18. rediculous i know but then the state wont provide care facilities for children 13 and over. catch 22 huh?
in montana a child as young as 10 can babysit as long as they take the manditory state provided child care class. again it varries from state to state.
2007-01-02 06:00:13 · answer #11 · answered by madpenguin73 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋