What age kids can stay home alone?

Answer 1

For how long are we talking? How far are the parents?

Most states require a child to be 13 years of age before staying alone, that does NOT mean an overnight. At about 11 we started letting our son stay home for brief periods like (5-10 minutes) while we went for a walk, etc. Then worked it up to a little longer for grocery store visits etc. Be sure to speak with your child about stranger danger, how to get ahold of you, which neighbors are home, what to do in an emergency, etc.

Now if we are talking walking home from school, letting himself in and staying alone I think 13 is the earliest age.

Be especially careful about not leaving your kid home alone at night, they get scared easily. Work up to it over a long period of time don't just leave them alone for a long time. Start with a few 5 to 10 minutes and close by and then work up to store visits, etc. See how they handle themselves, etc. A lot does depend on the child, for instance there are some children more mature than other's my brother is in his late teens and I think he isn't old enough to stay home alone!

Answer 2

I remember a lot of my childhood. Well the first time I was by myself was when my cousin (age 5) and i (age 5) stayed home alone for 2-4 hours while my parents went to see a sick relative, but I had other relatives next door (literally just across the street). Then at about 9 I started babysitting my newborn sister every weekend when my mom went to work. The thing is I was pretty mature. The thing is, you have to see how mature your kids are. If they know their morals and know what's right and wrong then go ahead. Don't get me wrong but if you have bad kids that aren't goody goody like I was, then you should wait until they are mature enough.

By law, in Illinois is 15, in Maryland it is 13 when kids are considered reliable on.

Answer 3

The most important considerations are how mature the child is and whether or not he/she minds being left alone. If a child knows not to open the door to strangers, not to indicate that he/she is alone to someone calling on the 'phone, knows how and when to use 911 and is ok w/being home, then he or she is mature enough. Obviously you wouldn't leave a 10 or 11 yr. old in charge of younger siblings if the oldest child isn't comfortable w/that. Age isn't the most important factor. Some teenagers would probably cause a major problem by having a lot of friends over. It's really dependent on the maturity of the kid.

Answer 4

It really would depend on the maturity level of the child and how responsible they are. I wouldn't leave anyone younger than 12 years old home alone for more than l/2 hour. After having 4 kids it is kind of scary to see what they get into and do when you are around let alone what happens if you aren't there!....Those are the stories they tell you 10 or 15 years later at the Thanksgiving table!

Answer 5

12

Answer 6

It obviously depends on what the law is around your area but my mum used to leave me and my brother by ourselves when I was 9 if it was just for two minutes or 11 for longer periods of time.
My brother is three years younger then me so I was left responsible to look after him and we were always fine. My brother is 12 now and unfortunately one time when he was the only one left in the house he played with fire and my mum found out so now he is left outside or round his friends when we go out without him; so it obviously depends on how mature and trustworthy the children are.
Some kids are left at home alone from a young age though and they cope perfectly fine. In the junior school I went to there was a mix of children from both middle class and working class families and so many of my friends back then who were only 9 years old and had single mothers that worked 9-5 shifts so they were spending a few hours at home by themselves and they all managed okay. This may not be the best way of parenting and a lot of kids did go to kids clubs instead but it proves that you can be responsible at a young age to take care of yourself.

Answer 7

13

Answer 8

12

Answer 9

Depends on the child and if they are responsible.

This is how I work it with my kids
10 and under they can not stay home alone.
11 – half hour tops.
12 – one hour tops.
13 - a couple of hours, but checking in every half hour.
14 – same a couple of hours but only checking in maybe once .
15 – most of the day with afew check in’s
16 – could be left home along all day, but not over night
17 – could be left home alone all day and maybe over night
18 - could be left alone. day and night

Answer 10

13