What age you think a child can be home alone?

Question

Maybe just for 30 mins to a hour...

Answer 1

An average child I would say ten for that short of time, but it really depends on maturity level. Some I wouldn't trust at 15.

Answer 2

This is a great question.

I think it depends on your child. My 10 year old is mature and fine for 30 mins to an hour. I have a 13 year old and started leaving him when he was nearly 12.
Also in some schools they teach in health the safety of being alone that really helps with great tips.

Answer 3

10

Answer 4

Having been a child welfare worker and a mental health clinician for 20+ years, now retired, I'd say three factors are very important here. One is, what's the home like, and the neighborhood. In a safer home and neighborhood, a younger child (10-11) can be left alone for the time period you mention. Obviously then, for an unsafe place, I'd recommend waiting till the child is much older (14-15). The second, and very important variable here is the child him/her self. As many of your answerers have said, a more mature child can be left alone for time periods as you have mentioned, whereas more immature children cannot, for pure safety reasons. It's been a few years since I've been a child welfare worker, so I'm not familiar with Texas laws in that area, if their ever was a specific age named. My assessments here are given to you as a mental health clinician, now retired, and it seems to be in agreement with most of your other respondents. Oh, and third is your judgement, because if anything goes wrong, I can tell you that a child welfare worker won't be looking at statistics such as the age of the child. They'll be looking at the parents' judgement in the setting, so, be wise. God Bless you.

Answer 5

Depends on how mature the kid is. If you trust them, I'd say 10 or 11 is old enough. If not, try not to leave them alone. If it has to be between 1 and 4 hours, a 13 or 14 year old can handle it easily. For all day--not before 16 or 17.

Answer 6

12 or 13

Answer 7

My child is very mature and responsible for a ten year old and I live in a great neighborhood and community but I would not leave her home alone not even for thirty minutes. You never know what could happen and your child could panic. I would say at least 14 but then again I like to be on the safe side of things.

Answer 8

13

Answer 9

My daughter was home alone at the age of 10 between the time she got off school and I got home from work. Most of the time I had her in extra cirricular activites but twice a week she was home alone. The age for being home alone varies from state to state...in New York the legal age is nine. But of course a parent knows their child better than the state so it should be left up to the parent.

Answer 10

well I am not saying anything about me being a genious but I was so mature at age 8 that i stayed home alone from 3 oclock to like 6 oclock. And I stayed alone for the whole day when I was like 11. Ofcourse there was food on the table and a neighbor to call if anything went wrong

Answer 11

Most states require that your child be at least 11 or 12, depending on your state. Call up your local police departments non-emergancy number, and ask about the laws in your city. The last thing you want is CPS knocking on your door because you left an underage child unsupervised. I believe in most states, at age 12, you're allowed to leave them unsupervised up to four hours. Just be sure to make certain of the law where you live, you don't want to take chances.