we live is an apartment and there are adults always home who check in on him form time to time and he plays with their children, and goes in and out of our apartment as he wants, but he does stay most of the time inside. I call and check on him and i make sure he has food to snack on until i get home. Could cps take him away if they were told of this? What do you think? He is very responsible for 11 or i would not even consider doing this.
2007-06-24 12:42:24 · 18 answers · asked by BOBINA 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
i think its too young, what if he falls and gets hurt and cant reach the phone and 20 minutes go by while he is bleeding, or he falls and smacks his head and unconscious for 20 minutes?what if someone barges in with a gun? is he mature enough to know how to handle that? seriously in this day and age i would not leave him unattended
2007-06-24 12:47:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is too young to stay alone for that long. An hour or two wouldn't be bad but not four or five. If I knew of an 11 year old being left alone for that long I'd call CPS. I don't care how "responsible" you think he is, accidents happen and eleven year olds panic, causing further problems. Check with your local community resources I'm sure they have something going on for kids during the summer. Or the YMCA, church youth groups etc.
2007-06-24 20:04:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They called it latch-key kid when I was babysitting. Alot of kids would stay home for a few hrs. after school till there parents came home. But the crime rate of sexual preditors on children in california went very high then. Its 12 yrs old where I live now, when kids can stay home and other states have it set at 13 or 14 yrs. of age. So you may ask yourself what if? What if he gets hurt falling or cuts himself and needs stitches? Yes those are fixable and you would feel guilty but it would be fixable--- but the bigger concern is sexual assalt. No matter where you live...It happens at colleges, low crime rated cities, large and small towns so never assume it cant happen where you live. There everywhere. Your child would be effected for life. This is not fixable. And if your child was taken from you the guilt and depression could ruin your life as it is. Its to easy to get a 14 yr old to watch your kid for a few hrs and make very little money doing it because kids love to play adult. When there is more in numbers at the house the sexual preditor percentage to harm your child goes way down. Remember that family members also commit these crimes too. Take care who watches your child. I hope this is a good wake up call. This is not intended to scare you but to remind you of the dangers we have to watch out for our children. We are there protectors. And they learn from us. What will this teach your child when the child is grown even if nothing ever happened? I am glad you are concerned and ask here. I lived in L.A. California and seen the worst. Then I moved to a different state and small area and it was there too. Its a shame we have to take steps like this and can not trust others but its a true fact and happens way to much. So nip it in the bud. Have someone trustworthy watch your child. Your child will thankyou later.
2007-06-24 21:49:26 · answer #3 · answered by cave wmn 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Depends on the maturity of your son. Some kids mature earlier than others. Also depends on your state. In some states, kids can be home alone at the age of 12. If you are going to leave him home, he needs to stay inside. Don't let others know he's home alone, someone who is observant may figure out he's alone and call CPS on you. Check with your state law before you make a decision and ask yourself if it's worth the risk.
2007-06-24 21:01:49 · answer #4 · answered by jennifer 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Make sure he knows not to answer the door (unless he knows who it is) and the same for the phone. 4-5 hours is a lot... Mostly, I would be afraid the poor kid would get lonely. See if he can stay with some of his friends sometimes. I'm 14, and my mom still likes for me to stay with someone when she's gone all day just 'cause I get lonely and I don't like to be home alone for that amount of time...
2007-06-24 21:39:43 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well if he is leneing the house while you are gone then that is dangerrous and cps might cme and talk to you about that but 11 is a great age to stay home anlone but do not let him leave the house it is dangerrous
2007-06-24 19:46:18 · answer #6 · answered by tlc_coburn 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Of course it is, and it's very dangerous. No 11 year old is responsible enough to do this! Smarten up and make other arrangements...
2007-06-27 08:18:23 · answer #7 · answered by Lydia 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sure, 11 is a great age, i started at that age. it will teach him to be responsible (although i'm sure he is). in most states there is no age limit and cps is only for bad parenting. seems like you and your kid know what's going on and are responsible enough to do this. go ahead!
2007-06-24 21:25:45 · answer #8 · answered by ♥ pandaheart ♥ 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
10 min is too long!!!! the kids have to b at least 13 yrs old to b left alone. DCFS will come and take ur son quick. dont do it u will regret it
Mother of 2
2007-06-24 19:50:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Never been left more than 2 hours at that age
2007-06-24 21:57:41 · answer #10 · answered by Burak 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋