Question about something?

Question

My next door neighbor who is a cop says that my girls who are 8&9 are old enough to stay home for 15-20 minutes while I run to the gas station a few blocks away, the social worker however says they have to be 10 to stay home, who has more authority to say what's what, the police or the social worker?

Answer 1

Just put urself in their shoes when u were 8 or 9. Were u capable enough of being left alone in ur house with that age? me when i was 8 or 9, i can be by myself for a few hours alone but only provided with enough food and always being reminded of not to open the door nor talk to strangers. i'm also not allowed to cook. i just watch tv, play or sleep

Answer 2

Where do you live where you are supposedly able to leave kids that age home for 3 seconds without a sitter? I lived in Illinois all of my life and was informed by a supervisor from DCFS that until your kids are at least 12 they can not be left alone and also, kids are not allowed to watch a younger sibling until they are at least 15. My next door neighbor had the unfortunate experience of finding out the hard way. As for the cops telling you it's okay, NEVER believe anything a cop tells you. They seem to be trained to lie for their own benefit.

Answer 3

Technicly a social work is the only person who may determine if your kids can be taken away for example. A cop can only report what he has seen and take temporary action. So for there forth you should listen to the social worker.

Answer 4

The Social Worker. They can get you in a lot of trouble if you don't follow the law to the letter.

Answer 5

The Social Worker because they have specialized training with children and no what is best for them.

Answer 6

The social worker will be the one to take your children if they feel you aren't being responsible. The police can not take away your kids for leaving them for 15- 20 minutes. You might want to look up YOUR states LAW on this. Some states actually have a state law on age for leaving your children home alone. I live in California and there is no "set" age. The National SAFEKIDS Campaign recommends that no child under the age of 12 be left home alone.

ALL states are different, but I will give you a coy of what was sent to me.
Division of Child Welfare California
When Is It Legal to Leave Children Alone?
When thinking about leaving children alone, whether for a short or long time, it is important for parents to consider the risks involved. There are many potential risks to children that must be considered. However, it is important to realize that there can be risks for parents as well.
Parents in all states are legally responsible for their children's welfare until they reach adulthood. Part of caring for children is providing adequate supervision. Under some circumstances a parent can be charged with neglect for leaving children unattended.
Whenever you begin to consider self-care for your child, you should carefully question your child’s readiness for more independence. You should also know how child-protection investigators determine whether there is child neglect. Basically, investigators ask three main questions to determine whether a parent or legal guardian is neglecting a child by not providing adequate supervision:
Question #1. How mature is the child?
Is the child capable of taking care of and protecting himself or herself? Is the child mentally capable of recognizing and avoiding danger and making sound decisions? Is the child emotionally ready to be alone? Will she or her feel confident and secure or feel afraid, lonely, or bored? Does the child know what to do and who to call if a problem or emergency arises? Does the child have any special physical, emotional or behavioral problems that make it unwise to leave her or him alone?
Question #2. Who is responsible for the child?
Where are the parents? Can the parents get home quickly if needed? Can the parents be reached by phone? Do the children know where the parents are and how to reach them?
If parents have left someone else in charge, investigators will ask whether that person is mature enough to provide good supervision and to protect the child. They will want to know information about the caretaker that is similar to that requested in Question #1. Parents should remember that a child who can take care of herself/himself may not be ready to take care of younger children.
Question #3.What is the situation?
When and for how long are the children left alone?
Have the parents arranged with nearby adults to be available in case a problem arises? Is there any family history of child abuse or neglect?
The welfare of the child is the primary concern of investigators. As you can see, parents need to think carefully about many things before leaving their children alone. And this is important even if you only leave your child alone occasionally. Putting children in situations they can handle can help teach them independence and responsibility. But asking too much too soon can be a frightening and potentially dangerous situation - for both the child and the parent.

I know in California there is also Kaitlyn’s Law: A parent, legal guardian, or other person responsible for a child who is 6 years of age or younger may not leave that child inside a motor vehicle without being subject to the supervision of a person who is 12 years of age or older, under either of the following circumstances: (1) Where there are conditions that present a significant risk to the child's health or safety. (2) When the vehicle’s engine is running.

Answer 7

the social worker.. even if they are is wrong.. just to be safe because they can get u into more trouble than the cop

Answer 8

kids shouldn't stay home alone that young, anyways. the social worker is right.

Answer 9

social worker, they specialize in those kinds of things.

Answer 10

As a rule, never believe ANYTHING the police tell you. They're above the law, and allowed to lie at will.