I have a friend that has a 10 year old and I let her bring him over all the time, I'm practically his godmother, etc. He has an ipod, a cell phone and a laptop, he's a smart, self proficient good kid.
I was left home alone as early as 8, I did my homework, heated up food, watched tv and went to bed, no problem. Yet, my friend still has people watch her kid when she has to work. He constantly needs moms attention, it's annoying. I think he's old enough already to do his own thing, he can bathe himself, fix himself meals, he does his homework on his own, he's FINE without some adult hovering.
What age is acceptable to leave your kid home alone and quit spoiling him and sheltering him so much?
2007-10-01
17:17:08
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25 answers
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asked by
jen
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Pregnancy & Parenting
➔ Parenting
I think 10-12 depending on the maturity. I was left home alone for four hours after school everyday when I was in kindergarten, though, so I guess I'm not the best judge. lol (I rode the bus home and my parents came home from work at 7:30-8pm. I ate, watched Jem and Heathcliff and took a nap. I was fine and this went on for six years. :/ I know, so stupid)
2007-10-01 18:24:08
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answer #1
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answered by ... 1
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12
2007-10-02 00:26:40
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answer #2
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answered by ashanti g 2
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I think it is up to the parents to decide when they want to leave their kid at home alone, his mother probably worrys about him which is not a bad thing. And I dont think kids should be left to do their own cooking an bathing, we are their parents an that is our job, and i love doing it. But depending on the kid, 12 is an ok age to leave a kid at home for a short period never all night though, at the most an hour.
2007-10-02 00:24:07
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answer #3
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answered by Emily May 11/10/08 :) 6
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Age 12 is old enough. But still need strict rules of conduct.
10 is way to young...because they don't have a basic
reasoning of what not to do. They are still developementally
very immature, therfore, not able to handle certain situations
or themselves. How sad that a child has to take care of
themselves without any adult supervision. It is just way to dangerous in these times to leave a child home alone so
young. And there are laws..about the proper age a child can
stay home alone. Otherwise it can be considered neglect.
Who cares if the child knows how to feed himself, and play
with his toys, nintendo or whatever. It is very dangerous in my
opinion. I never left my kids alone like that, they always had
a family member watch them, I didn't trust anyone else. That
child has no choice but to learn to be alone and do things for
themself.
2007-10-02 00:29:15
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answer #4
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answered by CraZyCaT 5
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Hmm. She probably doesn't have people watch him because she doesn't think he couldn't take care of himself if need be; she probably has him with someone she trusts for her OWN peace of mind.
I personally think that if you can send a kid to the store and they're comfortable with that (and YOU'RE comfortable with that) then they can stay home by themselves. I didn't start staying home by myself until I was about 11 years old.
I also agree with everyone else, it depends on the child. He sounds like the kind of child that could probably stay home and be fine. But again, I dont think his self sufficiency is in question.
The only ill effects are his need to be spoiled (which I think is kind of a separate issue from him being independant in that way) and him wanting to be around his mother all the time. She may have to build up slowly (leaving him home by himself for 20 minutes, then an hour...) to help him outgrow that behavior. That is, if she wants him to right now.
xoxo.*
2007-10-02 00:33:14
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answer #5
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answered by Deeautiful.* 2
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Every kid is different. I would say between about 12-15 depending on the child and depending of how long. There's nothing wrong with him or her that she doesn't leave him alone at the house right now, with all that is wrong in the world (people coming straight into your house while you sleep and taking children) I can see where she might be concerned.
2007-10-02 01:26:18
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answer #6
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answered by Zyggy 7
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I have two daughters who are four years apart in age. I started leaving them at home alone when the younger one was about 8 years old. She had her 12-year-old sister to watch over her. It wasn't really what I would have considered babysitting. It was mainly to make sure the younger girl was all right and to do things for her if she needed them. Now, they're both teenagers and they get left at home alone a lot more frequently.
2007-10-02 02:11:01
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answer #7
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answered by RoVale 7
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It depends on the child and how long a period. Are there neighbors he can go to if there's a problem? I would say at 11 if the child is ok with it, for short, 1 or 2 hours, daytime periods.
Spoiling and sheltering him? I hope you're joking!
Try showing some love and affection. There's no age that should stop!
2007-10-02 00:29:15
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answer #8
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answered by Kitty 2
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i was 10, my brother was more like 12. it all depends on the kid. i would never leave my 8 year old home alone. he's to smart for his own good and has way too many crazy ideas that just cause mass destruction. also the neighborhood we live in is not all that great. sometimes it's not so much we don't trust our children as it is we don't trust everyone else.
2007-10-02 00:27:33
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answer #9
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answered by macy 3
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I have 5 children ,the oldest is 12,the others are 8,6,4 and 3.They all are used to being home alone and that's nothing interesting for them - just a normal situation which passes as usual.when my 12yo has to go to the doctor,I can't take all the other 4 kids with us and they stay at home (I am divorced and they live with me,so nobody looks aftre them at home).I have left even the 6yo alone at home - nothing bad happened and the kids are smart and know how to take care of themselves.
2007-10-02 06:20:04
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answer #10
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answered by Lee An 1
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