when children are old enough to stay home alone

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ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

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Jan 12, 2013 1:30 PM
At what age did you let your children stay home alone for a few hours?

My brother-in-law and his wife are going to a basketball game tonight. They have a daughter who is 13 years old. They asked if they could drop her off before they went to the game. It's not a problem, but I'd think a 13 year old would be old enough to stay home by herself for a couple hours. My wife thinks its different bc she's a girl but I'd think girls would be more responsible than leaving a boy by himself.


When did you/ would you feel comfortable leaving your kid at home for a couple hours at a time?
Jan 12, 2013 1:30pm
Fly4Fun's avatar

Fly4Fun

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Jan 12, 2013 1:33 PM
I think it's generally around 11-13 depending on the maturity level of the individual child.
Jan 12, 2013 1:33pm
wildcats20's avatar

wildcats20

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Jan 12, 2013 1:36 PM
13 is definitely old enough.

But maybe she doesn't like to be home alone. I know a lot of people who had kids who just didn't like being alone.
Jan 12, 2013 1:36pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

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Jan 12, 2013 1:36 PM
Fly4Fun;1364332 wrote:I think it's generally around 11-13 depending on the maturity level of the individual child.
My sister lets her 10 year old boy stay by himself which seems young admittedly. But he does fine alone. I'd probably agree with 11-13 though.
Jan 12, 2013 1:36pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

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Jan 12, 2013 1:39 PM
wildcats20;1364335 wrote:13 is definitely old enough.

But maybe she doesn't like to be home alone. I know a lot of people who had kids who just didn't like being alone.
I'm sure that's a big part of it. Her mother doesn't help though.... She's a big enabler. Sets her clothiers out to wear for the day. Doesn't make her go in the basement bc its scary. Shit like that.
Jan 12, 2013 1:39pm
wildcats20's avatar

wildcats20

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Jan 12, 2013 1:40 PM
ZWICK 4 PREZ;1364338 wrote:I'm sure that's a big part of it. Her mother doesn't help though.... She's a big enabler. Sets her clothiers out to wear for the day. Doesn't make her go in the basement bc its scary. Shit like that.
Wow
Jan 12, 2013 1:40pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

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Jan 12, 2013 1:40 PM
I let my 11 year old if its just for like a half hour or so. 13 is definitely old enough.
Jan 12, 2013 1:40pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

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Jan 12, 2013 1:41 PM
wildcats20;1364339 wrote:Wow
I have no idea how she'd ever be able to go to college at this pace.
Jan 12, 2013 1:41pm
Cat Food Flambe''s avatar

Cat Food Flambe'

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Jan 12, 2013 1:42 PM
Fly4Fun;1364332 wrote:I think it's generally around 11-13 depending on the maturity level of the individual child.


This. Also depends on where you're going and how long you'll be away - there's a scale between running to the grocery store for a few items, going to work a few minutes away, or driving over to the next state to take Grandpa back to Cousin Clem's.

Other factors - does the 13-year-old girl have a history of bad behavior - or a 16 year old boyfriend? With one of my kids, I was far less inclined to leave them home by themselves at 17 that I was when they were ten.
Jan 12, 2013 1:42pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

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Jan 12, 2013 1:44 PM
Cat Food Flambe';1364344 wrote:This. Also depends on where you're going and how long you'll be away - there's a scale between running to the grocery store for a few items, going to work a few minutes away, or driving over to the next state to take Grandpa back to Cousin Clem's.

Other factors - does the 13-year-old girl have a history of bad behavior - or a 16 year old boyfriend? With one of my kids, I was far less inclined to leave them home by themselves at 17 that I was when they were ten.
No she's a good kid. Needs to grow up though. Still plays with barbies. Gets scared of storms. I don't think mom wants her to grow up though.
Jan 12, 2013 1:44pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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Jan 12, 2013 1:47 PM
I use to be home alone for hours when I was 10. What a joke this is.
Jan 12, 2013 1:47pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

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Jan 12, 2013 1:57 PM
It's just funny that they want their daughter to babysit our kid that's coming in April but we have to babysit her still at 13. You're not installing much confidence of your kids ability in me lol
Jan 12, 2013 1:57pm
Commander of Awesome's avatar

Commander of Awesome

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Jan 12, 2013 2:05 PM
I'm in the minority here, but my mom was traveled a lot for work. Gone least one night a week. I started staying home alone overnight at 12. She's a baby.
Jan 12, 2013 2:05pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

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Jan 12, 2013 2:08 PM
Commander of Awesome;1364355 wrote:I'm in the minority here, but my mom was traveled a lot for work. Gone least one night a week. I started staying home alone overnight at 12. She's a baby.
I think if you're old enough to use a phone a make good judgment that it's not a big deal.
Jan 12, 2013 2:08pm
mcburg93's avatar

mcburg93

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Jan 12, 2013 2:13 PM
I agree with the 11-13 range. I would also put in to consideration on where they live. I guess if they were in town close to people I would have less issues with it. If they were in the middle of nowhere and no one close I might want to have someone else with them.
Jan 12, 2013 2:13pm
Scarlet_Buckeye's avatar

Scarlet_Buckeye

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Jan 12, 2013 2:19 PM
Maybe a factor in the parent's feelings about asking you to watch her is the fact that they will be gone at night (and she's a girl) versus during the day. I'll bet if the game was in the middle of the afternoon they might not have asked.
Jan 12, 2013 2:19pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

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Jan 12, 2013 4:32 PM
Maturity level of the kid but the level of "super mom" comes into play as well.

My daughter was staying on her own some when she was in 5th grade....at age 13 she was not only home alone but watching her 3-4 year old brother.
Jan 12, 2013 4:32pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

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Jan 12, 2013 4:37 PM
I think I was probably 9 or so when I started leaving for school and walking home from school to my house while mom was at work. It helped growing up in a small town that everyone knew everyone. Before that she'd run me to my grandma's in the morning to catch the bus and I'd ride the bus back to her house until mom was done with work.
Jan 12, 2013 4:37pm
gerb131's avatar

gerb131

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Jan 12, 2013 4:54 PM
10 as long as they have a pitbull
Jan 12, 2013 4:54pm
pmoney25's avatar

pmoney25

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Jan 12, 2013 4:59 PM
I was about 10 I believe. I would be home from after school till about 5:30. I really wasnt home much as I was out playing with my friends. I did grow up in a small little town. As for my kids, I probably would go in that range 11-13.
Jan 12, 2013 4:59pm
W

WebFire

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Jan 12, 2013 5:02 PM
My son is 9 and he stays home by himself for small bits at a time. But he is responsible.
Jan 12, 2013 5:02pm
Heelz's avatar

Heelz

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Jan 13, 2013 9:00 AM
When I was 10 my parents were divorced and I lived with my dad who worked 3rd shift @ Honda. My sister was 17 and just graduated HS so she moved out. I was home everynight by myself and in the morning getting myself up and ready for school. I would think 11- 13 yrs old could hang out by themselves for a few hours. Unless they are immature or just a bad kid. Then buy a big kennel with a lock
Jan 13, 2013 9:00am
hasbeen's avatar

hasbeen

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Jan 13, 2013 9:28 AM
Sounds like you need to discuss babysitter expectations if they expect her to be the responsible one.
Jan 13, 2013 9:28am
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

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Jan 13, 2013 9:43 AM
I left my kid home at age 3. He was potty trained, could get to his own beef jerky and candy. Much cheaper than hiring a babysitter so I could go out and do some coke and hire some hookers.
Jan 13, 2013 9:43am
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

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Jan 13, 2013 10:04 AM
hasbeen;1364972 wrote:Sounds like you need to discuss babysitter expectations if they expect her to be the responsible one.
There's no discussion. She's too scared to go in a basement. We're not throwing a baby into that mix.
Jan 13, 2013 10:04am