Would you leave your kid home alone in this situation

[Anonymous]

My DD8 is very responsible and she has been asking to stay home while a drop off/pick up her little sister (different schools) for about a year now. It is a FIGHT every single morning and evening and frankly it's such a crappy way to start and end the day.

Situation
-It takes me 15-20 mins round trip to get her sister to or from school
-DD can call people from the family tablet
-Her dad lives 3 blocks away and works from home
-My lifelong best friend who they call "Aunt" lives directly across the street and works from home

WWYD?

[Anonymous]

Can she call 911? If so, yes. She’s 8. 8 year olds can stay home alone for multiple hours, but this gen is overprotective.

[Anonymous]

I think it's completely fine, I'd just make sure her dad is on board.

[Anonymous]

I would agree to give it a 1 week trial. Sounds like there are plenty of adults nearby who could help if needed, she is fairly responsible, and she is motivated to do well/not mess it up. It seems like a safe situation to give her some independence and see how it goes.

[Anonymous]

I'd have done it last year. The key is to outline with her what she'll do while she's home alone.

[Anonymous]

Yes, fine. Try it and make sure she can call using the tablet. We got my 8yo a Gabb or Gizmo watch around that age so she could more easily call the pre-programmed numbers in it.

[Anonymous]

Of course, unless she is the type to get into trouble

[Anonymous]

Yes, I would totally do this. I started leaving my 2nd at home alone at this age when I needed to drive older sibling to things and my spouse wasn't around.

In the beginning, I would call her on family ipad and stay on the line with her during the ride. This was both for my own reassurance and her. And go over basics about what to do very specifically. What if someone knocks on the door (most realistic and probable), what if the house is on fire, what if a smoke alarm goes off, etc.

You really need to be clear with them to NEVER EVER answer the door. For some reason, my kids really want to answer the door if someone knocks.

[Anonymous]

Is she scared

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is she scared

Nope. We went to Paris last summer and she confidently told me she's ready to navigate the metro and go sightseeing alone next time lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can she call 911? If so, yes. She’s 8. 8 year olds can stay home alone for multiple hours, but this gen is overprotective.

+1 OP, she's probably ready. Sit her down and tell her why you weren't considering this before, and why you are considering a change now. Or, what you want to see from her, before you would start leaving her home.

If you don't, you'll be teaching her that arguing and wearing you down is the way for her to get what she wants.

Does she have Internet access that you can't lock down 100% on the family tablet? If she does, leaving her home with it would be a hard no from me. Most parents today under protect in the digital world and overprotect in the real world. Don't make that mistake.

[Anonymous]

I started doing this when my daughter was 8. I no longer dragged her when I was dropping off older siblings. She is now 9 and I leave her home for an hour at a time and she is fine.

[Anonymous]

Yes of course.

[Anonymous]

No, absolutely not. She can stay with dad or coordinate with him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, absolutely not. She can stay with dad or coordinate with him.

And, ask him his opinion not us.