What age can child be home alone for an hour?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:6-7 years old

My mom used to leave me alone when I was 6 to pick my older sister up from school and I remember staring out the window, waiting for them to get home. She couldn't have been gone more than 20 minutes, but I was so, so scared.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax County guidelines (there are no laws about this in Virginia, just guidance)

Age Guidelines
8 years old and younger should always be in the care of a responsible person. Children this age should never be left unsupervised in homes, cars, playgrounds or yards.
9-10 years old may be ready to be left unsupervised up to 1.5 hours during daylight and early evening hours.
11-12 years old may be ready to be left unsupervised up to 3 hours during daylight and early evening hours.
13-15 years old may be ready to be left unsupervised more than three hours but not overnight.
16 years old and older may be ready to be left unsupervised overnight for one to two days, with a plan in place.
Babysitting Age Guidelines
10-12 years old may provide care of other children for up to three hours with the help of an adult.
13-15 years old may babysit infants and children but not overnight.
16 years old and older may watch children overnight.

[Anonymous]

Helpful, thank you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax County guidelines (there are no laws about this in Virginia, just guidance)

Age Guidelines
8 years old and younger should always be in the care of a responsible person. Children this age should never be left unsupervised in homes, cars, playgrounds or yards.
9-10 years old may be ready to be left unsupervised up to 1.5 hours during daylight and early evening hours.
11-12 years old may be ready to be left unsupervised up to 3 hours during daylight and early evening hours.
13-15 years old may be ready to be left unsupervised more than three hours but not overnight.
16 years old and older may be ready to be left unsupervised overnight for one to two days, with a plan in place.
Babysitting Age Guidelines
10-12 years old may provide care of other children for up to three hours with the help of an adult.
13-15 years old may babysit infants and children but not overnight.
16 years old and older may watch children overnight.

I think 8 year olds can easily be left at home.

I don’t think 16 year olds should be left overnight however. I think kids should be 18 for that.

Some of my issue with leaving kids home alone is that there aren’t home phones to dial 911. I wish Alexa could do it.

[Anonymous]

Babysitting begins 13 so I would assume a couple years earlier

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:12. But why really?

Bruh.

[Anonymous]

Agree with everyone who says it depends on the maturity of the kids. Some are ready at 7, and some not until 11 or 12.

[Anonymous]

14

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It soooo depends on the kid. We started leaving him alone while we walked the dogs around the neighborhood at 8–but we were always within a few minutes of home if there was an emergency. At 10 I feel comfortable running to the grocery store without him.

+1. Roughly these ages.

+2

+3, although at 10 I was letting him make short trips on his own

[Anonymous]

My kids were never scared to be home alone. Something about the Covid shutdown made them very reluctant to leave the house without a motivating reason. Starting at 6, I’d leave the younger one home alone for about an hour for errands like picking up dinner or picking up my older child from an activity. It wasn’t legal. I’m glad they are older now and I don’t have to worry about breaking the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6-7 years old

My mom used to leave me alone when I was 6 to pick my older sister up from school and I remember staring out the window, waiting for them to get home. She couldn't have been gone more than 20 minutes, but I was so, so scared.

My mom was a substitute teacher and sometimes had to leave before I left to walk a block and a half to school. It was decided in 1st grade I was old enough for a house key. I was so proud to keep an eye on the clock and leave at the right time, lock the door, and walk to school. Think I was home alone from 8 or 8:15 until 9am, since elementary school started at 9:15. So I was six then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax County guidelines (there are no laws about this in Virginia, just guidance)

Age Guidelines
8 years old and younger should always be in the care of a responsible person. Children this age should never be left unsupervised in homes, cars, playgrounds or yards.
9-10 years old may be ready to be left unsupervised up to 1.5 hours during daylight and early evening hours.
11-12 years old may be ready to be left unsupervised up to 3 hours during daylight and early evening hours.
13-15 years old may be ready to be left unsupervised more than three hours but not overnight.
16 years old and older may be ready to be left unsupervised overnight for one to two days, with a plan in place.
Babysitting Age Guidelines
10-12 years old may provide care of other children for up to three hours with the help of an adult.
13-15 years old may babysit infants and children but not overnight.
16 years old and older may watch children overnight.

And remember, they are only guidelines. I am one of the PPs who left one of mine alone at 8. My oldest is now 16 and there is no way we would leave him unsupervised for a night for a whole bunch of different reasons. The worries change.

[Anonymous]

Virginia guidelines
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/familyservices/children-youth/child-supervision-guidelines

[Anonymous]

I’d only leave my 9 year old home alone if I was running a short errand within our neighborhood like dropping sibling at a friend’s house or picking up a take out order at a nearby restaurant. I wouldn’t leave 9 year old for more than 20 mins or so. We live in a very safe area and I think my kid is reasonably responsible for a 9 year old But I’m very averse in general when it comes to my kids’ safety. He doesn’t have a phone or any way to contact in case of emergency.

[Anonymous]

I did on older side of 7. At the time I think I was more nervous than he was. Now 8, my son walks to/from the bus alone. Soon, he will have to be latchkey with about 30 min before and after school alone on the random days my husband and I both have to go into the office.