What age can you leave kids home alone in Virginia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would leave the 11 year old alone, but not with a 5 year old.

I was babysitting a next door neighbor’s infant when I was 12.

That's nice mee-maw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would you feel comfortable leaving your 5 year old home with your 11 year old for an hour or two while you take middle child to a sporting practice?

I looked on VA website and it looks like there are recommendations but not any legal enforcement of age when kids can stay home alone.

What age have you allowed kids to stay home?

There's a donut. A baby isn't going to rat on you. A five-year-old might. An 8-year-old might be happy to get some unsupervised screen time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would leave the 11 year old alone, but not with a 5 year old.

I was babysitting a next door neighbor’s infant when I was 12.

That's nice mee-maw.

huh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would leave the 11 year old alone, but not with a 5 year old.

I was babysitting a next door neighbor’s infant when I was 12.

That's nice mee-maw.

I’m 43!

. . . And my kids are 12 10 and 5

[Anonymous]

Very much depends on the kids.

I started leaving each of mine alone for short periods when they were 9. During the day only and I would be nearby. A quick errand or walking the dog.

My kids bicker so I wouldn’t leave them alone together until my oldest was about 14. It’s not even the same to say oh my 11 year old could watch a neighbor. Siblings have different dynamics.

[Anonymous]

You can’t leave the 5 year old alone.

You shouldn’t leave an 11 year old in charge of a 5 year old. Too young for the 5 year old and too much responsibility for the 11 year old. As a younger sibling myself that is not going to end well.

So no. Bring the 5 year old with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would leave the 11 year old alone, but not with a 5 year old.

I was babysitting a next door neighbor’s infant when I was 12.

That's nice mee-maw.

I’m 43!

. . . And my kids are 12 10 and 5

40yo here. 12 was a very common age for babysitting when I grew up. My kids are younger, but I assumed it still was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op - also if you leave your kids home do you have a land line phone? We don’t have one and kids obviously do not have cell phones yet. Does it even matter? Could we just tell them to go to a neighbors if there is an emergency?

I taught mine how to call the police from iPads on the WiFi

that doesn’t work if the power is out…so a fire. for example.

We have solar (+battery), so no power cuts. And we run fire drills as the school recommended

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op - also if you leave your kids home do you have a land line phone? We don’t have one and kids obviously do not have cell phones yet. Does it even matter? Could we just tell them to go to a neighbors if there is an emergency?

I taught mine how to call the police from iPads on the WiFi

that doesn’t work if the power is out…so a fire. for example.

We have solar (+battery), so no power cuts. And we run fire drills as the school recommended

Is the 5 year old certified with the fire extinguisher?

[Anonymous]

Yes, I did that and felt comfortable with it.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the kids. We left kids home alone at 11, despite no phone. But I think we waited until oldest was 12 to leave him in charge of younger sibling.

[Anonymous]

During Covid?

- any age.

Post Covid?

Arguably, most ages.

[Anonymous]

No, don’t be a lazy parent. Bring your 5 yr old at least

[Anonymous]

Mine are 7 and 9 and I leave them home frequently for under 30 minute trips. 60 min might be fine too. I have a 3 year old and they do not want to go pick her up from daycare with me. I frequently test them on fire safety and what to do if X happens.

I'm glad virginia doesn't have an age associated with it. This should be a parental decision. My kids are really responsible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would leave the 11 year old alone, but not with a 5 year old.

I was babysitting a next door neighbor’s infant when I was 12.

I have two boys who will fight with each other, so that’s influencing my opinion. I would trust my 11 year old to supervise an unrelated child more than his own brother.