Is it ok to leave 8 year old home alone?

[Anonymous]

In MD, he can be home alone at 8. Most other states leave it up to the parent, but I can't imagine any of them caring about an 8 year old home alone for a few minutes in the middle of the day. CPS wouldn't care at all about the nosey nellies in your neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

From this site: http://www3.montgomerycountymd.gov/311/Solutions.aspx?SolutionId=1-NJRWV&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

"Children age 8 or older can be left home alone for short periods of time, as long as a parent or other adult can be contacted. Short periods of time could be before or after school, not an entire day"

[Anonymous]

This is reassuring.

[Anonymous]

Pretty sure you can leave an 8yo for 1.5 hrs. I literally just looked this up yesterday.

[Anonymous]

FFX Co. guidelines that were sent home from school the other day have 1.5 hours for an 8 year old home alone during daylight hours. We have left our responsible 8 yo home alone while we ran errands, like grocery store. It was fine. DC also walks alone to the bus stop (about 4 blocks away) in the AM and PM, and has a key to enter the house. I usually get home 30 minutes later.

[Anonymous]

I think it's fine as well. Curious, though, what do people tell their kids about answering the door/phone?

[Anonymous]

What about DC? DC is turning 10 soon, has a cellphone and we living in a condo with a doorman.
I would've left him long ago while we are at the nearby park with the younger one or grocery shopping, but people get locked up so easily in this country.
e has no problem staying home. He is playing his video games. I've just told him that I get locked up and I have him come with us even though he is tired after 9 hours at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's fine as well. Curious, though, what do people tell their kids about answering the door/phone?

I tell mine not to answer the door. He usually has one of our cell phones and is instructed to answer only certain callers. We've gone through all the drills of when to call a parent versus when to call 911; when to leave the house and when to stay. He's very steady and responsible and loves being left alone for a little while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's fine as well. Curious, though, what do people tell their kids about answering the door/phone?

We tell ours never to answer the door. Neighbor kids regularly knock on our door, but the rule is that when we are not home, they are not allowed to come in and play, and our kids are not allowed to leave the house, save for an emergency). So no need to answer the door. Yes, we specified that even if it is for someone they know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Son is very well behaved. Doesn't do crazy impulsive things. My husband is worried that some busy-body will report to CPS that we left him alone and all hell will break loose.

How would they even know?

OP here. Husband worries that DS will tell one of his friends and his/her uptight parents might report us.

It's a sad day that our parenting decisions are guided by our fear of nosy neighbors reporting us (and the very real legal consequences that attach to that), and not guided by the actual real risks to our children.

I do this too. Not criticizing. Just lamenting the stupidity of how difficult it is to raise kids now, what with all the ever-coming judgment....

[Anonymous]

It is fine. If DD has no school we leave her while her younger siblings get dropped off at daycare. It's 2 miles away and drop off takes about 15 minutes. She just turned 9. I was a latch key kid and spent a lot more time home alone than she does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is fine. If DD has no school we leave her while her younger siblings get dropped off at daycare. It's 2 miles away and drop off takes about 15 minutes. She just turned 9. I was a latch key kid and spent a lot more time home alone than she does.

OP here. I totally agree with you. My son is so cautious and conscientious and the school (where I took his brothers this morning) is about 5 blocks away. The problem is that some people believe children must be supervised at all times until they turn 18 and social services is so afraid of making mistakes that low-risk behavior is criminalized. How are kids supposed to learn to take of themselves if they can never be left alone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Son is very well behaved. Doesn't do crazy impulsive things. My husband is worried that some busy-body will report to CPS that we left him alone and all hell will break loose.

How would they even know?

OP here. Husband worries that DS will tell one of his friends and his/her uptight parents might report us.

It's a sad day that our parenting decisions are guided by our fear of nosy neighbors reporting us (and the very real legal consequences that attach to that), and not guided by the actual real risks to our children.

I do this too. Not criticizing. Just lamenting the stupidity of how difficult it is to raise kids now, what with all the ever-coming judgment....

Very sad, but true. And getting worse.

[Anonymous]

I can not see myself leaving my 8 year old alone at home. He's a great kid but at anytime, he will get bored and head out the door and find his neighborhood friends.

But, I do wonder how what it would be like to leave him alone for an hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Son is very well behaved. Doesn't do crazy impulsive things. My husband is worried that some busy-body will report to CPS that we left him alone and all hell will break loose.

Sadly, this is the biggest risk. Find out the rules/ guidelines in your county. You still can do it, but everyone in the family should know that you do not talk about it. I explained to my son that is was practice.