Is it ok to leave 8 year old home alone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:8yo son had a mild fever and I left him on the sofa reading a book while I dropped younger siblings off at school. He knows how to use the phone and I had my cell with me. Round trip took 10 minutes.

You think a house cannot burn down in ten minutes? No. It is not all right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8yo son had a mild fever and I left him on the sofa reading a book while I dropped younger siblings off at school. He knows how to use the phone and I had my cell with me. Round trip took 10 minutes.

You think a house cannot burn down in ten minutes? No. It is not all right.

I'm assuming you don't let your 8 year old ride in cars, either. The statistics for injuries and death from children in car accidents is infinitely higher than the chances of being in a fire.

[Anonymous]

IT's against the law in most jurisdictions. Usually the age minimum is 12. Check your local state's laws.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IT's against the law in most jurisdictions. Usually the age minimum is 12. Check your local state's laws.

Um... not in MD, and I'm pretty sure not in VA. The guidelines put out by my county list 8 as the suggested (but not legally enforced) minimum age. I'm curious where you got age 12 from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8 seems to be the generally accepted age in all jurisdictions around here. Depends on the kid and in your case, sounds more than fine. My older one is 6.5 and I am sure by 8, I would be willing to leave him home for a short period like that but I have a feeling he will be too scared to be home alone even for 10 minutes! I look forward to not having to drag out a sick kid to take the other one to the bus, etc.

In Loudoun the age is 10.

And in Arlington it's 9. I know my 8 yo is more than capable of being home by himself for 20 minutes, but I stick with the county guideline because I don't need the hassle of some nosy nellie reporting me and having to justify why I didn't comply with their guidance.

Those are recommended guidelines, not the law (at least in Arlington).

I leave 8.5 year old with 11-year old brother (and have since brother was 10) for quick errands.

My older one was uber responsible and cautious. My younger one is a little more impulsive so I will wait to leave him by himself.
You really have to look at the individual child too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IT's against the law in most jurisdictions. Usually the age minimum is 12. Check your local state's laws.

No true at all.

4 states is 12
3 states is 10
1 state is 9
3 states is 8
2 states is 6

The rest of the states have NO minimum. Parents decide, not the government. Imagine that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IT's against the law in most jurisdictions. Usually the age minimum is 12. Check your local state's laws.

Making up "facts" doesn't make them true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IT's against the law in most jurisdictions. Usually the age minimum is 12. Check your local state's laws.

No true at all.

4 states is 12
3 states is 10
1 state is 9
3 states is 8
2 states is 6

The rest of the states have NO minimum. Parents decide, not the government. Imagine that.

But, but... how will we know what to do if someone doesn't give very detailed requirements at each step of the way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IT's against the law in most jurisdictions. Usually the age minimum is 12. Check your local state's laws.

No true at all.

4 states is 12
3 states is 10
1 state is 9
3 states is 8
2 states is 6

The rest of the states have NO minimum. Parents decide, not the government. Imagine that.

But, but... how will we know what to do if someone doesn't give very detailed requirements at each step of the way?

Or who to blame and point fingers at?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8 seems to be the generally accepted age in all jurisdictions around here. Depends on the kid and in your case, sounds more than fine. My older one is 6.5 and I am sure by 8, I would be willing to leave him home for a short period like that but I have a feeling he will be too scared to be home alone even for 10 minutes! I look forward to not having to drag out a sick kid to take the other one to the bus, etc.

In Loudoun the age is 10.

Lots of SAH helicopters up in those parts I guess. I mean really, 10yrs old? Why are we babying our kids.

Why is everyone so hellbent on leaving young children alone anyway? Is it too hard to supervise your 8/9 yo? Too expensive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8 seems to be the generally accepted age in all jurisdictions around here. Depends on the kid and in your case, sounds more than fine. My older one is 6.5 and I am sure by 8, I would be willing to leave him home for a short period like that but I have a feeling he will be too scared to be home alone even for 10 minutes! I look forward to not having to drag out a sick kid to take the other one to the bus, etc.

In Loudoun the age is 10.

Lots of SAH helicopters up in those parts I guess. I mean really, 10yrs old? Why are we babying our kids.

Why is everyone so hellbent on leaving young children alone anyway? Is it too hard to supervise your 8/9 yo? Too expensive?

Neither of those things. I'm trying to raise a future independent adult.


Also, OP, my 8 year old stays home alone when she doesn't want to come on errands. She's allowed unlimited Netflix during those times (<45 minutes) so she typically doesn't even move she's so happy to have her shows! You did fine, don't worry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8 seems to be the generally accepted age in all jurisdictions around here. Depends on the kid and in your case, sounds more than fine. My older one is 6.5 and I am sure by 8, I would be willing to leave him home for a short period like that but I have a feeling he will be too scared to be home alone even for 10 minutes! I look forward to not having to drag out a sick kid to take the other one to the bus, etc.

In Loudoun the age is 10.

Lots of SAH helicopters up in those parts I guess. I mean really, 10yrs old? Why are we babying our kids.

Why is everyone so hellbent on leaving young children alone anyway? Is it too hard to supervise your 8/9 yo? Too expensive?

Why are all moms so hellbent on staying up their kids asses until they go off to college? Look around lady. Kids are awful. No street smarts. Little critical thinking skills. Autonomy? Never.

8yr olds were running machinery on farms, cooking meals on their own, and walking a mile to school on their own back in the day. Even in my own childhood, as soon as you could ride a bike, you were gone all day. No cell phone, no mom following you around. Off.on.your.own.

The only thing that is stopping kids from some independence is helicopter parents like you who think you are doing your child a service catering and babying them. You aren't. Take a read. Open your eyes.

http://www.dailycrackle.com/helicopter-parenting/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8 seems to be the generally accepted age in all jurisdictions around here. Depends on the kid and in your case, sounds more than fine. My older one is 6.5 and I am sure by 8, I would be willing to leave him home for a short period like that but I have a feeling he will be too scared to be home alone even for 10 minutes! I look forward to not having to drag out a sick kid to take the other one to the bus, etc.

In Loudoun the age is 10.

Lots of SAH helicopters up in those parts I guess. I mean really, 10yrs old? Why are we babying our kids.

Why is everyone so hellbent on leaving young children alone anyway? Is it too hard to supervise your 8/9 yo? Too expensive?

I don't think anyone is "hellbent" - but my almost 9 year old is yearning for more independence. It's a normal developmental phase. Am I to deny this? To prevent her from gaining independence and learning how to handle small problems?

If you have a crazy hellion, no, maybe don't leave them. But if you have a reasonable and responsible 8/9 year old then it is completely fine to leave time for a short time while you do an errand.

[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.

Like a DCUM type? Yea, i can see that happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8 seems to be the generally accepted age in all jurisdictions around here. Depends on the kid and in your case, sounds more than fine. My older one is 6.5 and I am sure by 8, I would be willing to leave him home for a short period like that but I have a feeling he will be too scared to be home alone even for 10 minutes! I look forward to not having to drag out a sick kid to take the other one to the bus, etc.

In Loudoun the age is 10.

Lots of SAH helicopters up in those parts I guess. I mean really, 10yrs old? Why are we babying our kids.

Why is everyone so hellbent on leaving young children alone anyway? Is it too hard to supervise your 8/9 yo? Too expensive?

Why are people so hell bent on raising kids who are psychologically stunted?