At what age could your kid be alone/be alone after school?

[Anonymous]

Anywhere near 10. 9.75 yo DD calls me to tell me she got in.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure the exact age, and it comes down to a million factors (responsibility of kids, neighborhood, how late you get home, back up plan, etc, etc) but I think nearly all healthy 11 year old middle schoolers would be absolutely fine for this.

[Anonymous]

This totally depends on your kid. My oldest was fine being home alone but then got worried about break ins as he got more aware of news and current events. He started coming home alone in 5th or 6th grade.

My younger kid didn’t have those fears and was fine being home alone at a much younger age. We didn’t have the same issue being home alone after school because of older siblings but left her home for periods of time when we were at siblings games or sports practices probably starting at age 8/9.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:9

This was it for us as well. It's not every day, but it happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make sure they know basic things like metal can’t go in the microwave *because it will catch fire or explode* or plastic wrap and to automatically lock the front door behind them. What they may not use ex. knives/matches/stove

If they are allowed to have friends over, go outside to play/ride bikes etc.

These may or may not be things I did when I was left home alone at that age.

shockingly, i live in a place where they don't even have to worry about locking the door

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Weren’t you all latch key kids?

I mean NYC kids take the subway to school alone by 3rd grade.

Middle schoolers babysit. Stop the coddling

I was a latchkey kid in first grade, which was probably too young, but I managed. I can't imagine worrying about a middle schooler.

[Anonymous]

9

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Title pretty much says it all. We’re getting DD 10 (11 this summer) a phone soon, and as she goes into middle school next year, thinking about what age she could let herself in after school a night or two a week. DH and I can work our work from home schedules around this issue a bit, but I’m thinking there will be some evenings when she gets home first.

Don't get your kid a phone at 10! All of the research is pointing to this being a bad decision. Get a watch and lock it down if you need some way to contact them or know where they are. We got our DD a watch at 11 and it's been more than enough for what she needs and we restricted things she does not need or is not old enough for yet. The watch ends up being only a little bit interesting because she can text and call people but does not capture her attention for long periods of time like a phone would.

[Anonymous]

10-11 for most kids. But once they are teens, we went backward for a bit and wanted an adult home as much as possible.

[Anonymous]

14

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:14

You wouldn’t let your NT kid come home from school to an empty house until they are in HS? That’s wild.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10-11 for most kids. But once they are teens, we went backward for a bit and wanted an adult home as much as possible.

Right?! At 11 I was extremely responsible but at 14 we were sneaking liquor. Once my friend and I ordered a pizza and answered the door in her mom’s lingerie!!! By the time I was 16 I was trustworthy again.

[Anonymous]

10

[Anonymous]

That sounds fine to me. My 10 year old (4th grader) often comes home alone, but it’s usually only for 30 minutes to an hour due to how late school gets out.

A middle schooler will probably be after school some days for various things, so it might not even be every day. Anyway, very reasonable/age appropriate.