How long would you leave a 9 year old home alone?

[Anonymous]

Depends on the child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm the OP of the thread in General Parenting about having my 9 year old go home by himself. I have left him at home for 30 minute stretches in the afternoon. He is perfectly fine, knows all the rules, and adheres to them. Basically spends his time reading. An hour or two would be fine as well.

Now crossing the road is quite another problem...

Yeah, every time I think we're getting to the point where my 9 yo might be able to start crossing busy(ish) streets by himself he'll do something boneheaded that proves he's not ready.

What is it with kids not knowing how to cross the street? I think I see a kid doing a bone head thing at least once a month. last month I saw a kid ride his bike across Burke Center parkway and Roberts road against the light. that is 4 lanes of fast moving traffic.

Because no one lets them do it so when they get d enough to go off on their own, they are not ready. I see parents holding elementary school kids hands in parking lot still. They enable them to not even bother looking both ways themselves. Most parents also don't let their kids go off and bike. We all did this as soon as we could ride a 2 wheeler. Literally gone ALL day biking everywhere.