Would you leave a 6-7yo home alone for 10-30 min?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, is some states it is illegal to leave children that young along. Here are a few. Learn your own state's and county's laws. https://www.findlaw.com/family/parental-rights-and-liability/when-can-you-leave-a-child-home-alone-.html

This would be my main deterrent. I wouldn't want to risk a CPS case just because the kid is whining about riding in the car for 30 minutes. As a one off type of "ugh I don't have any other good options" maybe. But on a regular occurrence, I'm not so sure. You are close to when it'll be ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, is some states it is illegal to leave children that young along. Here are a few. Learn your own state's and county's laws. https://www.findlaw.com/family/parental-rights-and-liability/when-can-you-leave-a-child-home-alone-.html

This would be my main deterrent. I wouldn't want to risk a CPS case just because the kid is whining about riding in the car for 30 minutes. As a one off type of "ugh I don't have any other good options" maybe. But on a regular occurrence, I'm not so sure. You are close to when it'll be ok.

Agree. The laws are the laws and even if you know your child is mature enough, it's a big risk to take when they'll be there in another year or so. There was a news article a few years ago about a "free range" family in MOCO who went through a CPS nightmare, and I still think of that story. Particularly if OP is in Maryland, I'd be cautious.

[Anonymous]

I would not because I remember my mom leaving me home alone when I was that age to pick my siblings up from activities and I was really scared. My oldest is 10 and I would leave her alone now if I had to, but my husband works from home, so I haven't had to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that's probably just a little too young. I feel like there's a big difference in maturity between almost 7 and almost 8.

Sounds very risky. Wouldn’t do it.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read the other responses, but no, I wouldn't. We had 2 children in my neighborhood, 10 & 12, die in a housefire after their mother went to the store. The toaster, used earlier in the morning, was still plugged in and caught on fire. For some reason they ran upstairs and ended up trapped. There is no trip to the store that is worth it for me. DS is 10 now and we have had MANY conversations about this, run through what to do, etc., but I just have him come with me. I plan to have him take a Red Cross babysitting class and several other things before we leave him at home. I understand this might be over the top, but it was a horrific incident and I will err on the side of caution always.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, is some states it is illegal to leave children that young along. Here are a few. Learn your own state's and county's laws. https://www.findlaw.com/family/parental-rights-and-liability/when-can-you-leave-a-child-home-alone-.html

This would be my main deterrent. I wouldn't want to risk a CPS case just because the kid is whining about riding in the car for 30 minutes. As a one off type of "ugh I don't have any other good options" maybe. But on a regular occurrence, I'm not so sure. You are close to when it'll be ok.

Not only that but FIRE!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't read the other responses, but no, I wouldn't. We had 2 children in my neighborhood, 10 & 12, die in a housefire after their mother went to the store. The toaster, used earlier in the morning, was still plugged in and caught on fire. For some reason they ran upstairs and ended up trapped. There is no trip to the store that is worth it for me. DS is 10 now and we have had MANY conversations about this, run through what to do, etc., but I just have him come with me. I plan to have him take a Red Cross babysitting class and several other things before we leave him at home. I understand this might be over the top, but it was a horrific incident and I will err on the side of caution always.

This I understand as a formative event that would scar everyone who was close to it but it is also, truly, a freak accident that is extraordinarily unlikely to happen. I do think going over some things like 'what to do if X happens is important. I'm pretty shocked a 12 year old ran upstairs. But yeah I can see anyone around an event like this being very traumatized.

[Anonymous]

It was 7.5 for us, but only very rarely and less than 20 minutes.

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

Too young. And probably illegal depending on your state. You don’t even have a good compelling reason or emergency. Just a spoiled child whom you are considering letting dictate household safety rules and procedures without regard to the law and all the what ifs that a 6 year old couldn’t possibly anticipate. Yes, statistically nothing is super likely to happen. But should we leave 4 year olds? Babies in cribs? No! Be an adult.

[Anonymous]

No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t this illegal? No way would I drive away and leave my 6 or 7 year old home alone. You all are out of your mind.

Agree
Lazy and negligent

If your 7yo would literally be in immediate physical danger if you left them unsupervised that is entirely on you and your poor parenting/unsafe home. You’re failing your kids if you aren’t equipping them to handle even mildly difficult life situations. My 7 and 9 yo get themselves to school on the subway every day and your 7yo needs to be in your direct line of sight at all times or something terrible will happen? You probably need anxiety meds, sorry

A fire could happen, choking, medical emergency, a robbery....sorry you are lazy.

I valued my kids and never cut corners. My kids are older now.

Subway?? How lazy are you? I drove my kids to and from school especially at that age. You kinda suck.

I mean if you live in an area where there are regular robberies I agree that you should not leave the kids home alone. But age 6/7 is when kids can in fact start to be alone sometimes. They could choke alone in their bedroom!

I don't think of this as cutting corners, I think of this kind of thing as the first step in learning how to be home alone. A 10 minute period alone where I say, drive up to the school for five minutes to pick up a sibling is a controlled exercise in teaching independence. I'm not gone so long that anything will likely happen. But long enough that the kid feels the weight of being alone for a few minutes and can begin to get comfortable with it. To me these moments are kind of the opposite of cutting corners because they feel uncomfortable for me but help my kids grow.

Although of course this 100% depends on the kid, the neighborhood/building you live in etc.

I also know many kids who take the subway with and without their parents, do you not know any new yorkers?

i lived in a great neighborhood with no robberies UNTIL we were robbed. You are very naive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, a child this age is not equipped to deal with an emergency.

This

Others are hoping everything goes well. But emergencies happen!

[Anonymous]

The laws are the laws, yes, but you need to have common sense too. In MD, the legal age is 8.

So technically, it’s “illegal” to leave a child home alone for 5 minutes the day before they turn eight. The next day, is “legal” to leave them for 8 hours.

There’s laws, and then there’s common sense. If you aren’t breaking a law, and your 6-7 yo (1) has the maturity; (2) knows how to reach you or an adult; and (3) can sit still for 20 minutes watching an iPad or reading a book… yes, I’d be comfortable leaving them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've left my 6yo at home when she's been home sick to go pick up my son from preschool. It's 15 minute walking round trip. She was on the couch watching TV the whole time. I felt totally fine with it (we live in a small apartment building, she could get a neighbor if she needed). That said, I can't imagine letting my son do the same at her age. Very different kids.

This is fairly common in my neighborhood, at least among people I've confessed this to. Lots of dogs being walked around the block, quick trips to the corner store, etc while 6-7yo are content at home. I'd say 20 mins would be my maximum comfort level, and no driving involved, but that may just be bc I'm in a city and driving feels risky vs walking.

What kind of lazy kids are these. The 6-7yo should be helping to walk the dog and make the corner store runs.

My 7yo also runs to the corner store on her own when we're hanging outside on the stoop.