By 8 they were staying home alone. If I was heading out on an errand, they could either come or stay. My younger ones (6-7) could stay if the older ones were staying too. The only one I won't leave alone is my 8 yr old DS as he is an absent minded professor and an 'inventor'.

OP, at 8 I left my child alone for 5 - 10 minutes, while I stayed in town (i.e. picking up/dropping off younger child at school).

When he was 9 and 10 I started leaving him home alone for longer periods of time, but still while I was in the neighborhood. For example, I might take my younger child to the playground and I'd be away for 30 minutes to an hour.

Now that he is 11, I feel comfortable leaving him at home for the afternoon if I am in the neighborhood, or for less than an hour if I am out of the neighborhood. However, it is not just because of his age, but because he has had experience being home alone for longer periods of time.

8

My kids don't like the after-care at our school. They ride home and watch TV until their dad gets home. It's about an hour. They are 7 and 10.

At 8 (probably more like 8.5), DD was fine with being home alone for short periods and now that she is approaching 9, she WANTS to stay home at times. I'm talking about when I pick up a pizza or drop DS off at a bday party or something relatively short. We don't leave her at night and probably wouldn't do it for more than an hour. I think it's a good sign when a child feels comfortable enough to manage him/herself without others.

However, 8 wouldn't necessarily be right for every child. It definitely varies with the kid how well they can entertain themselves and whether they have their wits about them to get help or not get into trouble. DS is one that I'm not sure will be ready at 8 ... maybe more like 10 yrs. old for him.

Anonymous wrote:I have never done this and don't have any plans to at the moment. I'm just curious. My DS will be 8. We are in MD. At what age is it ok to leave a child home alone?

I am in MD and I leave my DS home alone for short periods of time - and only when I am within 5-10 minutes by car away. The longest he has been home alone is 30 minutes, but I plan to slowly increase the time. My DD is still too young, but I plan to do the same with her when she is 8; although it is more likely that she may be with her brother and not "alone" unless I need to take him somewhere.

I have left my 7 year old a few times. No more than 30 minutes, probably more like 20 or 25. Wasnt always that long, once it was 10 minutes.

By the time DD was 7, I would leave her for up to an hour. For me, it works best if I give her some specific tasks to do before I leave. "Finish eating, wash your plate, then after you get ready for bed you can either knit or read."

I'll leave my 9 yo for 20 minutes or so to run an errand in the neighborhood.

OP here. Thanks.

I was once meeting with someone and they casually mentioned after about an hour that their children (4, 8) were home alone watching television. You know...just a few blocks away.

Ahh!

Anonymous wrote:Legally you can do it at 8 in MD. We waited until about 10. I think it depends on the kids and also is there a close neighbor just in case..

Agree with this. One of my kids would have been fine at 8. Another wasn't OK until 12. But yes, legally, the minimum in MD is 8.

Anyone know the legal age in DC, off the top of the head?

Legally you can do it at 8 in MD. We waited until about 10. I think it depends on the kids and also is there a close neighbor just in case..

I have never done this and don't have any plans to at the moment. I'm just curious. My DS will be 8. We are in MD. At what age is it ok to leave a child home alone?