In MD there are laws around this, and you can start leaving kids at home at 8, during the day only. Also as pp stated it should be dependent on the child.

I've left my 8, almost 9 yr old at home during the day for 1.15 hrs. But dc is responsible and careful when it comes to being at home alone. Reading or playing on electronics will occupy dc for over an hour.

Do you have

A phone accessible for him/her (landline or cell)? and does he/she know numbers to dial?

Neighbors home nearby if immediate adult help is needed?

Good understand about what is/is not allowed? (cooking, microwave use, computer use, etc.)

a good emergency plan to get out of the house from multiple ways if needed?

3 or 4 hours.
There was one day she didn't have school and I had work and couldn't arrange a playdate for her so she stayed home alone all day. We talked every hour. That was a bit longer than I was comfortable with.

My very responsible 9 yo stays home alone while I take my younger child to classes, appointments, grocery store, etc. I've never hit the 2 hour mark, but it wouldn't be a problem if I did. He has a phone and we text back and forth. He has never stayed alone past late afternoon; I think he would be nervous being home alone after dark.

He knows and adheres to all the rules; no opening the door, cooking, eating, etc.

When my 10-yo was 9, an hour tops. Doors locked, no answering door or phone unless it was us (house phone with caller ID.) At 10 we've done one 3-hour stretch but no longer.

It depends entirely on the child. I'd say 2 hours max, but you don't want to start out with 2 hours, especially if they've never been home alone. You want to work up to time that they are comfortable with.

Start with 15 minutes, then 30, then an hour, etc. Work up to levels they feel comfortable with.

Anonymous wrote:A few hours during the day. She knows not to answer the door, not to cook anything on the stove, to call 911 in an emergency, etc. She just sits and reads or watches tv in a locked house. She could probably stay home in the evening, but I wouldn't want her to put herself to bed or feel nervous in the dark.

Same here. We also have a big dog that sounds ferocious. She feels pretty comfortable and so do we.

I say - don't leave child alone until they are 10...and even then, start with 15 minutes and work up to only an hour or so gradually...By the time they are 12, maybe 2 hours.

It depends on child, too. My oldest is 10.5 and I can leave him for a little bit of time, but I can't leave him alone with his younger siblings and I doubt I will ever be able to do that as they fight!

My friend with kids also follows these rules...

When DD was 8, she would stay home for an hour or two without any issues, but at 9 we went through a period when she was more fearful, so we had to stop leaving her home alone for a while. By 10, she was back to a couple of hours.

30 minutes, if I was in the neighborhood (5 min away) and my cell phone was working, and she was comfortable with it.

A few hours during the day. She knows not to answer the door, not to cook anything on the stove, to call 911 in an emergency, etc. She just sits and reads or watches tv in a locked house. She could probably stay home in the evening, but I wouldn't want her to put herself to bed or feel nervous in the dark.

I would not leave a nine year old home alone.

My first child: 2-3 hours. My second child: 2-3 minutes.

Depends:

1) how mature is he/she?

2) do they understand to never answer the door to strangers?

3) Can they fend for themselves - snacks etc?

4) do you trust your neighbors?

And yes, time of day does matter to me at least. also 2 hours might be pushing it even if answers to 1-4 are YES. I would not go over one hour. again this is my personal opinion.

Would 2 hours be too long? Does it matter what time of day?