Yes.

We started staying home by ourselves all summer when I was 10 and my siblings were 11 and 8. So yes, I think a single 13-year-old can handle himself for two hours.

Yes, 6th grade is when we started doing this. We had the rule that she wasn't allowed to leave the back or front yard until an adult was home at 5:30 and worked well.

If she was invited over to a friend's house in the neighborhood, she had to have someone who would walk with her, it had to be daylight, and she couldn't leave on her own.

Anonymous wrote:City of Rockville has programs for middle school kids at community center. We used them for 6th and 7th grade. DC really enjoyed them. We gave him the option of coming home alone but he preferred company. They also covered 1/2 days with field trips.

Do you have a link?

Absolutely I'd let my 6th grader do this. I'd let my kid do this even younger than 6th grade.

I would definitely let my 6th grader do this. 3rd grade - not so much.

Anonymous wrote:Wow I was thinking of letting my 3rd grader next year do exactly that and I work out of the home. We have a home phone, alarm system and huge dog. Also, my neighbors are home and great people. Not sure if we're going to do it yet.

Wow is right!

City of Rockville has programs for middle school kids at community center. We used them for 6th and 7th grade. DC really enjoyed them. We gave him the option of coming home alone but he preferred company. They also covered 1/2 days with field trips.

^ I'm not an idiot. Sorry about the apostrophes.

Anonymous wrote:Wow I was thinking of letting my 3rd grader next year do exactly that and I work out of the home. We have a home phone, alarm system and huge dog. Also, my neighbors are home and great people. Not sure if we're going to do it yet.

Our neighbor's do this and have let us know we are the "great people." I'd do anything for the kid but I feel a lot of pressure to be a satellite mom between 4-5 and the "favors" abound. Just know your neighbor's may not want to or be able to help as much as it may be needed.

DS is in 7th grade and starting in 6th he and all his friends go home after school, whether parents are home or not. This year, DH started WAH most of the time so we do now have a parent there but before that the rule was he had to call/text me when he got home and can't have friends over without a parent at home.

Anonymous wrote:In MCPS, 6th grade is middle school and everyone I know leaves their kids home alone after school, me included.

Good to know. I'm in Loudoun and same thing, middle is 6th.

Wow I was thinking of letting my 3rd grader next year do exactly that and I work out of the home. We have a home phone, alarm system and huge dog. Also, my neighbors are home and great people. Not sure if we're going to do it yet.

We left out DS home in 6th. He was required to text me when he got home and knew the names and numbers of all the neighbors and who was normally home in case of emergency. It was fine.

In MCPS, 6th grade is middle school and everyone I know leaves their kids home alone after school, me included.

I have a rising 6th grader who will be 11/12 in 6th grade. We have hosted Aupairs for the kids and I'm so incredibly tired of having another person in our house. Both DH and I work normal hours and I'm home by 5pm each day. DS will get off the bus at 340. I'm considering letting him be home alone from 3:40-5pm. At least once a week I WFH and when DH is not traveling (he travels once a week) he works from home. Anyone leave their 6th grader homr alone after school?

I also have a rising 2nd grader, but I'll put him in an after care program.