Anonymous wrote:
List of phone numbers next to the phone.
No knives.
No climbing up to the high kitchen cupboards for snacks or bowls or anything.
No lighting gas.

What do you mean no knives and such? Then how are they supposed to get the dinner going by the time the parents get home?

Gosh OP, I remember posting this same question 7 years ago! When my child was 8.

I got about the same reaction as you are getting.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/103810.page

Anonymous wrote:Why would you pay money for common sense?

A lot of common sense is life experience. A good class can't hurt to reinforce certain skills.

I have a friend with kids who are 12 and 14. She won't let them eat anything except applesauce and puréed foods if she isn't home. Because choking death.

Maybe don't do this. It's insane.

List of phone numbers next to the phone.
No knives.
No climbing up to the high kitchen cupboards for snacks or bowls or anything.
No lighting gas.
No answering the door.
If smoke, leave and call 911 from neighbor's house, preferably neighbor across the way who has kids.
If intruder, escape and call 911 from any house. If upstairs, hide in closet.
If hurt or sick, call list of phone numbers or 911 if really bad.

Check with your local fire department. Many have handouts on child and home safety.

OP, start preparing him now. Go for 15 min run and leave him home along. Praise him if he did a good job. Increase the time next time to 45 min, then to an hour. Make sure to have a detailed conversation about what to do and what not to do when home along:
For us it was:
- not to use gas stove/oven
- not to take bath tub
- not to go outside
- not to open door to anyone without calling a parent
- teach to use emergency numbers.

I think this is pretty much it.

Thanks for everyone's helpful responses. Appreciate your insight.

Why would you pay money for common sense?

We have done that and a bunch of test runs. My SIL raved about the class that the Red Cross did and said that her daughter recommends it to her friends.

Yes - not everything needs to be a class - but when a class exists that gets great reviews - why would you not want to take advantage of it?

Anonymous wrote:Not everything has to be a class! Just give home some guidelines and instructions. My child has been doing this since 4th grade.

+1

Like the PP wrote- list of phone numbers, tell the neighbors who are usually home after-school your child will be home alone, no use of stove/oven, etc. I usually have my son text me from the iPad so I know he is home and make sure he answers any other texts I send.

Not everything has to be a class! Just give home some guidelines and instructions. My child has been doing this since 4th grade.

Tell him not to use kitchen appliances or answer the door. Make sure he has a list of people to call, and knows when 911 is necessary. He'll be fine.

I know the red cross offers a class for children in other areas of the country. Is anyone aware of a course offered in the DC area? My Middle Schooler is transitioning from aftercare to coming home after school and will be home by himself for about an hour to 90 minutes a few days each week.