Anonymous wrote:What is the concern, for those who say too young? My kid knows not to open the door for strangers, play with matches or knives, or attempt to scale the curtains. The greatest risk is boredom.

Despite what you may think, many 9 year olds cannot handle an emergency at all.

Your County will have recommendations. At least Fairfax County does. I found the chart/info helpful.

Anonymous wrote:What is the concern, for those who say too young? My kid knows not to open the door for strangers, play with matches or knives, or attempt to scale the curtains. The greatest risk is boredom.

Plus 1

When did we all become so overprotective. I say we because I really haven’t left my 8.5 year old alone save a 10 minute quick walk around the block to get the dog out while DH was traveling.

I remember vividly staying home alone when I was 7…

What is the concern, for those who say too young? My kid knows not to open the door for strangers, play with matches or knives, or attempt to scale the curtains. The greatest risk is boredom.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Safe house with access to a phone. Just curious.

Never

Too young

Why do you people have kids

10 is min age and no 9 isn’t ten

OP here and my oldest asks to stay home instead of having to take her brother places. I feel mean saying no because I’m cautious. Where we live the age is 8 so I’m not worried about the legal requirements.

Never. It’s too young.

It depends on the kid. I'd say 1-2 hours. My neighbor started leaving her ADHD kid alone at age 8 and he ran all over the neighborhood knocking on doors to proudly tell his stunned neighbors he was without supervision.

Anonymous wrote:Zero minutes. Too young. Started at age 11.

Same here, but we seem to be in the minority.

8 is the minimum legal age where I live.

My 9 yo stays home from school for half a day or so by herself if she's mildly ill and I have meetings and things I can't miss at work. She has TV, I leave soup and other food prepared for her, and we are surrounded by homes where people either dont work or work at home. We have a landline and she has an apple watch she can use to call for help. She's also a rule follower, so I can trust her not to misbehave. My worst fear is that she would fall or choke on something when she is by herself, but realistically that could happen to anyone at any age.

I'm less likely to leave my 12 yo and 9 yo home together because they would likely murder each other.

An hour or so but depends how far away I am. At the neighborhood grocery store or taking sibling to a class a few blocks away, taking sibling to dentist appt a mile away etc is fine. If going to be further away I would usually not leave home alone.

Anonymous wrote:Safe house with access to a phone. Just curious.

Never

Too young

Why do you people have kids

10 is min age and no 9 isn’t ten

8.5 year old about 30 or 45 minutes.

At 9? Not at all. In an emergency once I FaceTimed them on the iPad for a 10 minute period when I got stuck in traffic while DH had to leave for work. They are close in age and fight too much to leave for longer periods

DS is 11 and other than taking the dog for a walk, so maybe 20 minutes, we haven’t left him alone yet. Maybe will soon for short time periods, but haven’t had a reason to and I’d rather not chance it. Perhaps being too cautious, but we have our reasons.