Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 06:52     Subject: Leaving kid home alone for 10-15 mins?
I will leave my nine year old to take her brother to an activity for an hour or less. I'd leave her solo to walk the dog at 8. I don't leave her with her 7 year old bro at all.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 21:12     Subject: Leaving kid home alone for 10-15 mins?
Virginia guidelines, Fairfax county start at 10-11 but for 3 hours max
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 20:53     Subject: Re:Leaving kid home alone for 10-15 mins?
11 is crazy. We started leaving them around 8 for a quick errand and by the time they were 10 they were walking home from school, letting themselves in the house, and home alone while I was either at work or driving the older sibling to practice so gone for 2+ hours. By 11 they were home alone for date nights, etc.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 19:59     Subject: Leaving kid home alone for 10-15 mins?
Anonymous wrote:11, but ask pediatrician


Dont waste your pediatricians time on this, jeez.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 14:09     Subject: Leaving kid home alone for 10-15 mins?
Anonymous wrote:11, but ask pediatrician

By 11 we were doing dinner out and movies with no sitter
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 13:41     Subject: Leaving kid home alone for 10-15 mins?
I think 8 is fine, maybe even 7. We will leave for 10-15 minutes to take the dog for a walk, she has an iPad to call us. She also knows to say "Alexa, call 911"
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 12:47     Subject: Leaving kid home alone for 10-15 mins?
At 8 we did it but only if the next door neighbor was home. DS knew them well and often went over there to play, so could have run to their door in an emergency.

And only for 10-15 minutes to walk dogs.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 12:44     Subject: Leaving kid home alone for 10-15 mins?
Anonymous wrote:11, but ask pediatrician


How is the pediatrician going to know better than you?? Wtf
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 12:26     Subject: Leaving kid home alone for 10-15 mins?
We did it one time at age 5 to check out a neighbor’s renovation. We were gone about 15 minutes. We stayed on FaceTime the entire time and DD.would.not.stop.talking. She was really proud and I’d do the same thing at now age 6.5 if I needed to. Maybe to walk a dog kind of thing but we don’t have one. But only on foot when I could rush back easily and with FaceTime. Then I can see dropping that at age 8 and gradually extending the time.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 12:06     Subject: Leaving kid home alone for 10-15 mins?
we did it when they were 21
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 11:27     Subject: Leaving kid home alone for 10-15 mins?
11. That’s when you can leave them in a car, so I guess that’s the age for home.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 11:24     Subject: Leaving kid home alone for 10-15 mins?
7-8 for sure
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 11:11     Subject: Leaving kid home alone for 10-15 mins?
It depends on the kid. Some can handle it easily very early, others cannot stay out of danger far longer than others. Don't go by popular opinion, know your kid
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 11:09     Subject: Leaving kid home alone for 10-15 mins?
11, but ask pediatrician
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 11:07     Subject: Leaving kid home alone for 10-15 mins?
I think age 8. We really didn't have reason to do it much though. At age 10 he stays alone for about one hour a few times a month.