Anonymous wrote:Leaving a 6 yo home alone is nuts, especially the PP that doesn’t tell the kid she’s leaving. What if there is an emergency?

We felt comfortable once in middle school. So, 11. No landline, and the kid didn’t have a cell phone yet at that age.

I think you might be referring to my post about my 6 year old not noticing if we're home if he's watching TV. That doesn't mean I don't tell him I'm leaving. Of course I do, and make sure he has a phone and can call me if something happens.

8 is the legal age in MD. I think we started leaving the older one home for 20 mins at a time when he was about 8.5. Gradually has increased - he is 10 now - so I would be comfortable doing it for about two hours or so, if I were relatively close by. More than that and I would not trust him to entertain himself without doing something he was told not to do. Or would not want to be more than 30 mins away if there were an emergency.

The younger one is 7 and she is nowhere near ready, she doesn't listen to things like "make sure you don't touch the stove." She touches it anyway if she thinks no one will see her. So, nope.

Older one is a rule follower and the rule when we are out is no turning on the oven, toaster, or microwave for any reason. We have a landline phone we never use just so in an emergency he can reach 911 or us. He is not allowed to open the door for anyone. And if there were, G-d forbid, a fire or other emergency, we have drilled in to him that he needs to leave the house. He can take the phone with him and call 911 from outside, but he needs to just get out. No finding his book, no finding the cats, just evacuate and go to the neighbor's house.

14 year old can stay home alone but not our 10 year old.

Anonymous wrote:I tell this story anytime I see a thread on this topic. Several years ago in our town a mother ran out to get something from the grocery store less than 5 minutes away. Her 10 and 12 year old were home alone and made some toast. The toaster caught on fire, the boys called their mother who rushed home and called 911. In that time period the entire house became engulfed in flames, the boys ran upstairs for whatever reason and couldn't escape. They both died. I will never not think of this - and while we constantly review with DS what to do in this situation - call 911, go outside, jump from the second floor if you have to, don't use the toaster, here is our fire extinguisher, we have a family emergency plan, etc. - no trip to the store is worth it for me because you never know how someone will behave in an emergency until it happens. DS is about to be 11 and will be taking the Red Cross Babysitter Certification as part of the steps for when we will leave him at home. Regardless it won't be until at least 12 and even though it's not the most convenient for us, I can handle waiting a little longer.

+1

I tell this story anytime I see a thread on this topic. Several years ago in our town a mother ran out to get something from the grocery store less than 5 minutes away. Her 10 and 12 year old were home alone and made some toast. The toaster caught on fire, the boys called their mother who rushed home and called 911. In that time period the entire house became engulfed in flames, the boys ran upstairs for whatever reason and couldn't escape. They both died. I will never not think of this - and while we constantly review with DS what to do in this situation - call 911, go outside, jump from the second floor if you have to, don't use the toaster, here is our fire extinguisher, we have a family emergency plan, etc. - no trip to the store is worth it for me because you never know how someone will behave in an emergency until it happens. DS is about to be 11 and will be taking the Red Cross Babysitter Certification as part of the steps for when we will leave him at home. Regardless it won't be until at least 12 and even though it's not the most convenient for us, I can handle waiting a little longer.

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax County guidelines (there are no laws about this in Virginia, just guidance)

Age Guidelines
8 years old and younger should always be in the care of a responsible person. Children this age should never be left unsupervised in homes, cars, playgrounds or yards.
9-10 years old may be ready to be left unsupervised up to 1.5 hours during daylight and early evening hours.
11-12 years old may be ready to be left unsupervised up to 3 hours during daylight and early evening hours.
13-15 years old may be ready to be left unsupervised more than three hours but not overnight.
16 years old and older may be ready to be left unsupervised overnight for one to two days, with a plan in place.
Babysitting Age Guidelines
10-12 years old may provide care of other children for up to three hours with the help of an adult.
13-15 years old may babysit infants and children but not overnight.
16 years old and older may watch children overnight.

The thing that seems to be missing in this guidance is a gradual increase in the time left alone. 1.5 hours as the first increment of time seems like a lot. We have a 7 year old and I can see us starting to leave him home alone for a few minutes next year. We would probably get him a watch so he could call us if he needs anything.

Mine were ready at 8. I'd go for a run, to the store, post office etc. They were fine.

7 and 9 years old, we leave them home alone together for an hour max. Between the two of them, they are able to come up with a decent amount of common sense to keep them alive. One time we were at the nearby grocery store and saw them both leave to go across the street (ring camera). Apparently there was no toilet paper in the bathroom and they deemed it an emergency although both admitted that they needed to use the bathroom. The neighbor was thrilled to receive them (an elderly woman).

Anonymous wrote:12. But why really?

We live in America with no real support for working families with kids. Sometimes younger kids need to be able to take care of themselves until mom or dad get home.

My 9 year old is fine coming home from school some days and being home for about 15-30 minutes while I’m picking up older siblings.

She does not like being home alone if it’s dark out even if one of her siblings is with her. I leave her and her sister (11) home alone for about 20 minutes to pick up the oldest from practice. She’d call me within 10 minutes, but only during the winter when it got dark early.

Leaving a 6 yo home alone is nuts, especially the PP that doesn’t tell the kid she’s leaving. What if there is an emergency?

We felt comfortable once in middle school. So, 11. No landline, and the kid didn’t have a cell phone yet at that age.

My parents started leaving me alone for short stretches, an hour or less, at 8. It seems about right, but it also depends on the kid.

10. Cannot believe people are leaving 6 yr olds home alone. Yikes

Anonymous wrote:I’d only leave my 9 year old home alone if I was running a short errand within our neighborhood like dropping sibling at a friend’s house or picking up a take out order at a nearby restaurant. I wouldn’t leave 9 year old for more than 20 mins or so. We live in a very safe area and I think my kid is reasonably responsible for a 9 year old But I’m very averse in general when it comes to my kids’ safety. He doesn’t have a phone or any way to contact in case of emergency.

Kind of crazy you can’t leave your 9 year old alone. Is it a son or a daughter?

In Maryland, a kid cannot be left home alone until age 8. Siblings cannot be left home together until one of them is 13. These are guidelines for when it’s first legal but after that it depends on maturity level.