I think about 10 would be fine. Maybe even a bit younger. My parents did this to me and my brother when we were much much younger (maybe 4 and 6) and we came downstairs to find them! That was too young, but I think the possible dangers of this are wildly exaggerated.

Children are safer now than they have ever been. Yet we argue about things like this. I think social media (and the 24/7 availability of awful news stories) has made us very bad at analyzing risk.

I was a latchkey kid and I think I've ended up with a healthy attitude about things like this. I certainly have limits. My child does not have NEARLY as much freedom as I did as a child, but I'm also slowly giving her more independence (she's 10).

I'm one of the PPs who said 12 for this hotel scenario. For my child, that's reasonable. I wouldn't leave the hotel, I'd make sure DD had a cell phone, and I probably wouldn't be gone for more than an hour or two. I can't and won't keep her tethered to me until she's 18. You set reasonable limits that work for your family, ensure as many safety nets are in place as possible, give all the pep talks and lectures about what to do if they need help, and then you let them try. This is one of the ways we set them up for success as adults.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weren’t any of you also latchkey kids? I was alone for an hour or two after school in elementary, for years. Everyone seems to have crippling anxiety these days.

^Yes! I think it made us sane (when compared to others in this thread).

Home alone in a familiar neighborhood isn’t the same as in a hotel room alone in a town or city you’ve never been to before.

Sure, but the coping skills are the same.

We were all potheads. Lol. But I see your point too though. Let’s say early teens is ok for a little bit if kids are demonstrably responsible under similar stretches of time alone.

Ha! I wasn't.

But, yeah, I think what you're saying sounds reasonable.

If you weren’t a pothead, what’s your excuse then?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weren’t any of you also latchkey kids? I was alone for an hour or two after school in elementary, for years. Everyone seems to have crippling anxiety these days.

^Yes! I think it made us sane (when compared to others in this thread).

Home alone in a familiar neighborhood isn’t the same as in a hotel room alone in a town or city you’ve never been to before.

Sure, but the coping skills are the same.

So you agree it’s different.

Yes, that's what "sure" means. But I also think the coping skills are the same.

Sure

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weren’t any of you also latchkey kids? I was alone for an hour or two after school in elementary, for years. Everyone seems to have crippling anxiety these days.

^Yes! I think it made us sane (when compared to others in this thread).

Home alone in a familiar neighborhood isn’t the same as in a hotel room alone in a town or city you’ve never been to before.

Sure, but the coping skills are the same.

So you agree it’s different.

Yes, that's what "sure" means. But I also think the coping skills are the same.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weren’t any of you also latchkey kids? I was alone for an hour or two after school in elementary, for years. Everyone seems to have crippling anxiety these days.

^Yes! I think it made us sane (when compared to others in this thread).

Home alone in a familiar neighborhood isn’t the same as in a hotel room alone in a town or city you’ve never been to before.

Sure, but the coping skills are the same.

We were all potheads. Lol. But I see your point too though. Let’s say early teens is ok for a little bit if kids are demonstrably responsible under similar stretches of time alone.

Ha! I wasn't.

But, yeah, I think what you're saying sounds reasonable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weren’t any of you also latchkey kids? I was alone for an hour or two after school in elementary, for years. Everyone seems to have crippling anxiety these days.

^Yes! I think it made us sane (when compared to others in this thread).

Home alone in a familiar neighborhood isn’t the same as in a hotel room alone in a town or city you’ve never been to before.

Sure, but the coping skills are the same.

So you agree it’s different.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weren’t any of you also latchkey kids? I was alone for an hour or two after school in elementary, for years. Everyone seems to have crippling anxiety these days.

^Yes! I think it made us sane (when compared to others in this thread).

Home alone in a familiar neighborhood isn’t the same as in a hotel room alone in a town or city you’ve never been to before.

Sure, but the coping skills are the same.

We were all potheads. Lol. But I see your point too though. Let’s say early teens is ok for a little bit if kids are demonstrably responsible under similar stretches of time alone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weren’t any of you also latchkey kids? I was alone for an hour or two after school in elementary, for years. Everyone seems to have crippling anxiety these days.

^Yes! I think it made us sane (when compared to others in this thread).

It’s obvious you were latchkey and I don’t mean that as a compliment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weren’t any of you also latchkey kids? I was alone for an hour or two after school in elementary, for years. Everyone seems to have crippling anxiety these days.

^Yes! I think it made us sane (when compared to others in this thread).

Home alone in a familiar neighborhood isn’t the same as in a hotel room alone in a town or city you’ve never been to before.

Sure, but the coping skills are the same.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weren’t any of you also latchkey kids? I was alone for an hour or two after school in elementary, for years. Everyone seems to have crippling anxiety these days.

^Yes! I think it made us sane (when compared to others in this thread).

Home alone in a familiar neighborhood isn’t the same as in a hotel room alone in a town or city you’ve never been to before.

14 if they are responsible/comfortable. Most would like a bit if time away from the oldsters.

Anonymous wrote:Weren’t any of you also latchkey kids? I was alone for an hour or two after school in elementary, for years. Everyone seems to have crippling anxiety these days.

^Yes! I think it made us sane (when compared to others in this thread).

Weren’t any of you also latchkey kids? I was alone for an hour or two after school in elementary, for years. Everyone seems to have crippling anxiety these days.