Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 21:06     Subject: unattended child
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn’t you just leave them at your home


It’s 30 minutes each way. Can I leave a 9 year old home alone for 2+ hours?
.

No
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 21:04     Subject: unattended child
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn’t you just leave them at your home


It’s 30 minutes each way. Can I leave a 9 year old home alone for 2+ hours?


That was about the age I started to leave my kids home alone. I would let my neighbor across the street know, and my kids knew they could go to her if they had any issues. They were quiet kids, and if it was going to be longer than 30 minutes or so, I’d set them up with a movie before I left the house.


This is the best approach—have a trusted neighbor they can go to. By the way, If I am going to be home anyway, I have no problem being an emergency go-to person for a kid in the neighborhood.
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 21:03     Subject: unattended child
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My public library says no children allowed can be without a supervising adult under the age of 15 which I think is crazy. A 9th grader can’t go to the library? I have neighbors who have their 4th graders bike through traffic to the 7 11 store alone which is way more full of weirdos (plus the danger of traffic) than our library.


That is crazy. 14 year olds are allowed to be hired as camp counselors and swim instructors where I live. If they can be entrusted to watch a group of 3 year olds in the pool, they can sit in a library by themselves.


The library is probably worried that a group of 14 year olds hanging out together would get loud.
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 21:00     Subject: unattended child
When I was kid, there was a whole group of kids who went to the library as a form of free after school care. Some kids went to the library and other kids went to Jelleff. And some went to the official after school care. Most of the library crowd was first gen. Jelleff was a mix.

Anyway, there are sketchy people at libraries. I wouldn't do it. She'd be safer at home alone.
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 20:56     Subject: unattended child
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s fine to bring them-especially an older kid like this. Our back to school night was yesterday. Several parents had their kid with them, but not out of necessity-both parents were in attendance so one of them could have stayed home with the kid. It’s because the people who bring their kids to our back to school night just feel like the information doesn’t apply to them about bringing children. It’s those parents I judge-not the ones who clearly didn’t have a choice.


How do you know that the reason both parents were in attendance wasn't because they have more than one kid and needed to go to multiple classrooms? Our school has two sessions within the night, which is nice, but I have a few friends with three kids in ES -- so both parents need to be there or they miss one kid's classroom.


And what does a single parent do in that situation with multiple classes? They figure it out. One family brought their 2 younger elementary kids with them to BTS last night and they were running all around and crinkling water bottles during the presentation. It was rude and obnoxious. So yes in that situation I judge that both parents came instead of keeping the kids home with one parent.
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 20:20     Subject: unattended child
For third grader, I would rather either leave him at home or leave him at school facility (hallway outside classroom, school library etc) and I hand him my phone to kill time.
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 19:47     Subject: unattended child
Anonymous wrote:Is the library even open that late? Many close at 5 pm. Just take him with you. Bring a book. I did this some years when my spouse couldn’t watch the kid(s). Not a big deal.


Yes they close at 8pm.
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 19:46     Subject: unattended child
Anonymous wrote:My public library says no children allowed can be without a supervising adult under the age of 15 which I think is crazy. A 9th grader can’t go to the library? I have neighbors who have their 4th graders bike through traffic to the 7 11 store alone which is way more full of weirdos (plus the danger of traffic) than our library.


That is crazy. 14 year olds are allowed to be hired as camp counselors and swim instructors where I live. If they can be entrusted to watch a group of 3 year olds in the pool, they can sit in a library by themselves.
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 19:04     Subject: unattended child
Former librarian here. Do not leave your child alone in the library! No one is there to watch them or even notice them. It is a building full of strangers of all types and some are unsavory; please believe this. It's also a burden to the staff. Some kids get left with no one to pick them up at closing in the dark! At one library we had to call police at that point.

Leave them home alone or better yet, hire a babysitter. Be safe!
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 18:44     Subject: unattended child
I don’t see the problem with leaving a responsible 9 yr old at a safe library.
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 18:18     Subject: unattended child
Anonymous wrote:Can a third grader be left in the children’s section of the public library to read while parent attends school back to school night 3 blocks away for a hour or so? Safe suburb, never seen any homeless people at the library or in town. Child is used to occupying self. Will librarians or other parents report this to police or something?


Can you do a zoom or phone call with the teacher? I would do that over leaving them in the library or home alone.
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 17:53     Subject: unattended child
Anonymous wrote:Why aren't you considering a babysitter first?



Not everyone has the money for a babysitter. Most parents bring their kids to BTS night if they come. Nobody will care especially if your kid sits and reads during it.
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 16:49     Subject: unattended child
Why aren't you considering a babysitter first?
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 15:35     Subject: unattended child
I mean I would let my child go to the library alone…

I think the difference is being stuck there, especially if something happens that makes him uncomfortable. Also sounds like it’s far from home.

I would get a sitter for peace of mind, or just bring him. No one will kick him out if he’s reading.
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 15:06     Subject: unattended child
Anonymous wrote:The question is really interesting actually. If some asked can my 9 year old ride bike around the neighborhood by himself any normal parent would say yes but some how the library is different that the street.

You don’t understand the difference between an open street and a library with adults responsible for what happens inside?