Ok a WDYT? Kid home alone

[gennyu]

In general I would be okay with it but in your situation I would be nervous bc of the mutism. What happens if there is an emergency and he needs to call 911?

[andrewsgal]

I would be fine for it with DD by fourth grade. I leave her for 10 minutes or so now. I would get a cheap pay as you go phone so he can text you when he gets home. Oh and I plan to install a key code on our garage in case she loses her key.

[cna]

Your middle school starts at 4th grade?

I personally don't know when I will be comfortable leaving my kids home alone. It depends entirely on what you are most comfortable with.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

I don't have much to add because we haven't hit that age yet but wtf at 4th grade being middle school? I've heard 6th or 7th as the starting year, never 4th.

Also jealous that your rec center charges $5 a day for after school care. By my kids school it's $185/WEEK. Isn't that insane???

Sorry to go off on a tangent. Carry on.

[andrewsgal]

Middle school here is 6-8

[cna]

Ours is also 6-8.

[lattelady5]

So he'd be at home for 10-15 minutes alone? Unless his mutism impacts his ability to call for help if needed, I would not even think twice about leaving him. I'd have specific instructions for what to do while he waited. Come home, take off shoes, put away backpack (whatever) and watch tv for until you got home.

[iheartthe80s]

For that short of a time I would be inclined to do it. I agree with@lattelady5, I'd have a specific instruction list of things to do until I arrived home.

[lattelady5]

And only as long as it is legal in your state. I think IL has an age 14 minimum to stay home alone, other states have 8-10ish though many states have no legal requirement.

[Deleted]

I'm not there yet since my DS is barely turning 2 but I feel like if I had such an inexpensive and guaranteed safe option (with the added bonus it would be a great time for homework to get started), I would do that rather than have him go home alone.

[Deleted]

For 10-15 minutes? Sure! (As long as you're comfortable with his SM not affecting his ability to get help if needed)

But it's YOUR comfort level. I wouldn't bat an eye at someone's 9 year old being alone up to 30 minutes?

[lala]

Depending on the kid, of course, I'd be fine with 10-15 min. Specific instructions, if he screws up, he loses the privilege.

And re: middle school, until here every district I know had a 6-8 middle. Here, we have a 5-6 building and a 7-8 building. They look at the 5-6 as more like upper elem.

[ashb62]

Our middle school is currently 6-8, but our district just started construction on a secondary school that will be 5-6 and middle school will be 7-8.

[ashb62]

Oh and to answer your question, I think I would probably be okay with such a short time frame at that age.

[expectantsteelerfan]

We have 5-6 in one building, and 7-8 in another both for middle school. It's funny, I was actually just thinking about this the other day, only the opposite, I need to leave in the morning about 10 minutes before my kids will get on the bus when they are in middle school (right now my MIL watches them when I work). I was trying to think what age I'd be ok with them being on their own and getting on the bus themselves, but I do think that is a big difference than coming home and being alone for 10-15 minutes. My conclusion (total speculation) is that I probably wouldn't leave mine alone in the MORNING till high school. Afternoon, I would think middle school would be ok a short amount of time, so I'd be REALLY tempted to do it if I was sure I'd be home shortly after them.
I'm surprised your buses wait for parents until 4th grade though. Ours only do it for Kindy.

[ashb62]

Mar 2, 2015 16:52:11 GMT -5 cjcouple said:

Mar 2, 2015 16:47:17 GMT -5 expectantsteelerfan said:

We have 5-6 in one building, and 7-8 in another both for middle school. It's funny, I was actually just thinking about this the other day, only the opposite, I need to leave in the morning about 10 minutes before my kids will get on the bus when they are in middle school (right now my MIL watches them when I work). I was trying to think what age I'd be ok with them being on their own and getting on the bus themselves, but I do think that is a big difference than coming home and being alone for 10-15 minutes. My conclusion (total speculation) is that I probably wouldn't leave mine alone in the MORNING till high school. Afternoon, I would think middle school would be ok a short amount of time, so I'd be REALLY tempted to do it if I was sure I'd be home shortly after them.
I'm surprised your buses wait for parents until 4th grade though. Ours only do it for Kindy.

honestly. I am not sure what age they stop. I know for 1st they wait. but when B was in 2nd luke was prek. if b were alone on bus in 3rd they may just drop him. idk though.

Our school requires a parent for K and 1st.

[amynumbers]

I'd be ok with it in middle school, but I can't get inboard with 4th grade being middle school. Sixth grade this for be an easy call.

I would totally take the inexpensive rec center option, mainly because it gives you freedom if you need to do something after school, get stuck in traffic or whatever.

[scorpio72]

Only you know your kid to know if he could handle it.  

I would and do let my 4th grader (10) stay home briefly after the bus drops her off.  We have to take the older one to swimming before the bus drops off so she's home alone 15-20 min.   I completely trust her to know what and what not to do.  She knows how to use the phone to call me if need be.  We've done this all year.  

We're in VA and there are no set laws, just under 8 shouldn't be left alone.  

She is also the second child so it's a different ballgame for her.  DD #1 didn't stay home alone until 5th grade, although she did walk home from the bus with the other neighborhood kids (no parent) but that was only a 3 house walk.  

[penguingrrl]

I would be okay with a 4th grader home for that short a time alone. Obviously it's kid dependent, but I have on occasion left my 2md grader home for 10-15 minutes, so I I can see it being a regular thing two years from now.

Growing up middle school was grades 5-8, here we have buildings for K-3, 4-6 and 7-8, so 4th is an older kid building and they suddenly have a lot more freedom (that's the first year the district allows kids to walk home alone and will release a kid without a parent there).

[dizzycooks]

I'd be fine with it. Our busses drop off without a parent starting in K. Our walking distance in elementary is 1/4 a mile I believe so it's defiantly not at their door. I'd leave a list of expected activities and if he can't do it right then I'd sign him up for the school thing. Is it an option to sign him up later in the year?

[andrewsgal]

Mar 2, 2015 21:44:39 GMT -5 dizzycooks said:

I'd be fine with it. Our busses drop off without a parent starting in K. Our walking distance in elementary is 1/4 a mile I believe so it's defiantly not at their door. I'd leave a list of expected activities and if he can't do it right then I'd sign him up for the school thing. Is it an option to sign him up later in the year?

I agree I would give him a chance as long as the program wouldn't fill up. I think this is so kid dependent. If you had asked me when my kids were 2 and 4 if I would leave a 9 year old home I would have said hell no. Just another thing that has changed.

[hocus2]

I will have the same option in 4th (my kid could walk home alone) and I'm going to use after school unless something really unexpected happens. My younger child will also be at after school so that is part of the reason but I just don't keep great about my kid being home alone in 4th grade though I am sure it would be fine.

I used to walk home alone in 4th grade and was alone for much longer than 10 mins. I would do homework, watch TV, play, make simple parts of dinner that my mom asked me to do (salad,putting stuff in bowels, maybe peeling potatoes etc).

[Deleted]

Our district rules are a parent/caregiver over the age of 18 must be present to pick up all fifth graders and younger.... I think my parents started letting us be home alone around the age of 11, so, my gut says probably a bit older than your 9yo (take this opinion for what it's worth - my kid's not even 3 yet).

[Deleted]

My kid is 9 and I leave her alone for half an hour here and there with her 7 yo sister. Next year, (grader
5&3) I was thinking of allowing them to come home alone after school for the hour till i get home. However my younger DD (7.5) isn't comfortable with that so il not sure what I will do. DD1 turns 10 in December do I thought we may give it a shot starting after xmas break, but would be nice to do it in September when school starts and the weather is nice.

ETA the only grade where they require a parent for hand-off is kindergarten.