S/o kids home alone

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Probably dumb question but how did you find your states laws? Google had failed me.

Also what age did you leave your kids to run a quick errand?(think filling up gas or getting milk at a gas station a minute away).

[ashb62]

I haven't looked up my state's laws, so I'm no help there.

My DD is 7 and I haven't done it yet. We live in a rural area, so there really are no quick trips. It takes 5 minutes just to get to the main road. P is also a worrier by nature (which she gets honest.) She would probably flip out if I even suggested it.

[lala]

I just saw a chart recently with all of the state laws. I'll see if I can find it.

[andrewsgal]

Mar 3, 2015 9:23:51 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Probably dumb question but how did you find your states laws? Google had failed me.

Also what age did you leave your kids to run a quick errand?(think filling up gas or getting milk at a gas station a minute away).

patch.com/rhode-island/tiverton/moms-talk-at-what-age-should-you-leave-your-child-home-alone

I leave DD home alone for short periods of time she is 8.

[gennyu]

[gennyu]

Also found this more general guide:

Below are general guidelines to follow when considering the age range for leaving a child home alone.

7 & under - Should not be left alone for any period of time. This may include leaving children unattended in cars, playgrounds, and backyards. The determining consideration would be the dangers in the environment and the ability of the caretaker to intervene.

8 to 10 years - Should not be left alone for more than 1½ hours and only during daylight and early evening hours.

11 to 12 years - May be left alone for up to 3 hours but not late at night or in circumstances requiring inappropriate responsibility.

13 to 15 years - May be left unsupervised, but not overnight.

16 to 17 years - May be left unsupervised (in some cases, for up to two consecutive overnight periods).

[hocus2]

I believe that NYC has "suggested ages" for leaving children alone.

At what age is it okay to leave my children home alone?
OCFS is often asked questions regarding the appropriate age to leave a child alone, or what age is appropriate to allow a child to begin babysitting. There are no straightforward answers to these questions. All children develop at their own rate, and with their own special needs and abilities. Some children are responsible, intelligent, and independent enough to be left alone at 12 or 13 years of age. Likewise, there are some teenagers who are too irresponsible or who have special needs that limit their ability to be safe if they are left alone.
Parents and guardians need to make intelligent, reasoned decisions regarding these matters.

Below there are some items for these decision-makers to consider before leaving a child alone. Be aware, this is just the beginning of issues to consider. It is not an all-inclusive checklist to guarantee intelligent and reasoned decision-making:

Consider the child: How mature is the child? How comfortable is the child with the circumstances? What has the child done in the past to show you he/she is able to take on this kind of responsibility?
Consider the child’s knowledge and ability: Does the child know how and when to contact emergency help? Is the child able to prepare food for him/herself? Are there hazards to the child in the environment such as accessible knives, power tools, a stove or oven?
Consider the circumstances: Where will the child be when left alone? How long is the child to be alone?
These same questions should be asked when considering whether a child is old enough to baby-sit. However, when considering a child as an adequate baby sitter, you must evaluate these factors for both the potential baby sitter as well as the needs of the child or children who will be cared for by the baby sitter. A child of 12 might be fine alone for two hours in an afternoon. Yet, the same child may be incapable of responsibly caring for a 5-year-old for that same period of time.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Thanks all!!

[expectantsteelerfan]

My state has a 'common sense' law, which basically says that it's not against the law unless something bad happens, but if something bad does happen, if there wasn't common sense to leave them, you can be arrested. Lovely gray areas. I *think* it also suggested not under 6 for leaving in a car for brief period (like running in to pay for gas) and 12 to be home alone.

Mine obviously aren't there yet, but I have left them to walk the dog to the corner and back when dh was oot and it was super inconvenient to take them.

[scattered]

Wait, not leaving a kid under 7 in the backyard? What?

[andrewsgal]

Mar 3, 2015 18:12:51 GMT -5 scattered said:

Wait, not leaving a kid under 7 in the backyard? What?

Where did this come from?

[abs]

Mar 3, 2015 18:12:51 GMT -5 scattered said:

Wait, not leaving a kid under 7 in the backyard? What?

That was my first thought. Are you kidding?  Someone should CPS on me then. I mean, I can see her the whole time. But she likes the outdoors and I don't. I judge that graph.

[scattered]

Mar 3, 2015 18:40:09 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Mar 3, 2015 18:12:51 GMT -5 scattered said:

Wait, not leaving a kid under 7 in the backyard? What?

Where did this come from?

gennyu where did you find that?

[Kcthepouchh8r]

I can understand the blanket statement of not leaving a kid under seven alone in a backyard. We have an eight foot high privacy fence my kids can't reach to unlatch so yeah I'm Fine with them outside alone. If we lived where there was no fence, woods, a lake?? I definitely could see not letting a preschooler/kindergartner out there alone.

[gennyu]

Mar 3, 2015 21:39:31 GMT -5 scattered said:

Mar 3, 2015 18:40:09 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Where did this come from?

gennyu where did you find that?

Here's the full link: family.findlaw.com/parental-rights-and-liability/when-can-you-leave-a-child-home-alone-.html

[andrewsgal]

Mar 3, 2015 21:56:02 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

I can understand the blanket statement of not leaving a kid under seven alone in a backyard. We have an eight foot high privacy fence my kids can't reach to unlatch so yeah I'm Fine with them outside alone. If we lived where there was no fence, woods, a lake?? I definitely could see not letting a preschooler/kindergartner out there alone.

Eh I let my kindergartener play in the front yard.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Mar 4, 2015 7:11:44 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Mar 3, 2015 21:56:02 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

I can understand the blanket statement of not leaving a kid under seven alone in a backyard. We have an eight foot high privacy fence my kids can't reach to unlatch so yeah I'm Fine with them outside alone. If we lived where there was no fence, woods, a lake?? I definitely could see not letting a preschooler/kindergartner out there alone.

Eh I let my kindergartener play in the front yard.

I let my five year old play alone in the front yard. If we lived on a busy main road I would not. I can't imagine letting dd in the front yard alone in two years.i read it that it was situation dependent so I can see in certain scenarios why under seven works as a blanket statement.

It's kind of like bed sharing. Do I understand why as a rule people are told not to do it? Sure. There are lots of risk factors which make it unsafe for lots of people so better to tell everyone not to. Do I worry about this and think it means I couldn't safely bed share? Nope, because I know there's ways to do it right.

[andrewsgal]

Mar 4, 2015 7:44:12 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Mar 4, 2015 7:11:44 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Eh I let my kindergartener play in the front yard.

I let my five year old play alone in the front yard. If we lived on a busy main road I would not. I can't imagine letting dd in the front yard alone in two years.i read it that it was situation dependent so I can see in certain scenarios why under seven works as a blanket statement.

It's kind of like bed sharing. Do I understand why as a rule people are told not to do it? Sure. There are lots of risk factors which make it unsafe for lots of people so better to tell everyone not to. Do I worry about this and think it means I couldn't safely bed share? Nope, because I know there's ways to do it right.

Oh I agree totally kid dependent.

[lala]

I was going to chime in to say my kindergartner plays out front alone, too, but I see we covered the different kid angle.

Related, did you see that family in Maryland has been found responsible fur "unsubstantiated child neglect." So ridiculous.

www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/decision-in-free-range-case-does-not-end-debate-about-parenting-and-safety/2015/03/02/5a919454-c04d-11e4-ad5c-3b8ce89f1b89_story.html

[dizzycooks]

I let my girls play outside alone. Our yard is fenced and I can see them. If they move out of my line of sight then I go check on them. Really though it's for a few minutes while I start lunch/dinner/change laundry loads.

[andrewsgal]

My kids play in our front and backyard alone and I don't watch them. I do check on them randomly

[Rainyday]

Mar 4, 2015 7:55:01 GMT -5 lala said:

I was going to chime in to say my kindergartner plays out front alone, too, but I see we covered the different kid angle.

Related, did you see that family in Maryland has been found responsible fur "unsubstantiated child neglect." So ridiculous.

www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/decision-in-free-range-case-does-not-end-debate-about-parenting-and-safety/2015/03/02/5a919454-c04d-11e4-ad5c-3b8ce89f1b89_story.html

This whole story makes me ill. I really hope this family has a good lawyer or at least some organization that is representing them pro bono.