What age for kids to be home alone after school?

[cinco]

My kids will be the same age this fall. I'd say yes for my older one, no for the younger. I also think mine would more likely have issues together (ie fighting).

I do leave DD1 by herself sometimes for short periods of time and she does great. DS, I'm waiting until he turns 8 (and it's legal). It would be trips to the store or gym where I am less than a mile and have access to my phone.

[papie]

I'd say that is probably fine if they are generally well behaved and know safety rules.  I leave my kids for 15-20 minutes at a time, and they are 8 and 5.  Obviously I don't leave the 2yo with them.  I would leave my 8yo alone for a bit longer but she would be shitting herself, she likes having someone with her even if it is just her little sister.

I will probably leave mine in after school care until they are in grade 3 and 5, so two more years.   

[formerlyak]

Check your state and local laws. Some areas have laws against kids that young being left home alone.

[Deleted]

I babysat like a three-year old and a one-year old at ten.  I'd say you need to judge based on the children themselves and not necessarily their chronological ages. 

[cjcouple]

We don't have any legal age in CT but they recommend 13. Personally i would not leave a 10 yo home in charge of an 8yo.

The 10yo alone maybe but it really depends on the kid. Does he know what to do in an emergency and will he be able to follow through if an emergency happened. Do unexpected run throughs. Some 10 yos absolutely can.

Lastly ask the 10yo if he is comfortable. If yes, I would start with 15 min increments ans see how he does and expand from there over the weekends.

Also make sure he texts or calls when he walks in the door.

[FastHands]

Imagining the typical 10 and 8yo, I can foresee a lot of issues. I think a 10yo alone would be doable, but I'd worry about fighting between the two, the younger not heeding the older when it was really important and having that be too much responsibility for a 10yo.

I will say that my bro and I started staying home alone after school at those exact ages (though 2nd and 4th grade), and it was fine 99% of the time, and that was for more like 3h/day. So it's not OMG NO YOU MONSTER HOW COULD YOU, but you'd have to really think about the dynamics of your kids and what they can handle.

[mcsangel2]

I think the 10yo would be ok, but I would not let an 8yo only be under supervision by a 10yo.

[jinkies]

Can you do a few test runs of leaving them over the next few weeks to see how it goes? I feel like my 8 year old would beok with an older kid around (generally) but my kids fight so much that leaving them alone together could go really badly.

[cabbagecabbage]

I think that's a touch young. When they're 10 and 12, I'd vote good although my state law is 13 I think.

[lolalolalola]

My kids are 10 & 8 (grade 5 & 3) and they walk home from school every day and stay home alone for about an hour, or I let them stay and play at the school playground if they prefer. Other than arguing there have been zero issues.

They have a checklist of chores they need to do when they get home and once they're done they can go on electronics until I get home.

[cjcouple]

May 13, 2016 14:13:35 GMT -5 superduper said:

May 13, 2016 14:00:03 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

Check your state and local laws. Some areas have laws against kids that young being left home alone.

I do remember researching this before and only a handful of states actually have laws regarding this, and my state isn't one of them. Gosh, I think back and I was babysitting until 1 o'clock in the morning when I was like 10. That just seems crazy to me now!

I think that is crazy. I was in no way responsible enough at 10 to watch babies or toddlers. Mothers helper? Absolutely. I know at 12 I did babysit a 2yo but was down the street from my house and my mom was home. Real babysitting... all night and far from home? was more 14 age.

I personally think 12 is ok if they feel good about it.

ETA: oops misread - thought you said babysitting a 1yo until 1am.  haha
either way 1am is so late for a 10yo.

[Deleted]

I think I was 8 and my brother was 12 when my parents started leaving us home together with my brother was in charge. We generally got along and I was a pretty mature rule follower so it never seemed to be a big issue; I was 10 when I was left by myself alone. My first babysitting job was when I was 11, and it was 5 kids all under the age of 7, lol. I don't know what that woman was thinking; it went fine, but holy cow.

ETA: and think about it, back then in the late 80's cell phones were barely a thing. My parents just wrote down a phone number for a nearby neighbor, or instructed us to call 911 if it was bad enough (which never happened). So crazy to think about.

[FastHands]

May 13, 2016 14:25:32 GMT -5 @historychick79 said:

I think I was 8 and my brother was 12 when my parents started leaving us home together with my brother was in charge. We generally got along and I was a pretty mature rule follower so it never seemed to be a big issue; I was 10 when I was left by myself alone. My first babysitting job was when I was 11, and it was 5 kids all under the age of 7, lol. I don't know what that woman was thinking; it went fine, but holy cow.

ETA: and think about it, back then in the late 80's cell phones were barely a thing. My parents just wrote down a phone number for a nearby neighbor, or instructed us to call 911 if it was bad enough (which never happened). So crazy to think about.

She was thinking she had 5 kids under the age of 7 and needed to GTFO and what could reeeeeeeeally happen? lol

[devonpow]

I started leaving DS1 home alone at 8, so age alone I would have no issue.

[georgeharrison]

I think it's fine for an hour assuming they have someone they can call that can get there quickly (a neighbor, close friend, etc.) if they need it or get scared. My dad use to leave us when we were youngish like that, and we were safe, but sometimes got scared being alone.

I would give them a list of things to do for that time, though, like snack, homework, chores or something so they don't get tempted to get into stuff they shouldn't.

I'd also make sure to have very specific rules about what they can eat, if they can play outside, and if they can (what they can) watch on TV. Stuff like that.

I leave my 10.5 year old home alone sometimes for an hour or so for errands and he's great. He will even spend a few half days home alone this summer. I know the dynamic is different with a younger child at home, though, so I can't speak to that.

[textbookcase]

I think 8 and 10 are good ages to stay home for an hour, as long as the kids know safety rules and phone numbers, etc.

[revolution]

I think I'd be ok with it, if they were both like my DD. She's 8. Only you know your kids. The thought of my DS home alone at any age scares me, but that's another story.

Do the obvious - set ground rules, make sure the both know who to call and when, and give it a try.

[Deleted]

My mom left me and my sister home alone at 8/9ish. When we got off the bus, we had to call her and tell her what came in the mail that day.

I didn't think anything of it until I was in my early 20s and realize she was checking to make sure we make it home and into the house. We stayed home alone approx 2 hours.

[hopecounts]

For me it depends on the law (to avoid issues if a neighbor calls it in), once the law says it's OK then it depends on the maturity of the kid.

[Marmee]

Do they get along? Do you have a home phone? Any neighbors home nearby? My oldest 2 girls I would let in that scenerio if I lived in a more safe/quiet area. Where I live now (center of a city) I started letting my oldest at 11 (occasionally with a younger sibling) for short periods of time but not often....and I only do that because we have a close friend that is next door (10' feet from our side doors) & home a lot.  I'd mostly worry about someone seeing them going into the house alone & knowing their routine.

[Deleted]

You can always reserve their spots and then pull out? IDK if that comes with a deposit or not. I feel like maybe your eldest could stay home but you're iffy on your youngest.

[SpartanGirl]

Our state guidelines (not law) say age 9 for up to an hour. I would (and have) left my 10 year at home, but I wouldn't leave my 8 year old. That's my kids though. If your 8 year old is mature enough, the two wouldn't kill each other, and there isn't a law against it - go for it.

Our area offers a "home alone" class through community ed. I would look into something like that too.

[momof2]

Honestly, I have a 4 year old who would likely be fine at home alone for an hour (NOT THAT I WOULD EVER DO THIS!!!). I feel certain that when she is 8, this will be fine (assuming the law allows it in my state). But, this would not be true of all kids.

I am over 40, and I was home after school by myself starting in 1st grade. :-)

[lulu13]

I started leaving the kids for about an hour alone at those ages. Now at almost 13 and 11years old we'll go it on a date night on Friday or Saturday. It's great being able to leave them alone.

[thatgirl2478]

In IL you can be arrested for leaving a child younger than 14 home alone.  Silly in some aspects, good planning in others.  Personally I think it's child dependent, but the law can't make those decisions.

[stealthmom]

Depends on the kid but I'd let my 7 yo stay home by himself for an hour so older than that for sure.

[esdreturns]

My town in CT won't let any of the grade-schoolers off the bus unless someone is here so I would say it's probably a bit too young (My oldest is 9 and in 4th grade). I was definitely check out the laws in your state first though.

[sandyapples]

It would depend on the kid. To me 8 and 10 is a little young, but 9 and 11 I would have no problem with.

[thatgirl2478]

May 13, 2016 20:17:09 GMT -5 @licia said:

May 13, 2016 16:51:28 GMT -5 thatgirl2478 said:

In IL you can be arrested for leaving a child younger than 14 home alone.  Silly in some aspects, good planning in others.  Personally I think it's child dependent, but the law can't make those decisions.

I googled this, and what catches me is the "unreasonable" amount of time. I don't think an hour or two is unreasonable.

Oh, I agree.  An hour or two is - in my book - NBD.  But what if you live next to one of 'those' people who thinks 10 min is unreasonable....?

[IrishBelle]

Mine are 10 and 5.

The 10 yo started staying home alone after school at the end of last year (had just turned 10). DD2 went to school this year and now they are both at home. They are home for about an hour before I get home.

It really depends on how comfortable your kids are with it. DD texts me to let me know they are home and texts me if there are any issues.