Mom28kds Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 At what age would you leave your child at home to run a quick errand? What age would you allow them to watch younger brother/sisters? Just curious what people think about this subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindergretta Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 It isn't about age here. It is individual based on the maturity of the child in question. It has been different for each of my oldest three. My fourth will never babysit, but might get to a point when he can be left alone. Ditto my fifth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 There are laws wrt age, too. That said, I've left my 11yo alone for a couple of hours. Her dad was technically on the property. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 We started leaving dd alone and with sibs. At 11. My middle son my be 20 before he is left alone lol. There are no laws concerning age in my state if left at home, just in cars alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHowell Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 It will be awhile before K will ever be left in charge of D; but just today she was left home alone for about 30 minutes when DH and I had a crossover in schedules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffeetime Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 I am completely comfortable leaving my 10 year old son home while a run a quick errand (30 min. or so in the middle of the day). I will leave the older two children with him, but I wouldn't leave the little ones. However, like previous posters it's not about age to me it's about individual maturity. He's a very solid, responsible, trustworthy boy, as are the two younger siblings. There are rules: the doors stay locked, the curtains closed, no using knives to cut food- they are only allowed to sit and watch tv. Oh, and I have a very protective German Shepherd that keeps watch! :D (This probably seals the deal for me) There are no laws with regard to age in my state. It's interesting how things change. My husband was a "latch-key" kid from the time he was 6 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeBeaks Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Given the maturity level of my 9yo at this point in time, I'm hoping I will be able to leave him at home alone by the time he turns 18 or so .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhonda in TX Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 I agree with previous posters that it's a maturity issue. I started leaving mine alone for short trips when they were probably 11 and 12. Now that they are 13 and almost-15, I will leave them up to a couple of hours if I am in the area. I still don't leave them alone in the evening. It's interesting how things change. My husband was a "latch-key" kid from the time he was 6 years old. I have a friend who's a teacher and he told me there are still latch-key kids that are 6 years old. Amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 My oldest is now 13. I will actually finally leave him not only home, but in charge of his siblings. Here is the rule though: "You are in charge of your 7 year old brother, you are not in charge of your 11 year old brother. When I come home, IF there are no complaints from either of your siblings, you will get a small amount of $$ for watching him." I HAVE to stipulate that I should hear NO COMPLAINTS :D. He watched 7 year old for 7 hours one day! They did great. I paid him $10 and he thought that was fantastic! :lol: Now, as far as just leaving him home alone.....I started for quick errands around 11 and for more than an hour around age 12. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheReader Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 My oldest is 13, he'll be 14 next month. We just started leaving him alone with the younger boys this past year, though even 2 yrs ago I'd leave them for a very quick (under 30 mins) errand. But, our home is insanely secure and in the beginning the quick errand in question was literally running to the drugstore that was next door to our apartment building. So, equivalent to if you stepped out and walked to your next door neighbor's house. Only in the past year or so have I started leaving them for longer than 30 minutes -- we've worked up to about a 2 hour span now (maybe slightly longer). They are left with a cell phone, yahoo messenger turned on (which dh has on his phone), the number for the neighbors, the house locked up (they have the key to let themselves out if needed), the dog here with them, and free reign on electronics to cut down on bickering between the 6 yr old and 10 yr old (for our 13 yr old's sake). Part of our decision was based on the comfort level of the 13 yr old in question, and the maturity level of the 6 yr old. It's only been in the past year that I would trust him to listen to the 13 yr old, so before that I would not have left him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwjx2khsmj Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 I've left them alone for a few minutes starting at age 9 but only when they asked to be left rather than riding along on whatever boring errand. They always have a phone to contact me immediately and I'm within 15 minutes drive at that age. My older daughters took Safe Sitter classes and began babysitting siblings at age 11-12. Again, we began with errands and short trips out then graduated to several hours in charge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Dominion Heather Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 I've left my oldest alone for a while now and have no worries about him. I've left him to watch one of his brothers while I leave the street and go to the store, but I don't leave both with him unless I am staying on the street or they are watching a movie of something where I know they won't fight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandsam Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 I also agree it is maturity vs actual age. I started leaving my oldest dd home alone for bits of time at age 10. At age 11, I started leaving her along for 2-4 hrs alone, and shortly after, she started watching her then 5 yr old twin sisters. At 12 she started babysitting for neighbors. In MN, there is no 'fixed age' law about leaving children alone. There is child endangerment laws, however. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobela Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 My son has been left for up to 30 minutes as schedules crossed. I have not left him with dd yet however I did have him go thru the Red Cross Babysitter Training class last week in anticipation of him staying home briefly with her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom28kds Posted August 19, 2011 Author Share Posted August 19, 2011 Thanks everyone. Great input!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Here the kids just have to know 2 contact numbers for parents/relatives/responsible adults. My boys are 11 and 8. I just started leaving them home on very short errands (think 2 blocks away for 15 minutes). The reason I started leaving them home is because a friend with littles asked me. When I responded that they are too young. She said she was babysitting littles by 11-12 at other people's houses. Then I realized that I was too! My 11yo is super responsible. They didn't "burn the joint down" so I guess he's ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmp Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Here are some guidelines and a list state by state of any laws. http://www.latchkey-kids.com/latchkey-kids-age-limits.htm I was surprised by how young (age 8) Maryland uses as a guideline. My oldest was 12 when I left him for short trips. He also had taken the Red Cross Babysitters course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 At what age would you leave your child at home to run a quick errand? What age would you allow them to watch younger brother/sisters? Just curious what people think about this subject. About 7. I've left the girls to run to the corner store. I'm gone maybe 10 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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