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akern
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 Posted: 12/05/03 - 15:58 Post subject: What do you think is an appropriate age..
For a child to be home alone for a few hours a day after school? Just curious as to what the general opinion is.
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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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Posted: 12/05/03 - 16:01 Post subject:
I don't know but I stayed at home by myself from 4pm to 5pm starting at age 9. Of course I called my mom the minute I came home from school, and every neighbor within a 20 house radius knew I was home alone. Worked well for me (in fact, probably better than my sister beating me, I mean, watching me...)
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Maddies Wench
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Posted: 12/05/03 - 16:03 Post subject:
| cherylpf wrote: | | I don't know but I stayed at home by myself from 4pm to 5pm starting at age 9. Of course I called my mom the minute I came home from school, and every neighbor within a 20 house radius knew I was home alone. Worked well for me (in fact, probably better than my sister beating me, I mean, watching me...) |
I was a latchkey kid for the majority of my school-years. I have started to leave Ian alone for short times (three and four mile runs). He's nine.
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Noley
AZhat
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Posted: 12/05/03 - 16:06 Post subject:
I know certain states may have rules to that. For real.
I was a "latchkey" child and letting myself into the house alone in the 2nd grade. No kidding. The school's playground was a few houses down and I would walk home. My mom was a teacher and would be home soon after (I always had to call the secretary when I was home and locked in). Goes to show how time has changed.
I have left my 8 year old home once this fall to get her medication. She was so ill that I couldn't get her into the van. The store is a mile from home and I felt guilty the entire trip.
Times have changed so much.
I would like to hear what other's have to say on this issue as well.
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brie k
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Posted: 12/05/03 - 16:06 Post subject:
I've had to think about this since I'm trying to decide if I want to hurry up with college, or take my own sweet time...
I think somewhere around 11. It's Libby's age, and I have left her home with the boys here and there (daylight hours only) for a few hours. I feel reasonably safe (not completely, don't know I ever will) doing this, but we have strict rules about no-parents-at-home-time. House alarm is on, doors are locked, no answering door or phone (but you can screen the call, it may be me), no friends over, no cooking, you stay inside, you don't turn the fireplace on, here's my cell-phone number, here's the panic button on the house alarm, the list goes on and on. Seriously, we have this talk a lot, even though I cannot say I leave them alone with any type of regularity.
I have decided that 11 is too young to be watching brothers in the evening, which is why I decided not to get a job right now.
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brie k
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Posted: 12/05/03 - 16:10 Post subject:
| nolefan85 wrote: | | I was a "latchkey" child and letting myself into the house alone in the 2nd grade. No kidding. |
I was alone from 1st grade on for several hours. I could not do that to my kids. No way.
I remember the first time I left Lib and Wills alone to run to the store to get meds for Will (I brought Jake along with me since he was so little). Same as you, not but a few minutes away. I was so scared. She was probably 9 at the time even. Didn't do it again until this summer, after she'd turned 11.
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kattzoo
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Posted: 12/05/03 - 16:25 Post subject:
I think 40 is generally safe. I'm looking forward to my parents letting me stay home in a few years. 
I don't know how you parents do it. Not being a parent, I would lean towards 12 or 13, and then once they're 15, having a babysitter again.
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purple hayes
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Posted: 12/05/03 - 16:26 Post subject:
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jrjo
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Posted: 12/05/03 - 16:31 Post subject:
When I was 11, I was already watchin' my baby brother on my own. It's a different world nowadays, but in the age of cellphones, tazers and motion sensors, I'd say a properly equipped kid could be home alone for brief periods at age 10.
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TimRuns
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Posted: 12/05/03 - 17:34 Post subject:
I think 13 should be the minimum legal age...
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purple hayes
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Posted: 12/05/03 - 17:40 Post subject:
| kattzoo wrote: | | and then once they're 15, having a babysitter again. |
Amen to that. I get more nervous about leaving the 16 yo home alone than I do the 13 yo.
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coachmarkos
my boys could swim
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Posted: 12/05/03 - 17:44 Post subject:
This is a very depends situation...
depends on where you live (safety, access to neighbors, etc...)
depends on the kid
depends on how much time
My daughter is 8, and I would have no problem with her hanging at our house, but only for less than an hour. We live in a very small town, know all our neighbors, live 3 blocks from the school...and you know after writing this...it would still worry me. Maybe 1/2 an hour would be ok.
But the original question did say a couple of hours...so I gotta go with at least 10 or 11. AT LEAST.
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kristin31
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Posted: 12/06/03 - 00:13 Post subject:
I don't know (and as I don't have children, I'm even less likely to have any valuable advice). I know I was left alone and with my sister from the age of 8 on up for about 3-4 hours at a time. Luckily, we were in a safe, quiet area with a grandmother a few miles away.
I guess it depends upon the child, the circumstances, and a few more variables. Trust your judgment.
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airehead
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Posted: 12/06/03 - 15:35 Post subject:
My son is 12. Certainly old enough to be left alone, but also old enough to be tempted by older kids (i.e. 8th and 9th graders from his school).
I would love to leave him at home after school by himself so I could work, but I have decided that there are too many temptations that I'd rather he not deal with yet.
It depends on the child. As a girl, I think the temptations might be different. But, for a boy--I just worry.
Our kids are growing up facing things a lot earlier than we did and it scares me.
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crazyfrog
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Posted: 12/06/03 - 16:57 Post subject:
i was a latch key kid from the time i was 6ish till i moved out of the darn house.
it wasnt so bad until my brothers were born. then not only was i the latch key kid, i was also the mom in the house since the "real" one was never home....
the only thing bad that ever happened was when i was home alone with the youngest little brother, he was prolly 3ish...he set all of the blankets on my dads waterbed on fire. he found some matches my dad had left out and you can probably figure out the rest of the story...
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