How Old Are Children Allowed To Stay Home Alone For An Hour Or So After School?

[Soccermom]

I always thought it was 12 but I do know that my DD who is the same age as DCG would be more than capable of staying home for an hour too.
I wonder if the other DCM is thinking along the same lines. Her DD will also be 11 with a younger sibling who will be 9....hmmm. Maybe I will be closing a year earlier than expected.
Do you think it is rude to bring it up to other DCM? Just out of curiosity, are you thinking you will need care for the children next year kinda thing?
I know it is really early still but time does fly by and I would like to know so I can start saving up and planning if I do decide to close up shop this June.
The thought of only doing DC for another 8 months is kind of exciting!

[Blackcat31]

I also think it should depend on the child. I was a very mture and independent child, and I started staying home alone for short periods of time (1-2 hours) at age 8 - I was completely fine, and it actually helped me develop even more positive independence (my single mom worked 2-3 jobs growing up). I happily started doing laundry, started learning how to cook and doing chores at this age as well!

However, I know children that are 14-16 that shouldn't be left alone without some kind of supervision. It really does depend on the kid - as well as the parent who has taught the child the "rules" of being alone.

I think it's great that there are guidelines out there, however.... because some parents have really awful judgement, even when it comes to their own children!

Heck, I know adults who need regular supervision.

[itlw8]

Florida is 18!!!! Good grief! That's the silliest thing I've heard in a while. Can walk home from school alone...but not actually BE home alone? :confused::confused::confused:

heck they could drive anywhere , take care of other children, hold a job as long as they do not go home LOL

[DBug]

Soccermom, I notice you're in PEI -- my dad is from the Island (my maiden name is Gallant) .

I'm in Ontario, and I believe the ages are different across Canada. I found this in "A Newcomer's Guide to Parenting Issues in Canada" :

How old does my child have to be before he/she can be left alone?
Manitoba and Newfoundland explicitly state that children under the age of
12 should not be left alone. This is only a guideline. Even children over the
age of 12 who are left alone in unsafe conditions may be found to be in need
of protection.
Other provincial laws do not explicitly state the age at which children should
not be left alone. However, child protection agencies usually see the age of
10 as the minimum age that a child may be left alone.

It's copyrighted 2002, but I don't remember any big changes being publicized in the last several years (my oldest is 12, so this is of interest to me).

For what it's worth, I had a 9 yo dcg leave my care when she turned 10. She ended up staying home full days all through the summer by herself. She was a mature 10 yo, but a little too mature, if you catch my meaning. If she was my daughter, I would NOT have left her alone for that many hours every day.

Unfortunately, it seems to be up to the parents after the age of 10, and even that isn't written in stone .

[dave4him]

Maturity goes a long way as well

[e.j.]

However, I know children that are 14-16 that shouldn't be left alone without some kind of supervision.

I think the teen years are when they need the most supervision! My kids are trust worthy and well behaved but I have to admit I was happy to be working out of my home (and able to keep an eye on things) while they were going through their high school years.

[countrymom]

so I'm on my 3rd kid to learn to stay home by themselves. I started about 9.5yrs old to 10yrs. It really depends on a child. My kids know what to do in an emergency, they have our cell numbers and we as parents don't venture too far. My ds is now staying home and he is 10, he can't make it to an hour because he is so bored and the house is too quiet for him (gee you give the kids a break and they would rather have a full house than an empty one) so he likes to call my cell phone a million times in an hour. I usually do try to leave 2 siblings home.
That said, this is the first year that we are leaving all 4 kids home together, while we go out for at least 2 to 3 hours. They love to call us. But they are good so far (no one has tried to drive away yet) but its hard for us to still do it.
When my odd babysits (she's 14) I don't go anywhere in case she needs me !

[Springdaze]

My dd is 9 and i think she would be fine staying home for an hour or so alone. My worry would be if for some reason I or my husband was delayed getting home and it ended up longer. I wouldnt leave her with my son, who is 6. I can already tell he will have to be older than 9 to be left alone!

[Springdaze]

oh and my worry would be covering your you know what if you left your lets say 11 year old home alone and something happened, would you be found as neglectful? its better if there is a lawful age.

[momofsix]

I think it really depends on the child. Our oldest dd was babysitting other kids at 11. One of our middle girls couldn't be home until about 13!
The red cross offers a babysitter class that I think is good preparation for staying home alone with or without actually being a babysitter.

[countrymom]

I should say that my niece is 17 yrs old and is not allowed to stay home by herself for more than an hour. She has never watched her sister either (her sister is 4) yet she can stay home only if my odd stays with her (my odd is 14 yrs old) so it really does depend on the kid.

[spud912]

I'm surprised at how late parents wait to leave their children home alone for small amounts of time. I know it was a different era, but I remember being left at home with my 11 year old brother all day when I was 9 and for smaller periods of time prior to that. By age 14, I was watching my mom's newborn twins for several hours alone .

I think it's important to leave explicit instructions (like don't answer the door for anyone, what to do in an emergency, how to contact the parents), but I personally would allow short increments (like an hour or less) starting between the ages of 8 and 10 years old. I think it's more dangerous allowing a child to roam in their neighborhood or at a mall by themselves or with similar-aged children. Not saying that's wrong either, but at least in your house, they are sheltered from the "world." Am I alone on this thought?

[Willow]

I think it's more dangerous allowing a child roam in their neighborhood or at a mall by themselves or with similar-aged children.

[youretooloud]

Most kids, i'd say nine or ten. (for a few hours)