How long would you leave a 7 year old alone for?

I have a very mature and responsible 8 year old and I wouldn’t leave her alone for any amount of time. I think 12 would be the earliest I’d allow her to be home alone.

Probably no more than just a pop to the corner shop. It’s different when there’s only one of them. Child Services would probably be contacted if a teacher knew about a child being left alone regularly. It’s not about how long you leave them, it’s also about them knowing what to do if you don’t come back.

I leave my 9, Almost 10 year old alone for 30 minutes in the morning while I run her dad to work. It’s 6:30 in the morning and she has a phone. So we’re in constant communication if she’s awake. Also I do wake her up and tell her before I go but she usually just falls back asleep.

None I don’t even leave my 11 year old alone at all either!

I wouldn’t leave my 7 year old home alone.

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No way would I leave 7 yr old on there own

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I mean I let my 8 & 9 year old stay home long enough for me to walk my clothes down to the apartment’s laundromat to put my clothes in or to switch them over to the dryer and To pick them back up but I’m gone not even 10 minutes and I can see my building.

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No think it’s 13 they can be alone but not for long

Not that young… at all. And my town is incredibly safe and everyone knows everyone, everyone’s family etc

It’s against the law in most states to leave a child alone at age 7. I live in Maryland and it’s legal at age 8. But child services will tell you to use your brain. Is your child mature enough to stay home alone etc

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Not a chance would leave a child under the age 12 home alone and even then at 12 yrs over they need to demonstrate they mature enough

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I have a nearly 7 year old daughter and there’s no way i would leave her home alone… I think they are still to young to be left alone…

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I feel it depends on the child, how long they’re left alone, and if there are rules set in place. I personally would be hesitant… but, like I said… if the child is mature enough and knows to follow rules and it isn’t a long period of time the parent should use their own judgment.

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I wouldn’t leave mine alone at 7.

No way in hell. Not at 7… Not even for 5 minutes… DCF here you go…

A 7 year old is not mature enough to be left home alone.

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I was left alone at 5 but that was the 90s, a simpler time. My oldest is gonna be 8 soon and I’m not quite comfortable with it yet. Maybe in another year if he seems ready but I doubt it.

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Too young to be left alone by law in my state Virginia

Way too young in my opinion. That’s just crazy.

Personally I wouldn’t at all 9 I left my mature daughter for very short periods and she had a phone to contact me

What? Absolutely not!!! Unless you are headed to the bathroom for 10 minutes, a 7 year old child is not mature enough to be “left alone” at all, for any length of time!!!

I leave my 7&6 year old alone if I walk next door to their Nana’s house (I can see my side door and bedroom windows) but they are normally in their rooms playing games I also let them know I’m coming right back and they do good but it’s only for a few minutes. I personally won’t leave and go to town or to the store with out them unless their dad is with them but not alone cause my son is autistic

If you are next door with a neighbor for a few minutes fine if not then DON’T AT ALL

Me personally I won’t leave mine alone but it’s cause he’s too hyper and destructive, and will try to go outside… but my oldest we let her stay home alone about 7-8 but we did test runs to see how that went, and just went like 5-10 minutes up the road to get dad from work, but I also live in the country and no close neighbors that isn’t family

Every child is different. But at 7 I wouldn’t leave unsupervised more than an hour. At nine, my sister (3 years younger) and I stayed home alone for about two hours after school while our (single) mom worked. We had to call her the second we got home. She also had an elderly neighbor that kept an eye on us.

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Noo! My daughter is 10.5 and I still don’t leave her home alone!

Um no. I leave my 7 year old alone long enough to walk outside start my car or check the mail. Maybe 5-10 minutes while I am within a general vicinity. That is way too young and vulnerable of an age to be unsupervised.

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That’s a big no from me.

I’ll leave my 8 year old alone for 10 minute increments At a time, but that’s about it

I have a 6 year old & i wouldn’t even to leave him alone at home. Not age 7 either. If shown maturity at age 16 or 17 i would but not age 7.

In todays world, no! I have a soon to be 7 year old and she is very mature for her age. I trust her but I don’t trust others!

That should be fine for no more than an hour. But I’d make sure he had a phone for emergencies

I wouldn’t leave a 7 yr old alone at home.

No , Not at all. Even if they are mature the world is to crazy for a little kid to be left alone.

Me personally would not leave them alone

Every child differs with maturity level. Some kids can be trusted to do the right thing and follow the rules and some kids are like mine and have some weird desire to cause unrelenting chaos and watch the world burn :joy: I personally wouldn’t leave a 7 year old alone for any amount of time in todays world.
Back 20 years ago, my dad left my 7 year old self home alone with my 3 year old sister while mom worked and he ran to town for lunch essentials. But again, it came down to maturity. We knew our rules and how to act and could be trusted to make good choices when we didn’t have eyes on us.

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Nope. I can see 5 minutes across the street to the store, maybe…but any longer then that and No!

I wouldn’t at all. I dont even leave my 10 year old alone ever. As someone stated, it does depend on the maturity level but i still think 7 is too young

No longer than 5 to 10 minutes I mean I would only do it long enough to run out and check my mail or take out the trash but I’m a helicopter mom so yeah

If they are on there tab or computer I walk to the corner with the dog :sweat_smile:

Most states that have a law say 12 years old to left home alone.

Is this a joke? In NO way is it ok for a 7 year old CHILD to be left alone!

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I leave mine inside long enough to catch a breather and walk the dog but our oldest is now 9 and she’s very mature and they know if they don’t listen they will be in trouble.

No. I don’t even leave my 12yr old alone for more than an hour. I cannot fathom a 7yr old.

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My daughter is mature enough at 9 to be left alone but I still won’t leave her alone lol

Absolutely not!!!

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Oh no…… 7 is way to young. I think there are laws about leaving children alone.

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absolutely not at that age!! I don’t even leave my 11 & 12 yr old longer than an hr alone!

Are you joking! No! No! No! I would never ever leave a 7 year old alone no matter how mature they seem! It is to dangerous nowadays to even leave a 13 year old home alone.
There are people that harm children and watches your home! It’s better to be a watchful parent nowadays!

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10 years old is the my state law on when a child can be left alone. 12 to baby sit

Nope not until they are at least 10 or older my mom didn’t let me stay home until I was 10/11 and it was for short periods of time to start out

NO!!! Come on,is that really a question that needs to be asked!!!

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This is my opinion, based on things I know from where I am located. Every child is different, it seems now a days we are letting them be older at younger ages. Although circumstances are different, such as *will it be 30 min after school until you get home *single parent with no choice (even a neighbor cant always be trusted). Times are hard, some kids are left hours in our school district. Teach them rules to follow, stay inside, dont answer door, how to make a sandwich or etc. If it can not be avoided, make sure they know how to stay safe.

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I would never leave a 7 year alone for any amount of time. That is too young. Unexpected emergencies can happen at the drop of a hat and a 7 year old, no matter how mature you think they are or how much you’ve “taught” them about stranger danger, not to answer the door or don’t touch the stove, they are not yet mentally developed enough to handle true emergencies, not to mention curiosity killed the cat. I say NO :woman_shrugging:t3:

It depends on the child. My youngest no but my older 3 started coming home from school by themselves at 8 until I got home from work an hour later. My youngest is 6 right now and I don’t see her being alone at 7 or even 8 to be honest. She isn’t ready for that.

I wouldn’t leave them alone at all.

I would not leave a 7yo alone.

In today’s world no. When I was that age I was alone for 5-6 hours after school before my mom got home.

My daughter came home till i got home from work…i would have never let my son, the their very different…in this day I would never

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Not as a all day thing but if they are getting out of school and I’m coming home in the next hour or so …it’s certain things I would do like leave out a snack give instructions as to start on homework or tv time until I get home don’t open the door or go back outside I would also give a phone or have cameras

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7 is young even a little mature 7 year old I wouldn’t, I would say 9/10 for short periods of time then as they get older/more mature, demonstrate they can handle being alone. But you can teach your child at 7 safety measures forsure, if they absolutely hv to be hm alone for a few minutes after school, then teach them, lock doors, dont open for anyone, how to use a phone, etc.

It all depends on how responsible your child is. When my oldest was 7 I could leave him home no problem. Not all day but he was good for a few hours. My youngest on the other hand, not for more than an hour. A quick errand. I know a 10 year old that needs constant supervision. It really just depends on the kid.

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I wouldn’t leave a 7yo alone. I might go do yard work while they were in the house but I wouldn’t leave the property. Maybe 9-10yo for an hour but it also depends on how mature the child is.

I won’t even leave mine alone to drive half a mile up the road to the mailbox. She’s only 6 but even at 7 it’s a no go. Anything can happen in seconds and at that age they just aren’t old enough to be able to handle an emergency on their own.

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Honestly if your kid is ready at 7 and they know and understand 911 and the emergency list you’ve left for them and the rules of the house they should be okay, but every child is different,
Mine I would not be okay with leaving alone at all.

Kids still need assistance brushing their teeth until their 8. Hell no would I leave a 7 yo alone unless I was showering, I don’t care how “mature” I think they are. If the child is old/mature enough to take and understand a basic Red Cross babysitter safety course , then sure, for short periods but I would say age 11+.

My 6 year old is turning 7 in April she is in no way prepared or ready to be home by herself so nope too young in my honest opinion

My Son is 14 & I still don’t leave him home alone Anything can happen

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No…not at 7. That’s way too young.

No, a 7 year old should not be left alone. That is too young in my opinion.

I have a girl who just turned 7 and I would never NEVER leave her home alone. Not for one minute! However my oldest boy was very mature and smart, way above average kid, and he did stay home alone for about 40 minutes a day during school week until we got off work at 8 years old. But he was a outstanding kid! Also for the record that 8 year old is now 26 years old so that was basically a different time time. We were super close with our neighbors. He had his best friend and his mom right down the road. We owned two huge dogs. A lot of factors went into us letting our 8 year old boy stay home alone for 40 minutes a day.

Never you don’t leave a 7 year old alone ever

They are not allowed to be left alone until age twelve and always make sure they know emergency procedures before leaving them alone. I am an Regestred early childhood educator.

Alone??? :scream::scream::scream::scream: NEVER !!!

Not saying it’s right but at 7 years old I was babysitting my 2 yr old
And 8month old little brothers for 5-8
Hours a day. Depends on the maturity of the child

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Seven years old is to young

Depends on the child. Mine could at that age.

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I personally think people are leaving their children at home way to young, but some of it isn’t because they want to or they don’t trust their kids. It is because they have no other choice.

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I only leave my 12&13 year old on there own for at most 30 min while I pop over shop but can see my flat, I was going to leave my 12yr old the other weekend so me and 13yr old could pop out but we all felt uncomfortable and I didn’t, although I have to go for X-ray tomorrow so may have to leave them either at home together or at the shops in the lobby at hospital where there is seats to sit etc that’s if there not aloud in with me but I’m not comfortable with it if I can find an alternative I will, x

No! Even being mature for your age…that is too young. A state law shouldn’t have to tell you when you use common sense…

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Not even for 1 minute

The way I was raised it was okay, by 6 I walked myself home from the bus stop got home, went out on the farm got the work done and did homework :books:. It’s honestly how your were raised culture etc. maybe farm kids are just different I don’t honestly know I don’t leave my kids alone but I know it’s normal in my family

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Nope! Way too much could happen in a very short period of time

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I wasn’t left home alone until I was 9. I think 7 is much too young to be left alone.

Not at 7 but my youngest is 9 and he stays home alone while I’m at work sometimes BUT we have 2 way cameras inside and phones and safety plans and neighbors. I also work les than 2 miles from home and can see my neighborhood from my office.

Nope, too young in my opinion.

Not 7 to young maybe 12-13 and that’s only if there more mature and know right from wrong

Question should be what are you doing that you can’t take your child with you?

No not at 7. I might take a walk around the block and watch my son on the cameras that are two way talk around that age tho maybe a bit older. We don’t know Mama’s circumstances. Was it a one time quick thing? Try too help her apply for childcare. Sometimes Mama’s need direction.

People go to jail for leaving kids that young alone!

Absolutely none. It’s hard enough to let 13-year-olds be home alone because there anything happen happen let alone a seven-year-olds. Well it may not be illegal in some states, I wouldn’t do it.

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/age-a-child-can-be-left-home-alone-by-state

I think it would depend on location of area, how long they are alone for, and maturity level. Also what is the reasoning behind being left alone. Is there adequate security at the home…

I stayed alone overnight and the family was 2 hours away. I was in 5th grade.

Absolutely Not are these people crazy you don’t leave a child alone until they are married !!!

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I was left home alone for weeks at 8 years old… but I wouldn’t recommend that anyone leave their kid at home alone till they are much older.

Too young to be left at home

IMO, 7 is way too young to be left alone.

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Um what. I have a 7 year old and I would never leave him home alone. Honestly I wouldn’t think of leaving him alone until he’s like 10 or 11 and never more than a few hours. And that’s only because he’s mature for his age.

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7 is too young to be left alone.

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It would depend on the kid. If they’re mature for their age, then maybe 10 or 15 minutes or so.

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