What age would you allow your kids to stay home after school alone?

Hey Moms, what is the age you would allow your child to get off the school bus and have a key… come in the house …lock the door and wait 2 hours for you to get home from work?

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Depends on the child! All kids are different

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My son is 10 and I’ve only left him home alone for an hour or less to go shopping but the whole time I’m still checking my ring camera :joy:. I still feel uncomfortable doing that to be honest.

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Completely depends on the child. I have an 8yr old I’d trust to stay home longer than I would my 11yr old. Only let them if you can trust them to handle an emergency properly, to stay out of trouble and be safe.

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It really depends on the maturity of the child. My daughter was almost 14 before her dad would let her stay for short periods of time. Our son was completely different. Exact opposite from his sister was able to let him stay home for short periods of time at 11 or 12. One child does everything In her power to break ruled and defy her father the other a goody too shoes and terrified of getting in trouble

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My daughter was in 3rd grade so 8/9 and she’d stay home for 2 hours then when she was in 4th so 9/10 and my son was in K 5/6 they’d stay home together. I now have a 9th 14 5th 11 and 3rd 8 who stay home after school during the summer etc

My son is 10 and we’ve been doing little intervals the last like, year and a half? But at this point he would be ok alone for the 2 hrs. He can call me from his iPad and we installed a landline

Depends on the individual child’s maturity

Depends on the kid.
I have an almost 10 year old I trust.
However my almost 12 year old has a processing disorder and I don’t leave her alone.

10 year old short period of time.

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I wait until mine are in Middle school-- so 6th grade.

13 and he had to call me at work when he was in the house

Mine are homeschooled but I probably would let them at 13

mine when my oldest was 12. I had neighbors keeping a close eye on the house, and they had my phone number. For the most part they were trustable, as were the neighbors I asked to keep an eye out. I did get a call once—corrected the issue, and it didn’t happen again.

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I think it would depend on maturity of child for instance would they follow your rules while you’re not home would they be able to respond appropriately in emergency and do you have a number they can reach should they not be able to reach you I was able to babysit at 10 but in my generation things were much different

Mine have been doing it for a few years. They are 13 and 14

My youngest did a stay at home alone course she is 9 almost 10 she has yet be to left alone yet but my middle is 11 almost 12 with her baby sitting course but this school year coming up will be the first year they will come off the bus and be alone together for maybe 1 hr till I get home but I got them to complete courses so I knew they knew what to do

Has nothing to do with age. Is the child capable of caring for themself and knows what to do during an emergency and can follow rules while being alone?

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This will vary greatly based on the maturity of the child! As a 9 year old, I babysat the neighbor kids for 2 hours every day (18 months and 3 years). I know 13 year olds incapable of that responsibility or even the responsibility of taking care of themselves!

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Middle school so like 7/8 th grade.

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My daughter is 11 and going into 6th grade. She will be coming home after school and stay here for 30 mins to an hour alone. We have practiced this summer with me running tot he store and what not. She has a phone and pretty responsible. I feel like middle school is a decent age.

Check your local laws. You can be held accountable if something happens and you aren’t there.

Some states have an age requirement for this so I would check there first. My state does not but I think maturity is a bigger factor. My oldest is 9 and I’ve just started letting her stay home for small amounts of time. She knows the rules, we have a contact method, etc. I do think 2 hours is a long time to be home alone everyday.

It’s recommended 11-12 but my mom started leaving me home alone when I was like 8 lol

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Both my kids earned my trust at 10yo.

12 unless they took the babysitter course

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Depends on the maturity of the child. Mine are 16 and 14. My 16 year old is more than capable to be left at home alone and I do so if she doesn’t want to go. My 14 year old… well, there’s not enough money in the world for me to leave him alone for any amount of time unsupervised.

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Age is irrelevant.

Are they responsible? Do they truly follow directions and not deviate?
Have they been left alone successfully before? How far do they have to walk home? Do they have to cross large intersections or roads?

I could have done that at 8yo but my 10yo what’s mor freedoms but still doesn’t follow all the directions given to her (despite being very responsible)

My daughter did at 10 but I think she had less than 1 hr to wait for me. She hated the sitter and was bullied there.

Mine are alone for about an hour and a half. 10, 13, and 14. I leave the 10 yr old in charge. Like seriously :rofl:

My mom gave me and my sisters a key when we each turned 13. I usually got off the bus first and am the oldest so could let my sisters in when they got off the bus, but sometimes my bus ran late so that’s why my mom gave them a key also and they went to the same school since their only a year apart so got off the bus at the same time and my mom didn’t want them standing outside to wait on me. But I starting babysitting at 13. I have a 15 yr old and 13 yr old, both boys but don’t feel like I’d leave them alone just yet :sweat_smile: makes me nervous

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I’d also add depending on how safes your area take in consideration how safes your house and lastly the maturity of your kids. I have a important rule no touching electrical household appliances. I prepare all snacks and meals myself and leave it on the counter

Depends on the child… my kid was 14

they have been between 11and 12 and they are 12 and 13 now but they where how a short time by them selfs. but i also let my neighbors know to. right now im working summers would be my summers off. but there is one day a week right now home4 hrs byself but i call and check on them and again neighbors know.and we will be back to school soon here they wont be home alone.

I feel it depends on the child my son I trusted him my daughter I didn’t trust her until she moved out​:rofl::rofl::rofl:

I was left alone for hours when I was 11 and I was fine, but my 11 yr old daughter will probably move out before she stays home alone. It’s the maturity level

Be sure and check if there are local laws. Otherwise I agree with many of the comments stating it depends on maturity, ability, and trust.

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I’d let my 6 year old do that before I’d let my 14 year old do it. Check your state laws, some people actually let the government tell you how to raise your kids, aside that base it off their maturity level. Are they able to make themselves a snack without burning the house down? Are they capable of calling emergency services should the need arise? Do they know the difference between a call to emergency services and a call to mom/dad? Can you trust them to not let the entire neighborhood know they are home alone? It should be based off their ability to be safe, not their age.

I leave my 12 year old home with my seven year old. To be fair, she’s very responsible and my 7 year old follows rules well and safety. I’m only comfortable because I have cameras in my house and it also has call features so they can call me or I them. My boyfriends mother also lives directly next door and regularly checks on them and they can call her as well. His brother also lives around the corner. The neighbor on the other side keeps an eye as well. She helped raise my dad. Her son also lives around the corner. Honestly, if it wasn’t for having a village, I don’t know if I’d be okay. I’m a worrier. Doesn’t happen often though. My boyfriend works thirds and is usually upstairs. Not to mention their dad and his fiance just being a call away. A literal village :sweat_smile:

10 if they are comfortable and capable.

My brother and I did it by 8 & 9yo.