10 year old home alone.....?

Question

Would you leave your 10 year old home by himself for an hour after school until you get home from work? He is mature, just sheltered I guess. I've never let him walk to a friends house or anything like that by himself, only play outside (with intermittent supervision). He doesn't want to take the bus to my place of work (I can bring my kids to work), he thinks he can handle it, I only work 5 blocks away from home.

What age is responsible to trust a child home alone? Am I over protecting him? Please mature answers only, if you think I am overprotective, say so but not crudely - no one deserves to be criticized for loving their kid.

Answer 1

my parents first started leaving me home alone for a longer period of time (id say about an hour and a half or so) when i was 9. Just inforce the rule not to answer the door and invite people in or over and he shuld be fine :)

Answer 2

My son is 11 and very mature but it frightens me in todays society to leave him home alone. I understand in some situations there is nothing that you can do about that(like single working mothers), and I wish and pray for there children. Trust me I dont have alot of money not by far. Barely live paycheck to paycheck but I guess I choose to stay home with my child just for another couple of years. Now I live in an unsafe neighborhood so maybe if. You know what I dont care if Im over protective children are way to valuable I know you feel the exact same way. If you feel comfortable in doing this I see nothing wrong with it as long as there are the proper percautions. If you are not sure and dont feel so good about it just yet then those are your Mothers intuition telling you something and just explain that to him. He may be upset but what is more important his safety or him doing something he wants to do. Good luck, what ever decision you make will be the right one for you. God bless you and your family.

Answer 3

My son is 8 years old, and just yesterday stayed at the house by himself for about 2 hours.  My husband and I own/operate a dairy,so my husband was 200 yards away from my home the whole time.  I called every 30 minutes or so (we have caller ID, so he new it was safe to answer).  I trust my son, and he knew all of the rules...no turning on the stove/oven, no using the microwave, don't answer the door or the phone (unless it's one of his parents).  I have a friend whose 9 year old son is in no way ready to stay alone.  I think it is completely up to the parents, and whether or not their child is mature/responsible enough to be left alone.

I will add that I have a 3 year old son that did NOT stay at home with his sibling.  In my opinion, that would NOT be ok!!  

If you are still feeling uncomfortable, don't give him a choice to stay at home.  You are, after all, the parent...thus making you the ultimate decision maker!  Tell his school to stick him on the bus to your office, and the problem will be solved!!  :)  

I say, have faith in your kiddo, if you think that he is ready!!!

Answer 4

yeah i think its fine there is no responcible age its when there ready

ya id let my kid stay home alone

Answer 5

i stayed home for about that long when i was in 5th grade (when i was 10) and since your work is very close he can call you or even go over there if he really has too.  i would allow him some more freedom though. i walked over to my friend's house when i was about 7, she lives on another street and i just had to call when i got there. and he should be allowed to play outside without supervision unless there is a pool, or VERY busy road RIGHT next to your house.  just review some rules with him like Call me when you get home and Never answer the door when i'm not here, or if the phone rings and they ask for you, instead of having him say that you're gone, just say that you're busy and can't come to the phone now.  he should be fine if he thinks he can handle, give him the chance.

Answer 6

You haven't met overprotective until you've met my friend's parents. They don't let her go outside, like ever, only for school. The first time we've actually hung out like, physically, outside, without her parents, or any parental supervision was this summer. One time. One hour. & we're going into grade 8. : |

She only been to the theaters once, and that was with her aunt.

SO.

Don't feel bad about your kid.

I think it's great that you're so protective of him. : ] I think 10 years old is old enough to stay home alone. Leave him emergency numbers, like, your cell, family friend, family member, etcc.

My sister & I used to stay home when we were little.

If you want to make sure nothing's wrong, get a neighbor or family member to check up on him once in a while.

Answer 7

I think your boy would definately be ok to stay at home by himself for an hour alone before you come home. All you need to do is set down some ground rules so that both of you feel not only safe but confident with this arrangement. Simple things like not opening the door if someone knocks, not using the oven or stove and not having friends over while you aren't home. Leaving contact numbers by the phone in case he needs you for anything may help as well. I think ten is a great age to start giving your son that little bit of extra trust and responsibility. You could give it a trial and see how it goes, realising that there may be a few hiccups but this nothing you can't over come. You sound like a really good mum ... possibly just a tiny bit over protective but in a good way :)

Answer 8

You will have to check with your state regulations regarding "latch key" children.  In California and New York the age a child can be home alone after school while a parent works is 9, and the maximum amount of time they can be home alone is two hours.  

Answer 9

Yeah that is fine.  I would just let him know the standards - your phone number and 911, lock the door and don't answer it, much less let anyone in..  not to use any appliances, etc etc...

Tell him to do his homework or watch a movie until you get home.

I don't think it is a problem at all.

Answer 10

I was home alone all the time with my older brother he was 11 and  i was 8. We stayed home alone for about 3 hours or more. But we would always play out side because we where really good friends with our neighbors. So if hes find with it then way not. But if anything happens tell him to go to the next door neighbor and call you fro anything.

Answer 11

I think 10 is plenty old enough if:

-he knows what to do in an emergency

-you have a phone available at work

-you have neighbors close by that he could go to in an emergency

-you live in a safe area

Answer 12

I think that your being a bit overprotective. He will be fine staying home alone cause you only work five blocks away and it's only one hour. i can understand not walking to his friends house but if his friend lives within 5 blocks u should let him see his firend but give a curfew wen to go and be home thats what i would do.

Answer 13

It would be too young for me - if it was for 20 or 15 minutes I might be okay with it but since he is able to go to your place of work that's what I'd make him do. It wouldn't be so much that I don't trust the child as it is that there are too many goofy people out there and anything could happen.  

Answer 14

if he is mature ya i started going outside my self when i was 11

got keys at 11

phone at 12

Answer 15

Absolutely not!  Studies suggest that a child cannot even predict traffic correctly and should not walk by themselves until age 11.  It is very sad that even teenagers are left to fend for themselves after school, particularly only children  Children need mum to talk to (or not... just be there), as they wind down from school, get snack, help with homework, get involved in after school sports etc.

  I believe that hour after school is such an important time to be together.  Any chance you could work through lunch and get home an hour earlier.  You have only 1 child and as you already know, the time goes so fast.  No, you are not overprotective, you are just listening to your Mum instincts.  Good Luck!

Answer 16

My son is also 10 and sheltered and I don't think I would be comfortable with him alone for an hour in the house.  Of course, mine is super sheltered, as in he's just now taking an interest in making phone calls etc, so I don't even know if he would know how to call me if something happened.

So I guess you have to make sure your son knows some rules, how to get a hold of you, which neighbor to run to if he can't get you, keep the doors locked, don't answer the door no matter WHAT.  No microwave or cooking, etc etc

Answer 17

i think it's safer to leave him at home alone for an hour than to let him ride the bus alone...unless it's the school bus. that would  be the  best thing to do. it doesn't matter if he wants to or not. you're the parent. riding public transportation..... that's dangerous.

Answer 18

Well I started walking home and staying home for about an hour when I was in fifth grade so I would say yes. You should test him out a little to see how he is satying home. Maybe leave him home while you run to the store or something similar.

Answer 19

I think as long as the kid is comfortable with being alone it's okay. Since you're that close he might not feel like you're so far away. I felt okay being home alone at about 13-14, but that was because I was sheltered too, and I read too many scary stories :) My sisters stayed home alone comfortably at about 8-9.

And I agree that no one deserves to be criticized for loving their kid. Most parents now I would consider to be underprotective.

Maybe try leaving him at home for fifteen minutes or so at first, just to see if he's comfortable, then go for the whole hour.