Question...do some parents do this? (relates to a story I'm writing)?

Question

In my story, I have a main character who is eleven years old. I've been writing this story a long time so I started it when I was about seventeen. My main character who is eleven years old stays home alone with her three other siblings, twins who are ten and a little sister who is eight. In reality, would all of the kids stay at home alone at that age? The parents in the story both work, the mom until six pm and the dad until 9 pm. since i've worked at a child care center, I've noticed that many of the kids who are taken care of there are older than eleven. So i guess my question is...would some parents leave their kids alone all day that young? Could that actually happen or should I change it to make it so they don't stay alone (most of the time they're at school, but this includes summer too). Please let me know :)

Answer 1

My parents left my sister and I home when she was 12 and I was 7, but with one 11 yr old and two ten yr olds I think parents would do this, just not overnight without a babysitter.

Answer 2

If the eleven-year-old is capable..then it's fine. Especially if they're at school..but summer..you know. I think it's fine. I hope your story goes well! :)

Answer 3

i say make the 11 yr old to like um 12 or 13 yr old or if u dont want 2 do that

then make them have a person 15-20 yr old boy or girl check up on them once in a while

or the stay at a relative friend or neighbor's house  

or prove the 11 yr old is independent cuz i stared stayin at home since i was 11

or ept how u have it cuz skool ends like aroun 4-5 n mom comes home at 6 it like 1-2 hr thats not bad

it all came from a 13 yr old me im so smart

Answer 4

I was home alone with my four younger brothers at 11.  But usually, no it does not happen. It is actually unlawful/ borderline abuse/ child neglect. But if it is important to your story as far as character development, then do not omit it. It is a story, not real-life. :) Good luck.

Answer 5

i dont know.. it really depends on the family and how comforatable the parents are with leaving the kids home alone. my mom wouldnt leave me and my brother alone till he was 12 and i was 13.but i also know parents who leave their 6,8, and 9 year olds alone all day. just decide what type of family your characters will be.=]

Answer 6

I think it depends on the financial situation of each family. I know my mother would have never let me and my younger sis stay home alone all day when I was 11 but I know of other families that it was totally normal. I used to teach in an inner city school and I know some families would leave all their children home all day at a much younger age than 11, so I guess it all depends on the family situation.

Answer 7

I think your story is fine. I stayed home alone when I was eleven (but not with my siblings- my mother took them with her) If I were you, I would change the main characters age to twelve or thirteen.

Answer 8

I believe the legal age to be left at home with younger siblings is 14. But not positive on that. I would think you could leave and 11 yr old home by themselves for an hour or so but not be left in charge of that many children.

Answer 9

If the parents did that, then they may be accused of neglect. But since the Mother is home at 6pm, maybe you can just say that an elderly neighbour keeps an eye on them until then? Someone just next door or similar.

That always happens.