What age is appropriate for a child to stay home alone after school?

Question

I know that when I was a child I was staying home alone at 7 but I also lived way out in the country and had neighbors that kept an eye on me, but times have changed since 1987 and I live in an almost crime free community, but I don't really know any neighbors. So given the circumstances, as experienced parents of grade-schooled children, what do you feel is an appropriate age to let your grade schoolers ride the bus home and stay by themselves unsupervised?

Answer 1

like 10 is when i started maybe 11

Answer 2

1-3 hours 9 years

4-7 hour 12 years

Answer 3

Check your state laws.  WI says that a child must be 12 to be left home alone.

Answer 4

Jarod made me laugh....20yr old, haha.   Unfortunately, tooooo true!

My oldest was around 10-11, but all my stay-at-home neighbors had my work number, grandparents number, etc. and they were taught to go to them if anything went wrong.

My eldest was also very mature for his years, that helped.

Answer 5

10  

Answer 6

13

Answer 7

10 or 11  

Answer 8

I was 12 before my parents let me get public transport and stay at home after school.

Answer 9

I started a couple of months ago giving my son a key and he's 10, usually just one or two days a week when I'm at work.  Yeah, as others have said it really depends on the child.  If you think you can trust them and tell them the rules of what they can and can't do and make sure that they don't touch things such as the cooker if they're still quite young, you could try it and see how it goes.  Maybe the first couple of times just leave them for a short amount of time, and if they're ok you could start leaving them a bit longer.  That's what I did at first, and everything was fine.  He just comes home and sits and plays his Xbox until I come in, which is usually about 1 - 1 1/2 hours later.  

My main concern was that he'd tell his friends and I'd come home to a house full of kids, but I warned him that he couldn't do this and he didn't let me down.  I also phone him from work just to make sure everything's ok, and I make sure that he's got my number to contact me too.

Answer 10

Personally, I don't think they should put an "age" on something like this. It should be determined on if the child is mature enough to stay home alone. And like you said, you also should factor on the neighborhood, friends, neighbors, ect. I know 20 year olds that still shouldn't be left alone. It should be up to you the parent to decide if your child is willing to take care of themselves. Do they know where to go or who to call incase of an emergency. Do they know to stay in the house and keep the doors locked. Do they know the number to police incase of an intruder incident. Take those into a factor.

Plus you want to leave the kid some food, LOL....If your child has an xbox, you should be good to go..

Answer 11

You will have to check your state laws for one.  The age ranges from 9 (Georgia) to 13 (Illinois).  In my state (Wisconsin) the law says 12 is an ok age to leave a child home alone.

Answer 12

age is not really a factor as long as the child is capable of taking care of themselves for a short period of time and you trust them to be home alone. it also depends on how long they are going to be staying alone. i would say that as long as the children are mature enough to know what to do in case of an emergency and they can get in contact with you if they need to then they should be fine. and if you have more than one child i am sure that they could keep each other company and everything would work out fine. if they do not do anything hazardous while there are adults in the house there most likely will not be a problem if they are left unsupervised for a little while.

Answer 13

That depends upon what state you live in.  In New York and California the legal age for a child to be home alone for no more than two hours is nine.  Any younger and the parents can be charged with child neglect and child endangerment.  

Answer 14

I think it varies per child, because your child needs to be trusted, and that can vary by age. I say when they have proven they are responsible, and when you feel comfortable. :)

Answer 15

Probly like 9 or 10.

Answer 16

probally like 10.

Answer 17

i would have to say from the age of nine:)