Age when kids can stay home alone??
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Age when kids can stay home alone??
| Wed, 05-09-2007 - 2:44pm |
How old have your kids been to stay home alone? My son is 10 1/2. He is tired of going to the YMCA camp after school. I am currently going thru a divorce and would save alot of money if he just took the bus home after school. He would be staying home alone for about 1 hour till i get off work. Does this seem reasonable to anyone or is he too young.

Our DS is almost 10 1/2, and I wouldn't be comfortable leaving him alone that long, but then I'm just paranoid, mostly because of where I live.
Rebecca
I think it depends on his maturity level. Would he be content to stay home alone and inside by himself? Does he get freaked out easy? My oldest wouldn't have been ready at that age but my second one certainly was. I think you should discuss it with him. Do you have a cell phone so he can call you at anytime? If you trust him to come straight home and to follow the rules you set (don't open the door to anyone, computer/video game limits, etc) then I don't see why not. Even more so if you have a trusted adult neighbor he can check in with or go to in case of an emergency.
Denise
Please please please check on the age requirement first!
Rebecca
My son was about that age when I started letting him stay home for about an hour or so until I got home from work.
Have you considered alternatives to the Y. What about the Boys and Girls club? It has more of a "hang out" atmosphere and it's something like $15 per year.
stacy
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I leave my 10 yo home alone. I have no problem with it. I think the longest has been about an hour, but I routinely leave him while I pick my daughter up from piano lessons (it takes about 25 minutes).
Karin