when children are old enough to stay home alone

• hasbeen

  

  ZWICK 4 PREZ;1364998 wrote:There's no discussion. She's too scared to go in a basement. We're not throwing a baby into that mix.

  ZWICK 4 PREZ;1364350 wrote:It's just funny that they want their daughter to babysit our kid that's coming in April but we have to babysit her still at 13. You're not installing much confidence of your kids ability in me lol

  
  I'm assuming there will be a discussion. They just won't be happy about it.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  wes_mantooth;1364987 wrote:I left my kid home at age 3. He was potty trained, could get to his own beef jerky and candy. Much cheaper than hiring a babysitter so I could go out and do some coke and hire some hookers.

  
  3? You're a *****. Kids can get that shit at 2:00, and they still have a diaper on!
• j_crazy

  

  My daughter is 4, she's never getting left home alone. After remembering how i was, kids can't be trusted.
• Belly35

  

  We started off with short trip or quick runs to the store she was 10 years, the age of 11 she was responsible to be alone and baby sitting
• thavoice

  WebFire;1364458 wrote:My son is 9 and he stays home by himself for small bits at a time. But he is responsible.

  Yeah.....my nephew starting at 10 was allowed to stay home alone by himself for small bits of time...hour or two. 13 is most def old enough to be home alone and easily old enough to babysit someone else.
• dlazz

  I was about 10-11 (if I recall correctly) when I started staying home alone. Then again, I was a good kid and never got into anything (never got detention, etc).
  
  And girls mature faster than boys, so 13 is plenty old enough in my book.
• Fab4Runner

  

  I really can't remember how old I was, but 13 is most definitely old enough to be alone for a few hours.
• Pick6

  

  Do not remember the age I was allowed, though I assume it was pretty young.
  
  When I have kids, I wont pick a certain age, but decide based upon when I feel they are responsible enough to be left home alone.
• Manhattan Buckeye

  ZWICK 4 PREZ;1364330 wrote:At what age did you let your children stay home alone for a few hours?
  
  My brother-in-law and his wife are going to a basketball game tonight. They have a daughter who is 13 years old. They asked if they could drop her off before they went to the game. It's not a problem, but I'd think a 13 year old would be old enough to stay home by herself for a couple hours. My wife thinks its different bc she's a girl but I'd think girls would be more responsible than leaving a boy by himself.
  
  
  When did you/ would you feel comfortable leaving your kid at home for a couple hours at a time?

  13 should be old enough as long as she's reasonably mature. 5th/6th grade was when my parents left to go shopping, dinner or whatever for the night. I'd just hang out in the study and go through my Dad's record collection.
  
  That being said, I made the mistake of leaving a 12 year old cousin at home alone and he didn't take to it very well. So I suppose it depends on the child.