Too young to be left alone at home for an hour or two?

[Shades]

Just wanting some opinions - my stepdad sees nothing wrong with leaving my (only just) 8yr old brother home alone for an hour or two during the day... My mum and I both have issues with it but as they live separately we can't always do anything about it - she's spoken to him and he reckons we're paranoid... It's not a superb area that he lives in, and Riley is not the most independent of children.

So how old is 'old enough' to be left home alone and for how long?

[diannescruffy]

Personally for me I wouldn't leave my 8yr old DD alone, she would be too scared and I really think it's a bit young. I have left my DS 11 and DD8 alone together but it was only for 15min while I drove down to the shops. We started leaving our eldest DS alone when he was 12 but for no more than half an hour.

Regards,
Dianne

[lilima]

No way is 8 old enough to be home their own. They are not even out of Primary School. In depends on the maturity of each child, but 8 is def not onld enough regardless of maturity,

[Marlene]

I only started leaving my kids alone to duck to the corner shop etc when they were 12ish.
8 years old is too young in my opinion.

[lilima]

Just wnated to add, leaving an 8 year old home with an older sibling might be OK, depending on the age of the other sibling, and if the 8 yo will actually listen to their bro or sis

[Shades]

Okay so you all seem to be in agreement that it's too young - does anyone have any ingenious suggestions for us, given that talking to his father has zero effect?

[MantaRay]

At 9 I was picking my 6 yo sister up from school and together we'd go down 2 blocks to pick up our 3yo sister from day care. Then we'd all walk home and I'd look after my sisters until mum got home. Except when I stayed at school to play with friends and forgot my sisters and mum got panicked phone calls from all over!!

Would I leave my kids home alone at that age - not a chance!

[Pandora]

I dont htink Id leave my kids home along at that age.
I know my parents didnt leave us home along til I was 13, my brother would have been 12. This was after school for 2ish hours.
And they still werent really keen on that, but they knew all the neighbours quite well and knew who would be home etc

[Floweryfields]

I actually got my collegue who's hubby is a police sergeant to ask him and there is NO law regarding what age children can be left home alone - which I found strange. Apparantly is it up to the parent's judgement which is a scary thought tbh at times. A 3 year old could legally be left at home alone.

That all said, each parent will know their child's abilities and perhaps many 8 year olds could be safely trusted to stay home while you pop to the shops for 30mins. But several hours at a time is iffy.
I don't think I'd be comfortable leaving a child under 10 or 12 alone for any length of time.

[maz]

.....back in my day.......

Sorry but thats what I imagine this man saying.

Well matie your day has changed it our day now lol.

We had to pick jed up when we took the disco van in to get serviced...in his wagon which is only a 5 seater.....so we left N at home. WHile he's 9 and extremely mature for his age and we were gone for 20 mins top....I shat myself the whole time. Not cause I dont trust him...its other people I dont trust.

When do we stop clipping our kids wings though...when do we as parents learn to trust our kids and give them that little bit???

[Pretty Butterfly]

I could NEVER leave my 9 yr old, he is a dope!!!!!

But my now 12 yr old, no worries. He has stayed home a couple of times, for about halfa each time. I could probably trust him for a few hours too, he's great. Looking back, even at 9 he prob woulda been fine, but still wouldn't do it...... all kids are different.... but for me, 8... nope.