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,
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
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?
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!
How times have changed Manta! (trying not to make you sound old since i don't know how old you are) but my mum use to do the same thing when she was nine, looking after her siblings, but she and I wouldn't do that in this day and age!
I think 8 is a bit to young, does anyone know the legalities of leaving children home alone at what age is legally allowed...
I was left home at 8... I personally dont see a problem with it if the child in question is mature enough to handle the situation, is aware how to and how not to behave and has someone to call on should something go wrong (ie neighbours or a family friend or can contact the paretns easily) In my day (lol) we didnt even have mobile phones, so you really were on your own! lol but as I said I have no issue if the child is responsible enough to handle the sitch
with having 2 brothers who are both younger and same age ones adopted
they wernt left alone till they were in year 8 and even then one of us was home and still they hate beeing home alone and prefer one of us at home which i think is great like my bro says he likes his privacy but he feels more safe with another person in the house
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
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.
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???
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.
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