This article gives you tips and rules on leaving children home alone. In your opinion, what is the right age children can be left home alone?


http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/home_alone.html

Lots of good advice and tips in that article Shawn. Thanks for posting it. My daughter is 9.5 and definitely mature, responsible, and trustworthy enough to leave home alone, but I haven't done so yet. She did ride the school bus home once when she wasn't supposed to and the first thing she did when she got home was to call me to let me know she was home alone. She wasn't afraid - just surprised no one was there.

Thank you Kay, and I am glad you have joined us here on PolkMoms. I agree, this is an issue about individualism. I have two 12 year old sons, Although they are the same age, there is one I would leave home alone, and one I would not. It isn't always an age related issue. I am glad your daughter is responsible, good for you both!

How about 30 yrs old?


lol j/k

Hrm. I don't know... I guess I haven't put too much thought into it. My oldest is a very responsible boy and always has been but it's not really him I'm worried about, but the nutjobs that might come up. The only time he has been here without me has been when I was next door.

I don't know. sigh

I'm glad to see this topic discussed. My daughter is almost 10. She is smart and responsible. We have "flirted" with staying home alone. To make a long story short, she is no where near ready. I am allowing her to become more comfortable with the idea on her own before we try again. I need ideas on how to boost her confidence. I have tried almost everything...

I have an 18 year old that we of course leave home alone on occasion and probably have been for 4 years. You know how it is, with your oldest; it is new territory and the hardest.

We definitely talked about things to do in case of an emergency. We also portrayed the importance of 911 and were very detailed in what scenario to use it. We also had a police officer acquaintance talk to our boys to let them know help is only a phone call away (911). I thought the cop talk helped our boys. We live very close to our police department so our kids realized they could be here quick if needed. I of course post our (me and Eddy's) cell phone numbers and relatives and close friends #s in case of an issue.
Plus I think having a family dog helped our kids feel safer as well.

Good luck wlc74, maybe some other moms can give some other ideas to help confidence boost your daughter.

Thanks for the tips. We live next door to a police officer and just recently adopted a puppy. I think that her confidence will continue to build over time with more discussions about it.

wlc74, Congrats and good luck with your puppy.