what age do you think is appropriate? do you think it is an individual child thing? i was left at home alone when my parents were at work from 11 on. do you think thats to young? what about if you can't afford daycare?

I would say that 12 is a good age to be left alone. My mom left us home alone when I was 5 and my brother was 8. My dad left me home alone for the weekend at the age of 12 with my stepbrother and two younger sisters (ages 9, 3 and 1).

Times are different now than when I was growing up. I was left home alone at 8 years old and I was scared shitless. Nowadays, I think 12 or 13 and maybe older because some kids are to immature to stay by themselves. We live near a very violent sex offender and I wouldn't leave my son home alone here.

well when my 2 older boys were younger we didnt leave them alone at home until they were both in middle school and when we did it wasnt for a very long time either and they had strict instructions on what they could and could not do while we were gone.

I think it depends on the child

I think it depends on the child and the circumstances of the neighborhood. 14 isn't bad in my opinion.

I wasn't left alone until I was 18. I really think it depends on where you live and the child. I probably won't leave Sydney alone until she's around 16 or 17.

I agree it depends on where you live and how mature the child is. Every child is different there were some things my other sisters and I could do that my youngest sister couldnt just because she was immature. So it depends.

I think it depends on the child, certain child cannot be expected to have that much freedom while others can handle it fine. However, we won't start talking about leaving them home alone for more than a few minutes at a time until they are about 11-12 simply because we do not live in a nice world and I am not a trusting person when it comes to my kids.

It definitely depends on the child. I was left alone at 10 with my two younger sisters (8 and 5) and was responsible for cooking for them and making sure we were all in bed, and I started babysitting at 11. I was also from a small town so crime wasn't as big a deal and we left our doors unlocked and our keys hanging in our cars at night. My two sisters however could not be left alone... they just weren't mature enough even after they were 11 or 12 years old.

I think it depends on the maturity level of the kid.

It really depends on the child. My dd is 10 and she is extremely mature and responsible. She has been home alone a couple of times (for a very short period of time). We live in a nice neighborhood and we have great neighbors all around that are always home (elderly) and we have neighborhood watch. She knows to not answer the door and knows phone numbers to call in case of an emergency. We also have a dog.

16.

I was left alone for weeks at a time as a child starting at around 8 years old. I was way to young to even be left alone for 2 hours!

I do not think children under age 14 should be left alone all day/night while a parent works.

I leave my 10yo home alone but not for more than 2 hours at a time. He knows what he is and is not allowed to do. He loves staying home alone and knows if I find out hes broken a rule then he will not be allowed to do it anymore. This keeps him in line ;)

I was home alone at age 11. It wasnt for like 7 hrs or anything it was for like maybe 3hrs possibly 4 at the most. I'm 17 now and still never stayed at home alone while parents were out of town. So yeah i'd say 11 if its just for like a few hrs

I was left home alone when I was 8. My daughter is a very mature 10 and occasionally she stays home when I run an errand. She understands the safety rules when I'm gone, and anyone that wants to break in is welcome to try if they think they can get past the two protection trained german shepherds that love her dearly. :mrgreen

I really believe it depends on the child. I was left alone before and after school starting around age 9 (even before this I was left alone for short periods of time now and then). I walked to school by myself every morning that year, was responsible for locking up the house when I left, etc. Around age 10 I was responsible for my sister before and after school as well. The year after that I was responsible for my sister and two other children before and after school. In middle school I was left alone every once in awhile over night (I think around age 12). My grandparents lived just half a mile away though.

I'd always been responsible and independent though. When I was 6 or 7 I got off the bus at my house and I was supposed to ride it to my grandparents' house, so I walked a mile or a little more to their house. Never thought it was a big deal myself but it did freak my grandma and my mom a little bit.

My sister though. That child is 21 years old and still can't wipe her own butt. She was never left alone in the house because you couldn't trust her and she has a severe lack of common sense.

I was 12 and raising my brother after my parents divorce. (long story, but yes, there was a parent)

I think it depends on the maturity. My brother has been spending afternoons and night alone since 11.

I have cousins and know some kids, that at 16 shouldn't be left alone.

And if the kids are well behaved, and the oldest is pretty mature, I would say 8 or 9.... at the youngest and for a few hours a day, shouldn't be an issue. Just them easy simple food that doesn't need cooking and it is easy to swallow. Don't want them getting burned or choked.

My parents left me and older brother home alone...I was 7 and my brother was 11. Most of the time, I was home alone, because my brother would go out and just leave me at home alone with my sister, who was only 4.
My parents really didn't have a choice...I suppose they could've hired a babysitter, but they worked 2 jobs each and couldn't afford daycare.

I think that it definetly depends on the child. My oldest two kids stay home for short periods of time but my 10 and under kids don't. My 14 year old is very mature and does babysit for me also. I trust her to babysit longer than my oldest who is 16 because he isn't always as observant as she is.

yeah i wasn't talking about 8 hrs but like if you have your child at the house alone after school until you got home from work