[nat]

Our son will be 8 in October. He is a good kid, smart and not too crazed. I have left him home alone recently for10-15 minutes while I ran an errand. He is out of school this week.

My dilema:

I have been riding my bike each week with my wife on her lunch hour. I would prefer not to get childcare just to ride my bike, but I am the typical worried Dad about leaving him home alone for 1-1.5 hours.

How have the other parents here dealt with this? How old was your child when you first let them hang out at home? Thanks for any input.

[cruiser88]

14

[cary]

I was at home along for a few hours at a time when I was 8. Times may have changed, so take it for what it is worth.

[nat]

Originally Posted by cruiser88

14

That is my first instinct

[cruiser88]

Originally Posted by cary

I was at home along for a few hours at a time when I was 8. Times may have changed, so take it for what it is worth.

i agree times have changed.my 7 year old little girl can take care of herself(amuse) for hours. but no way for moral and legality issue would i leave her alone at home under the age of 14 now-a -days

[nat]

Originally Posted by cary

I was at home along for a few hours at a time when I was 8. Times may have changed, so take it for what it is worth.

I was too, but that was 1978 and it happened infrequently as my Mom worked nights and my Dad worked days, so a Parent was always around for me and my sister.

[stinkyfj60]

I leave my daughter alone for less than an hour at a time, she is 9.

I was around 14 when I was left alone for any period of time... I may follow the same rule.

[cruiser88]

its a fact girls will stay out of trouble more than boysi used to stir up all knids of crap

[82-SOA-60]

I was home alone, for atleast a couple hours from first grade on.

[bogus one]

Originally Posted by 82-SOA-60

I was home alone, for atleast a couple hours from first grade on.

Yeah, and look how you turned out..........

[Jman]

There are laws, I think. My state, 11 can stay home, 13 can watch over others.

[nat]

Originally Posted by Jman

There are laws, I think. My state, 11 can stay home, 13 can watch over others.

That was my next step, looking up the legality of it. Morally I was unsure, so that's why I came to you guys, my moral compass

No wonder I am so tripped out

[82-SOA-60]

Originally Posted by bogus one

Yeah, and look how you turned out..........

I didn't say I suggested it!

[e9999]

legalities aside, yes, seems like an average kid should be OK alone starting around 13 or 14 or so. The question is not so much whether they'd be OK under normal conditions, but more whether they would be able to handle an emergency (fire, poison etc), I would think.

[re_guderian]

10 for short periods (< 1 hr) and when we're close to home. Strict rules about answering the door and no friends over. I also have very trustworthy and helpful neighbors, as well as grandparents w/in 1/2 hour's drive. Heck, we used to have 13 year olds come and babysit my2 kids. When I was a kid, 10 was when I started getting left. Times have changed for better and worse. It's seems there's more crazies out there now. However, now everyone has cell phones so you are almost always instantly reachable when you leave your kids at home. When I was a kid, when Mom and Dad were gone, they were really "gone". Not so much nowdays. Also, caller ID makes it easier for them to know when it's you calling to check on them v. anyone else.

[Hooligan]

Take your kid with you. Kid would probably enjoy the 1 hour bike ride with mom and dad and the little less exercise you'll get will be greatly offset by the additional family time.

[cruiser88]

Originally Posted by Hooligan

Take your kid with you. Kid would probably enjoy the 1 hour bike ride with mom and dad and the little less exercise you'll get will be greatly offset by the additional family time.

ya thats the truth.i cant keep our boys off the video games

[bogus one]

Just tie him to a tree and give him a bowl of water. He'll be there when you get back.

[cruiser88]

Originally Posted by bogus one

Just tie him to a tree and give him a bowl of water. He'll be there when you get back.

oh dam

[crushers]

depends on the kid, some kids you can't leave alone when they are 20 others are fine at 6.
if the kid is a good kid and the house is semi child proof then go for it. is the kid is a hellion then get rid of the kid and try again...practising is fun...