home alone?

[shimsham]

i have 2 children: boy 8, girl 10.

currently, we have a babysitter that keeps them for ~2 hrs in the afternoon during the time i have to leave for work and my wife gets home. we have been discussing letting them stay by themselves for that time. my wife and i have given them little "trial runs" these past few weeks like going across the street for some groceries for around 30 mins, or me leaving a little early for work and letting my son stay by himself for 20 mins until the babysitter gets here. so far, it seems to be ok.

both of the children are smart and responsible. ive laid rules such as dont open the door for anyone except the babysitter or our neighbors, no friends over while we are gone, keep the door locked, and if there is any emergencies go to our elderly neighbors house or dial 911 as needed.

im not so sure im ready to leave them alone for 2hrs tho. my wife thinks they would be fine, and so do i. even the babysitter says she doesnt know why we keep her. its not that i dont necessarily trust the children, but im not so sure how they would react to something dangerous like an electrical fire or such a real emergency.

so, my questions are how old were you when your parents allowed you to stay alone for a long period of time? parents, how old were your children when you allowed them to stay alone?

cliffs:
2 kids, 8 and 10
smart, responsible, well behaved
2hr gap between me leaving for work and wife getting home
is that too long/are they too young to stay alone?
how old were you when your parents let you stay home alone for an extended period of time?
parents, how old were your children when you let them stay home alone for an extended period of time?

 

[Lonyo]

I think I was about 10 when my parents and older brother (4 years older) would sometimes not be in.
Not sure about 10 and 8. If it was just the 10yo then probably it would be OK, but maybe not with an 8 yo as well.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

I was nine years old, IIRC.

 

[dawnbug]

I stayed home by myself for very short periods of time (10-15 minutes) when I was in first grade or so, and I think my parents trusted leaving me home alone for increasing periods of time after that. I was told to never answer the door or the phone, though. I think as long as they understand not to let anybody in the house and know what to do in an emergency, they should be fine. Maybe you could have them call you when they get home just to make sure that everything's okay?

Or you could send them to a neighbor's house for that time.

 

[Dacalo]

Starting from 8. I wasn't a troublemaker though, so I think my parents trusted me.

 

[Rapidskies]

You might check your local laws, they might have to be older than 10 to be at home.

 

[yhelothar]

I stayed home alone with my sister at the tender age of 5. She was 7.
My sis and I were always responsible. I think it was good for me to be home alone at that young of an age. I feel a lot more independent from my mom, opposed to all my friends that have been extremely sheltered.

 

[God On Alcohol]

Just make sure they KNOW how to and nt to use fire...

 

[MoPHo]

i was 10

 

[Rayden]

I think the law in California is 13.

I dont think I was home alone until about that. But I was homeschooled so there was rarely a need to be babysat.

 

[Chaotic42]

Maybe 8 or 9.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

I was maybe 12-14 or so, don't remember...

 

[jimbob200521]

bout 12, ish

 

[beyoku]

3 - Poor couldnt afford a babysitter.

 

[Rage187]

7

 

[Gerbil333]

I stayed home alone for about three hours per day when I was 8 or 9 after my parents had gotten divorced.

My mom made me call her as soon as I got home from school so she could ensure that I was safe and had locked the doors. The house is in a city with a population of ~15,000, and it's a safe neighborhood. I was a responsible child too.

 

[her209]

This is no joke. My parents used to leave me in charge of my siblings when I was like 5 years old.

 

[beyoku]

Originally posted by: beyoku
3 - Poor couldnt afford a babysitter.

Edit: my mother told me not to let "anybody" in the house. So when my brother and sister got home from school, i was like "NOPE! mommy said dont let nobody in!" They waited ouside in the MN cold.

 

[jadinolf]

I was six.

We never had a baby sitter.

 

[Whisper]

Stayed home alone regularly from roughly 3rd or 4th grade onward. I do have an older brother, though (by 1.5 years).

 

[jessicak]

My parents started leaving me home alone in 4th grade. Once I hit 7th grade, I no long had to go to my grandparents house when they went out of town.