HarleySpoon said:

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I was in third grade. I still cringe at the memory of forgetting to change out of my pajama top one day and into a shirt. Walked to school in tough skins and my pajama top. Whole day was rough. Only happened once.

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They were very light baby blue with toy trucks on them. I think the tough skins were red.

Latchkey kid as of 2nd grade, and nobody really thought tree of it. Today, I don't think the school would let my kids off the bus without a parent present even with my big kid in 3rd grade.

Little one is in kinder so she's too little anyway. I'd be ok with them being home alone before I get off work once she reaches 2nd grade

joerobert_pete06 said:

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With kids going back to school, I'm curious to hear from yal at what age you are comfortable with leaving your kids home alone before school starts. We know a family where both parents leave their 9yo home alone in the morning while they commute to work; he gets himself ready and jumps on the bus all by himself.

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Both of my kids did exactly that. They never missed a bus or played hooky.

My dad was always on his way to work before we got up for school. My mom would get us up when we were little snd send us out the door to catch the bus. She'd take us the the bus stop in the car if it was raining. By 10 or so we were setting our own alarms and getting up to get ready for school, and whichever kid got home first had instructions on what to make for dinner for everyone starting about 6pm or so if mom wasn't able to be home. And my mom didn't even have a full time job, just a lot of taking kids to various places after school. I had friends with parents who both worked and it was no big deal.

Kids are plenty capable to be independent if they are taught to be so and given increasing levels of responsibility and accountability. Kids aren't less intelligent than adults, just less wise and experienced.

My kids are 10 and 12 and we've started leaving them alone for an hour or two to go run an errand or walk the dog or whatever. They can reach us if they need to and we have several trustworthy neighbors nearby.

I was home alone all day starting at probably 5 or 6 while both parents worked over holidays so not a big deal. I think it depends on the kid though. Some can handle it and some can't.

MouthBQ98 said:

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Kids aren't less intelligent than adults, just less wise and experienced.

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Clearly you've never experienced toddler or child logic...

But yeah, kids are capable of being independent and responsible if you make them. Problem here is that we have a society that really frowns upon that and giving them that kind of independence might even get them taken away.

HarleySpoon said:

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HarleySpoon said:

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I was in third grade. I still cringe at the memory of forgetting to change out of my pajama top one day and into a shirt. Walked to school in tough skins and my pajama top. Whole day was rough. Only happened once.

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They were very light baby blue with toy trucks on them. I think the tough skins were red.

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Awwww....

I insisted on wearing a Return of the Jedi underoos top to school as my shirt one day. Didn't think anyone else would know it was a pajama top, but they did.

Pants were probably sewn by my mom.