Like for an extended period of time…2.5 hours everyday after school.

12-13
But depends on the kid

My daughter is 11 and she will stay at home by herself all day. It depends on the kid.

My son is 12, we started leaving him home alone for a few hours a week as needed.

I also have a 10 year old daughter and won't leave the two of them home alone for more than an hour or so because the dynamic is different and they are more likely to get into some sh*t when together.

All that to say, it depends on the kid and the situation.

I was home alone all summer starting at like 8.

My son is 10 and we started this year. I also have a 7 year old daughter, but we'll probably wait another year before I trust him to watch her.

I was left alone for a few hours at a time starting at around 8. But I would just read or something while they were gone.

10 but lock the liquor cabinet at 14

My older kid is 10. We have started leaving him at home alone while we go run a few errands. We do not leave him and his 8-year-old sister alone together. My daughter has art club at 7:45 am once a week, so my wife has to drop her off at school before the bus comes. We leave my son at home, and he puts himself on the school bus those days.

He lets himself out of the garage, closes the garage door using the secret password, and then goes and gets on the bus. He scans a tag when he gets on the bus that notifies us on our phones, so we can see that he got on the bus and where the bus is prior to picking him up.

I don't recall the age I was when left alone...but I remember I was 'allowed' to walk to my grandparents farm when I was around 8. It was about a mile away on a heavily traveled road. Once I got there I had to 'phone home' to let mom know I was OK.

That was back in the 60's. I can't imagine doing that with my grandson today.

My parents would dress me in black and leave me alone overnight with an highway stripe painting kit.

I was babysitting at 9-10.

Tanya 93 said:

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I was babysitting at 9-10.

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Wait!

I remember you!

The first time we left our kids home alone for more than an hour, one put the other in a headlock and wouldn't let her out of it.

I'm thinking we started at 10 with my daughter (just turned 15 yesterday). Those were for short, grocery type trips. Probably 11 for 2.5 hours at a time. My son was older before we did. Just completely different personalities.

We had twins so they were always together but we started leaving them alone together at 8-9ish for a hour or so at a time. Then we had a singleton and now that he is 8, he has requested staying home when we run to the store, etc.

It feels weird to leave 1 kid at the house by himself after always having the 2 together but everyone is still alive so go team!

I have a 7 year old. I can't imagine leaving her home alone at 8

10-12

Following.

Ask Kevin

I think the kid's age is more important than mine in terms of whether they should be left home alone.

I'll leave my 7 and 8 year old home alone for about half an hour, give or take. We live somewhat in the country and if they need anything they just call us on Alexa. May start extending that in the near future.

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Depends. Are the Wet Bandits still behind bars?

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sticky bandits.

a said:

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I also have a 10 year old daughter and won't leave the two of them home alone for more than an hour or so because the dynamic is different and they are more likely to get into some sh*t when together.

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this is us.. my boys are 10 and almost 9.. by themselves, I'd trust either one.

But if they were together they'd be up to no good lol.

That being said, here in probably 2 years, we'll start to test it out and leave them home while wife and I go out to dinner or something.

Tatem said:

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I have a 7 year old. I can't imagine leaving her home alone at 8

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I have an 8 year old. I can't imagine leaving her home alone at 9

I don't have kids.

someone reproduced with OP I don't believe it ?

After school like that? Not until middle school and only if you have a neighbor that stays home that can step in if there are any issues. There was a few times when I came home as a latchkey kid where something wasn't right when I came home - power was out, once my parents accidentally left the garage door open - just little things where another adult was needed to assess the situation.

Also in this day and age it just takes one wrong comment from her to her classmates that makes it obvious that she's by herself after school and a teacher reports it as a mandated reporter. There's no age in Texas but you don't want to try and justify it too young because there will be consequences.

Going to the store, errands near the house we started 9-10.

ABATTBQ11 said:

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Tatem said:

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I have a 7 year old. I can't imagine leaving her home alone at 8

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I have an 8 year old. I can't imagine leaving her home alone at 9

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we wouldn't be doing it that late for sure.

More like 4 or 5pm for an early dinner/happy hour. We'd be home by 7 or so.