At what age can children be left home alone?
Posted by FrozenLaurus@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 132 comments
I've come across videos online about differences between parenting in the USA and for example in the Nordic countries and now I'm a little curious, hence the question.
To my understanding, children in the Nordic countries are left home alone in a younger age more easily than their peers in the States. I guess I've also heard that there are laws and legal ages there on this matter but I may be wrong.
So, at what age do you think children can be left home alone for a couple of hours, tops, during the day? Are there laws on this matter?
sadthrow104@reddit
Apparently most states don’t have laws about this (even California after a google search)
For some reason, I can’t shake the skeptical feeling that the question posted is for purposes of trying to depict America as a low trust, high tension, dangerous society.
Even if it weren’t the OP’s intention (and TBH I don’t think it is based on how it was asked) these sorts of anecdotal comparisons to Western Europe/east Asia always seems to have such a goal in mind.
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
Its a shame we read into these questions like this...but far more often than not you are absolutely correct.
Put-the-candle-back1@reddit
That's a baseless assumption.
sadthrow104@reddit
The biggest social media credit points these days seem to be nitpicking hating on America. Call it youth edginess, call it the Soviets’ long term plan, call it Chinese bots (personally I think they all have some varying factor in the equation), I think it all plays into the natural aspect of human societies to wanna knock the king down a peg.
ColossusOfChoads@reddit
Speaking of the King:
Ellavemia@reddit
Don’t forget to add that the youth edginess has been heavily influenced by Russia’s and China’s government bots and long term plans. It’s a self-sustainable loop now, and all going according to plan.
AllCrankNoSpark@reddit
America is often depicted that way to them in the media, so it makes sense that they’d come here to check to see if what they’ve been told is true.
SanchosaurusRex@reddit
A lot of Americans will inexplicably validate those generalizations. There’s this weird masochistic streak in some Americans where have to insist how bad Americans are at everything (except possibly them?).
ColossusOfChoads@reddit
You've heard of the 'pick me!' girls. And now, the 'pick me!' Americans.
The British at least have the good graces to hold them in contempt. "Have some basic pride, for God's sake!" Don't know about the rest of Europe, though.
SanchosaurusRex@reddit
Yes! Haha
And I can see that from the British lol
Safe_Box_Opened@reddit
We're actualy willing t criticize and satirize our own culture and society, which gives an overly negative impression to outsiders. Also, ironically, our willingness to discuss those things often makes people think we can't take criticism, because our experience discussing issues allows is to offer counterpoints to criticism, and I guess some people are used to just being able to talk over foreigners.
PackOutrageous@reddit
If someone from another country inclined to buy into the worst things about Americans, why should we care what they think? Americans seem to be omnipresent in everyone else’s head because of our cultural reach. That doesn’t place on us a responsibility to defend ourselves from their misunderstanding.
SanchosaurusRex@reddit
I agree. If it’s on the individual level, I’m happy to educate someone. But can’t get rid of all ignorance over night.
gatornatortater@reddit
And it is a good thing they're expressing doubt, rather than buying it without any question.
SanchosaurusRex@reddit
Maybe some, but I think many just like to engage and validate their biases. You see that on here pretty often when people don’t get the answers they want so start pushing and insisting on them.
gatornatortater@reddit
Yep. But I have seen many people who have reacted that way, change their position later on after the emotions subside. Sometimes they'll completely forget that they ever had thought otherwise.
sadthrow104@reddit
I applaud the particular op for this
AllCrankNoSpark@reddit
Yes, exactly.
Curmudgy@reddit
You’re using the same rhetorical device as you accuse the OP of doing, only trying to insinuate CA is the ultimate nanny state when it was totally unnecessary to include that remark.
Safe_Box_Opened@reddit
To be fair, I work in international sales outside America, and I get customers writing me up to ask if our products are California Prop 65 compliant, and literally none of us are even in the US.
I would never call California a "nanny state," but California regulations really do loom large over the world.
ColossusOfChoads@reddit
American K-12 school textbooks are effected by the various shenanigans pulled by Texas, and it's only because they're such a huge slice of the national market. That's one un-progressive non-Californian counter-example.
shootnloot3099@reddit
I think I was like 14 or 15 but not for very long just after school for less than an hour
yeetoskeetobaby2@reddit
Depends on how responsible the child is, but I'd say 10-15
macoafi@reddit
11 is the usual age to become a babysitter, so uh…below that.
pth72@reddit
There are laws, and they vary by state. My state, Illinois, has the strictest laws regarding this. It's illegal to leave your child 16 or younger alone for any reason. Most states put the limit at 14, which is what Illinois might do in the next legislative session.
baalroo@reddit
16 is straight up crazy. I had a fucking job at 14.
KR1735@reddit
Question: What state allows 15-year-olds to drive solo?
I know in Minnesota, as well as in a few other states I've lived, you can get a learner's permit at 15. But you still have to have a licensed adult driver in the front passenger seat. You can't drive solo until you pass your behind-the-wheel test, which requires a minimum age of 16.
baalroo@reddit
Kansas allows 15 year olds to drive to work and school alone. 14 if you live on a farm.
ColossusOfChoads@reddit
Europeans: "What do you mean the drinking age is 21? My God!"
Also Europeans: "You mean 15 year olds can drive at all!? My God!"
baalroo@reddit
It's funny, because it seems so odd to me to give kids carte blanche to drink as much poison as they want for fun, but be extra protective when that same kids wants to prove they can responsibly operate a motor vehicle by making them pass a written and skill-based test first.
KR1735@reddit
Ah, that makes sense. Nonetheless scary. But it makes sense. Especially in a very rural state. Driving in Kansas is obviously different from driving in Chicago.
baalroo@reddit
What makes it scary?
KR1735@reddit
We have enough bad drivers on the road who are adults and have been driving their entire adult lives. A person is only as good a driver as the worst driver on the road.
I personally don't feel safe with 15-year-olds driving around me unsupervised. But that's just me. Kansas is free to do what they want to do.
baalroo@reddit
I don't see any good reason to think 16 year old 1st year drivers would be any less dangerous than 15 year old 1st year drivers.
If anything, Kansans just have an extra year of experience over y'all.
KR1735@reddit
I mean, why wouldn't you think that more child drivers on the road would create a more hazardous situation.
I remember how I drove when I was 16 vs. how I drive now and it's really no comparison. It had nothing to do with my ability to drive and everything to do with the stupid choices I, as a teenager, made. And I wasn't alone.
baalroo@reddit
I just don't see the issue. A first year driver at 15 is going to be just as good of a driver as a first year driver at 16.
I guess yeah, it puts more total drivers on the road, thus reducing overall traffic, and in turn increasing the rate of traffic accidents.
ColossusOfChoads@reddit
I suppose a second year driver at 16 is less dangerous than a first year driver at 16. So there's that.
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
That is absolutely absurd. I have to imagine that law is violated thousands of times a day.
pth72@reddit
At least. We have millions of people in this state. My son is 10 and I have no issue with him staying home if I need to run an errand, so there's one per day.
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
Its so absurd that I didn't believe you, and it appears you are mistaken.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-has-highest-home-alone-age-in-nation/
Most states have no specific age listed. Illinois is the highest, but its 14...not 16. (14 is still silly, but still).
pth72@reddit
Then it did get changed in the last legislative session. It was 16 a couple years ago.
pneumatichorseman@reddit
Yeah buddy just like Google something before you keep posting inaccurate information. Help yourself.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/06/25/for-middle-grades-kids-staying-home-alone-a-big-question/
Here's an article from 2010 with the exact same verbiage that I quoted above about 14-year-olds and unreasonable time. It doesn't seem like 16 was ever the age.
AllCrankNoSpark@reddit
Did your parents tell you that?
pneumatichorseman@reddit
On the plus side it's also completely inaccurate, do take some solace in that.
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
The internet is undefeated.
Shevyshev@reddit
16? WTF.
rjtnrva@reddit
Good gods. In my state of Virginia, 14-year-olds can consent to mental health care without their parents' knowledge. We seem positively enlightened in comparison!
pth72@reddit
Don't get cocky. You guys were actually a slave state once upon a time.
But seriously, I couldn't believe it when I first looked it up too. I remember my parents leaving me alone when I was my son's age. I don't think the penalty is very stiff, though it can be piled on by a judge in a bad mood, up to taking your kid away.
AllCrankNoSpark@reddit
You should have looked it up better. It’s not true at all.
pneumatichorseman@reddit
There's actually no law in Virginia for how young a child may be when left at home alone...
AllCrankNoSpark@reddit
That is absolutely not true.
pneumatichorseman@reddit
Your post is completely untrue (except for Illinois being the strictest state).
llinois is actually 14 (not 16) and then only:
" any minor under the age of 14 years whose parent or other person responsible for the minor's welfare leaves the minor without supervision for an unreasonable period of time without regard for the mental or physical health, safety, or welfare of that minor; "
Not "illegal for any reason."
Also:
Most states have no limit at all.
https://www.imom.com/home-alone-rules-state/
KellyAnn3106@reddit
I started babysitting for other families when I was 11. By 12, I was booked every single weekend. The Red Cross offered a babysitting workshop that was targeted at the 11-12 age group.
Dull-Geologist-8204@reddit
My state it is 8.
CupBeEmpty@reddit
People have different opinions on this.
I did short trips out of the house when my kid was eight. But it was really complicated by having a little sibling that could not be left alone and not in her care.
I think 7-8 is maybe the age for a lot of folks, but it absolutely depends on the specific kid and the household.
Hours would not be ok with me even with a 10 year old. Under an hour, quick run to the store would be ok. But multiple hours I think would be too much for most folks.
mydisplayname1111@reddit
It’s illegal in Oregon to leave a child less than 10 home alone
CupBeEmpty@reddit
Read the law. It’s a “period of time that would endanger the child.”
So no, it isn’t illegal outright but absolutely depends on the situation which is why I am ok with a short trip with the older one but not both together and absolutely not the little one alone.
Any-Chocolate-2399@reddit
That's almost certainly an out to prevent harassment of people taking one kid at a time out.
K0rby@reddit
In New Zealand it’s 14
ColossusOfChoads@reddit
I started getting left home alone when I was 11. My little brother would have been about 4 or 5 by then, and my job was to make sure he was still alive, relatively unharmed, and not missing, by the time my mom and/or dad got back. This was the early 90s.
My kid is 11 now, about to turn 12. We've left him by himself for very short stretches, and he takes the bus to and from school by himself.
rawbface@reddit
I think a lot of people think about it in terms of risk. What are the chances something could go wrong?
For me, something going wrong is a certainty. I have to think about how the child will respond in an emergency situation. If they are prepared and responsible, I can leave them alone.
I can't trust that my 5-year-old will leave the house and find a neighbor if there was a fire downstairs. But my 11-year-old nephew could certainly be relied upon to handle the situation safely by himself. He'd do just fine if his 7 year old sister was having a snack in the next room, but would he be okay with my 2-year-old if she started choking? Probably not.
I'm mostly worried about pretty universal home safety situations. In my neighborhood I have no reason to be concerned about other people with criminal intent.
ZombieMom82@reddit
Laws depend on state to state. In California there is no specific law, the rule is that the kid needs to be old enough and responsible enough to be left alone
hatetochoose@reddit
I think few have an appetite for a law like this because each family is different.
Do you live in a childcare desert? Next door to grandma? In a sketchy neighborhood? How mature is that child?
But mostly-what do you even do with that law? Does social services step in because mom can’t afford child care? Put the kid in foster care? Force mom into leaving kid with junkie uncle because that’s the only alternative? A law doesn’t actually provide a solution.
Every_Distance_4768@reddit
I'm gen X so my answer is..5-6 apparently. Fully functioning key child at the age of 7 .
manicpixidreamgirl04@reddit
I started staying home alone for short periods of time when I was around 7. The first time I stayed home alone for more than an hour or two was when I was 11.
Historical-Remove401@reddit
Would your 7-8 year old know what to do if there was a fire?
DPetrilloZbornak@reddit
We did in the 80s.
MegamindedMan2@reddit
Iowa doesn't have any laws regarding what age you can leave a kid home alone at. I was frequently left alone and even babysitting by the time I was 7 or 8. Definitely wouldn't do that to my kids
Wafflebot17@reddit
When I was a kid it was 8 for short periods of time, 13 to be home sick without a parent taking the day as well, 14-15 overnights by 16 there were a handful of times I’d be left alone for multiple days never more than a week.
WhoseChairIsThis-@reddit
My mom never left us home alone younger than 13, emphasis on alone because I had three older siblings and two younger. If someone in the house was 15-17, and youngest was older than 3, it was cool
quirkney@reddit
The age use to be lower, but I believe most people don’t like leaving kids under 12 alone at home, if siblings are involved people usually want the oldest to be 13-14.
People leave kids in the house while working outside or a garage between ages 7-9 as far as I know.
Bear_necessities96@reddit
Legally I think is 14
cmhoughton@reddit
Some states have laws about it, but in general I think 12 years old or so could be left for short periods, but they’d have to be older like 15 or 16 to be left overnight…
WhichSpirit@reddit
I was 10 when my parents started leaving me home alone for any sort of extended period.
When I lived in Scotland my roommate had to go home frequently to watch her younger sister because, according to my friend, she was legally too young to stay home alone and the cops would check. She was 15.
Mountain_Air1544@reddit
So the law differs from state to state
MortimerDongle@reddit
Depends on the kid and the situation. For short periods of time, like if you're just running to the store, maybe 7-8? For hours at a time, probably be older than that.
Abe_Bettik@reddit
I'm not leaving my 7 year old the house alone.
I'm worried about him, I'm worried about the house.
Mr_Kittlesworth@reddit
100%
KR1735@reddit
Haha so true.
Courwes@reddit
No idea but I started staying home alone at 10. I decided I didn’t want to go to summer day camp anymore so my mom pulled me out. I’m sure she was glad to not have to pay for it anymore. This was 25 years ago though.
RandomGrasspass@reddit
Probably > 10.
<10 is not ok, not even depending on “the kid “
Pristine-Range1979@reddit
As an American, this thread is illuminating. No judgement and of course every child is different but admit I am somewhat shocked at the amount of people saying they would leave their kids home alone at 8 or younger. But I come from a big family so by the time I was that age I had older siblings and it was an extremely rare event growing up to ever be the only person in the house.
Dragon-Rain-4551@reddit
I’m an only child and was left at home for 1+ hours starting at like 9
Dragon-Rain-4551@reddit
I mean, i got left alone for 30 minutes to an hour starting at like 9
KR1735@reddit
My son is getting to the age where I'm beginning to consider these things. He'll be 8 this year. The complicating factor is that I have a 1-year-old daughter and I know that he won't be capable of looking after the needs of another child for quite a while. Maybe when they're 13 and 6?
If he were an only child and it were a matter of leaving him alone for a few hours, I would say 9 or 10. No younger. To be left home alone overnight, probably 14 or 15 -- but that's based on the fact that we have neighbors he can go to in an emergency.
AkwardRockette@reddit
It depends on the family and the circumstances. My parents would leave me at home for an hour or two alone when I was 10, but they only started leaving for evenings out without a baby sitter when I was 11/12, and they wouldn't go on trips with me unattended for any time longer then that until I was well into my last years of high school.
spareparts969@reddit
My daughter was 5 when I started, just 15 minutes to the corner store and back. She was very smart, verbal, responsible, and knew how to use the phone to call me. Gradually increased the time. It was fine. My son at the same age I would leave only if she was there to watch him (she was 10-11 at the time). Totally different animal. Took until 7-8 for him. It just depends on what you're kids are like.
HPayne62@reddit
In my area a child has to be 12 years old before they can be left alone at home without an adult.
kjb76@reddit
We started leaving our daughter alone at 10 out of necessity. She turned 10 just as the pandemic hit. We had to get up at 6am to stand on line at the grocery store when things were really bad in our area and there was no way we were going to expose her to that. Now she’s 14 and we’ve left her alone for several hours if we are close by at a friends house.
JudgeImaginary4266@reddit
In Oregon, it’s illegal to leave anyone under the age of 12 home alone, which I’m on board with.
Undertakeress@reddit
For me, in the 80's and an only child, I was left alone for an hour or two around 9, and my mom went to bingo at night from 6-11p and I was good on my own 10-11, and was babysitting by 12-13
ChillyGator@reddit
I assume different states have different laws on this but for most places the legal age for leaving the child alone is 12.
Northman86@reddit
In most places the age it is acceptable to allow children to be left alone is 14.
Majestic_Electric@reddit
I was 12 when my parents left me home alone to do errands. 🤷♀️
machagogo@reddit
Entirely situational and child dependent.
I am unaware of any laws specifically related to this.
PatientConfidence7@reddit
I was personally left alone starting about 7-8 for a couple hours max. I could prepare a sandwhich and microwave meals if me or my brother got hungry and knew how to work the TV, but Illinois has one of the oldest ages to be legally left alone at age 14 (unless it changed recently).
AutumnalSunshine@reddit
Four states have minimum ages set, meaning you can be prosecuted for leaving a child home alone if they are under that age. Illinois, where I live, had the highest such age: 14.
Are they prosecuting parents whose 13 year old is home alone for a few hours after school? No, but they technically could.
The law comes into play when “any minor under the age of 14 years whose parent or other person responsible for the minor’s welfare leaves the minor without supervision for an unreasonable period of time without regard for the mental or physical health, safety, or welfare of that minor.”
So what is an "unreasonable period of time"? The court would determine that.
That said, I grew up in Illinois being babysat for some periods by my eldest sibling.who would have been 10 at the time.
my_metrocard@reddit
In New York City, there is no law regarding the legal age you can leave your child at home alone. Therefore, I used to leave my newborn in the crib to take the dog out for five minutes.
The first time I left my kid at home alone was when he was 5. I went grocery shopping, and we talked on FaceTime the entire time. I increased his time alone as he got older.
I’m from Japan, where kids being home alone is normal. I started at age 3.
NYD3030@reddit
My great grandfather hitch hiked and jumped trains from Michigan to Alaska when he was 11, as his parents died and no one would take him in. So realistically a child can probably be left alone at five for much much longer than we all think
VentusHermetis@reddit
https://reason.com/2023/12/28/10-stories-that-drove-free-range-parents-crazy-in-2023/
https://reason.com/2022/12/28/free-range-parents-kids-cops-cps-school-free/
libertarianlove@reddit
I actually called my state about this. They said there is not a law but they recommend age 10 at the earliest.
cdb03b@reddit
This fully depends on the child. I was left home alone starting at age 8. But a child who is less well behaved may have to wait till they are 10 or even 12.
Ahpla@reddit
In Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri there are no laws on how old a child has to be before being left alone. They do say kids under 6 shouldn’t be left alone but otherwise it isn’t illegal.
iusedtobeyourwife@reddit
No laws about it in California either. Someone I know was leaving their 10 and 8 year old alone in a motel for 8+ hours a day and that was considered fine by police as long as they had a way to call for help. 🙃
Squirrel179@reddit
It's not (expressly) illegal in Oregon, either.
The only place an age is mentioned is in the neglect statute which says that it is neglectful to leave a child under 10 “unattended at any place for such period of time as may be likely to endanger the health or welfare of such child.” Some people interpret that to mean it's illegal to leave a child under 10 anywhere and for any length of time. It's such a vague statue, and it really sucks.
LifeIsAnAbsurdity@reddit
Legally speaking, it depends on the state. From a responsible parenting standpoint, that depends on the kid and how long you're leaving them, and other details of the situation.
For example, in general, I'd say that leaving a four year old home alone is not okay. But in my situation? Both my 12 year old and my 4 year old are generally pretty easygoing and the neighbors are dear friends of ours who also have kids. I feel totally comfortable stepping out for a half hour to an hour as long as both of my kids seem like they're in a decent mood, my 12 year old has agreed to take care of the 4 year old should something come up, and the neighbors are home.
In many states the law about that recognizes this nuance and is written in such a way that there's an age below which you can be charged with neglect for leaving the child at home IF something bad happens as a result, but that as long as you're right about the situation being cool, then the situation is cool.
mothwhimsy@reddit
My mom didn't let me stay home alone until I was 10, and didn't leave me overnight until I was 12, but she so had an anxiety disorder. I had friends who were home alone all the time
GoodbyeForeverDavid@reddit
35
SanchosaurusRex@reddit
What is this, Italy??
SanchosaurusRex@reddit
We’re not a monolithic culture. We can’t often say we “do things like this” the way a Norwegian or Swede can. This depends on the family.
A lot of us came home after school and waited hours for our parents to get home. I went on my first flight alone when I was about 6. Others might be more careful and want to ensure they pick up their kids or leave them with an adult to supervise them. It depends.
SorryImLateNotSorry@reddit
It depends on the maturity of the child and if they understand what to do in emergency situations.
I was comfortable leaving my 5 year old alone for 15 minutes asleep in bed because the husband and I had overlapping work schedules. We ran scenarios with the kid and the neighbors knew the kid would come to them in an emergency.
My 10 year step kid who could trip on air and constantly left his shoes at the playground I would never leave alone even if he was asleep.
_Smedette_@reddit
I would pop out to the shop for bread or milk when my kid was five. It’s literally across the street from our apartment building. I’m in the shower longer than it takes me to walk there and back.
She will be eight next year and will probably start walking to/from school on her own (with the neighborhood kids) then. My only concerns are two really busy streets (with trams and 6 lanes of traffic) that have very short pedestrian lights.
jrhawk42@reddit
I think it's different for each child. Some kids will have all the responsibility skills they need as early as 6 years old and others should probably never be left alone until they're 26. Most should be responsible enough by 13.
traumatransfixes@reddit
There’s no state law here in Ohio, but be sure if something bad happens, legal liability is generally on the parents. It’s essentially something that one must use their own judgment for. I’ve never left my kids home alone yet, and the oldest is in middle school.
I’m not ready. One day. But not today.
PinchMaNips@reddit
I grew up in a small town where being left alone at 7-8 wasn’t out of the norm. I use to be babysat by my 2 year older sister when I was younger than 7. By the time I was 11-12 I had a lot more freedom.
Bayonettea@reddit
I'm not sure about the legal part of it, but I started getting left home alone when I was about 13-14. At first it'd be for a day, then maybe the weekend, and when I was about 16, I was home alone for about a week. I was a responsible kid so my parents knew they could trust me
gendr_bendr@reddit
My parents started leaving me home alone with my little brother when I was 10. But other redditors have told me that 10 was Too Young.
gatornatortater@reddit
There really are all types of cultures here in the states... so the answer is just as varied.
However, I personally was allowed to go play in the woods by myself by 8 back in the 80's. And I think I was allowed to bike/skate to friends places (up to a couple or so miles away) by 9-10. Alone, of course.
Had a 4 years older sister who was all about being responsible... so the two of us were left alone for a few hours when she was 12+.
Altril2010@reddit
When my oldest was six and my youngest was an infant I’d leave a walkie talkie and take walks around the neighborhood with the baby strapped to my chest for “alone time”. Now the kids are 11 and 5. I am comfortable leaving the 11 year old in charge while I go to the gym or a quick run to the grocery store. We have an extra phone for our business so that gets left with the kids so if something happens they can call.
I also trust my very protective dog with my kids. I’ve been letting the 11 year old stay home alone for an hour or so at a time since they were 9. It’s just recently that I’ve been allowing (and paying) the 11 year old to watch the 5 year old while I go workout.
Learning_Lion@reddit
It depends on the kid, I know my 6 year old and trust him on his own if he really doesn’t want to come with me as I run errands within walking distance of our home. I know other families who would not be able to do this. I personally would never drive somewhere or get on a bus to go somewhere while my son was home alone at this age though. I think that technology makes running short errands while leaving kids at home a bit easier, I can FaceTime him as I’m walking to the store, he can FaceTime me if he needs anything.
DOMSdeluise@reddit
I have two kids and I honestly don't know when I would be ready to leave them home alone. They're way too young now (4 and 18 months) but, hmm. Definitely by double digit ages, but perhaps younger if they seem like they can handle it.
Here is a story from my childhood: the first time my mom left me and my brother home alone, a bird flew down our chimney somehow and one of our cats killed it. So when my mom came home she was like "how was everything?" and I had to say "well there's a dead bird in the kitchen". Somehow this was not a bad omen for the rest of my childhood.
101bees@reddit
It depends on the child and the parent. In my state at least I don't believe there are any laws revolving around it.
I started being left home alone when I was 9. My sister-in-law wasn't left alone until she was 16. Many kids are left home alone for a couple hours as soon as they're old enough to ride the school bus and they come home before their parents come home from work. It depends on the maturity level of the child and how comfortable the parent is.
Captain_Depth@reddit
Other people have commented on the laws (or lack thereof), for my family I got left home alone the first time around 7, and it was always short trips like dropping my older sister off somewhere or going to the store. To date I haven't technically been left home alone overnight, when I was younger we would get someone to babysit, but it's extremely rare that both of my parents are away overnight without me also being away. I'm 19, in college, and am generally responsible (I like to think) so there's not a trust issue, my parents just don't go out a lot.
Blackbeards_Mom@reddit
In Texas you can use having a kid under 11 who would be left home alone to get out of jury duty… not a law but law adjacent. And jury duty can last a minimum of a day to several days if you are selected for a trial
Aloh4mora@reddit
There isn't a law about that in Washington State, and I agree with that, because so much depends on the individual child. My older kid needed a parent around longer than my younger kid. We started leaving them home alone during short trips to the grocery store when they were about 10 and 8, if I recall correctly. Longer trips (enough to see a movie) had to wait several more years.
Some kids will be fine at 8. Some kids won't be fine, even at 12. It really should be up to your best judgment, not an arbitrary government mandate.
AntisocialHikerDude@reddit
Legally, varies by state. Alabama has no minimum. Practically, varies by child.
nemo_sum@reddit
Illinois says 13. I think it's younger, at least for short periods.
baalroo@reddit
I'd say 6 is about the earliest, 7-8 is where most normal around here would be comfortable leaving a kid home by themselves, but it depends on the kid.
I have 3 kids pretty close together in age, so the age was kind smeared between them when we started letting them stay home without us. They were 6, 7, and 9. But our oldest was always a bit immature compared to the other two about things like that.
Bluemonogi@reddit
There is not a law in Kansas for a specific age however the guidance from the Kansas Department for Children and Families on this matter by age is that children under 6 years should not be left alone, ages 6-9 only for short periods and children ages 10 and up can probably be left for longer periods. They emphasize some other factors like length of time and time of day/night or the maturity level or intellectual capacity of the child.
I would say many parents probably aren’t going to leave kids under age 8 alone for a couple of hours during the day-maybe shorter periods of time. By age 10 maybe the kid could come home from school and be alone for a few hours with maybe a check in phone call or something. By age 12 I don’t think anyone would be bothered by the child being home alone for several hours.
These days I suppose parents might have cameras or something so they can check in on their kids even if they are not home but I don’t know anyone who does that.
Bigbird_Elephant@reddit
Times have changed but I would walk home from 2nd grade and be alone until my parents came home from work. But at night we needed a babysitter until maybe 4th grade
LazyBoyD@reddit
I did the same thing in 2nd grade. Not only that, the grocery store was walking distance (10 min) and my mom could send me to pick up missing items for dinner. This was in the mid 90s. We baby our kids too much in America. Go to any developing country and you will see 5 year olds doing adult shit like prepping dinner, fetching water etc. They teach their kids early on how to fit into society. There’s not a constant need to supervise and play games with your child.
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
Its probably the same as in your country.
We started doing runs to the store when the kids were around 7ish? Little younger than that maybe if it was a short trip or just going for a dog walk or something.
There probably are laws in some states, I don't know the specifics. I have to assume such laws are only enforced when there is an actual problem leading to an investigation by Child Protective Services or something.