At what age would you let a kid stay home alone after school?

[SMKR]

my oldest is 5 and starts K-garten this year. Although that is a bit too young, what age do you think is old enough to let a kid come home after school and stay alone until the parents get home?

[Lone Sailor]

Probably 9 or 10. It will depend on the maturity and trustworthiness of each child though.

[TEAMJACOB]

12 comes to mind but that is a tough question to answer. Could be younger I suppose

[slow84lx]

At least 10 if not 12. Kids need responsible adults around.

[Leah]

My son was in 6th grade (11 years old) before I let him go home from school without me being there; however, it was only for an hour or so before I would get home.

[Treasure Chest]

Here, a child that's k-5 isn't let off the bus without an adult at home.

[mstng86]

My wifes parents are still watching their 20+ year old sons.


I think i started at about 12 or 13.

[Lone Sailor]

Here, a child that's k-5 isn't let off the bus without an adult at home.

What about those that live close enough to walk?

[jakesford]

I think I started to stay at home around 3rd or 4th grade... but my school wasn't even a mile away and I rode my bike

[Lone Sailor]

My wifes parents are still watching their 20+ year old sons.


I think i started at about 12 or 13.

Yeah, I knew a few that are like that. Wasting their own lives and ruining their parents lives. And when I say that, it's the watching part, not just because lives at home. If he's not going to grow up and be responsible for himself then he'll be leaning on them like that forever.

I was fortunate enough to live and grow up in a really small town, population 900, so we didn't have to worry much about big city issues like this as it hadn't reached small town America yet. From the time I was 7 I was riding my bike to and from school, which was about just over a mile from home, during most of the year. During the winter and I would either get a ride or walk if it wasn't bitterly cold.

[Gear_Jammer]

Probably 9 or 10. It will depend on the maturity and trustworthiness of each child though.

This. My 9 yr old would be fine doing it, but my 11 yr old would probably lose his key and end up jumping on the trampoline until we got home.

[SSMAN]

My son did it at age 10 for 1.5 hours till we got home. He was not allowed to go outside and had to answer the phone randomly when I called. We have talking caller id, so he knew it was me.

[Treasure Chest]

What about those that live close enough to walk?

They don't have that option. They're either bus or parent pick up.

[Sleeper]

7-10 depending on the child. Hell I had my own dirtbike by the time I was 5.

[Lone Sailor]

7-10 depending on the child. Hell I had my own dirtbike by the time I was 5.

Did you ride it to school?