What age to leave children alone in a house?

Baggy Trousers

When is a child (or children) old enough to be left alone in a house for say 30 mins during the day when the parents go for a walk?

Moonbeam

It depends on the individual child more then anything.

hairyprincess

I would say it also depends on whether the child is expected to care for younger children during the time.

Big Bag of Chips

One child might love to be at home on their own, another might hate it. My eldest is 9, and I think he's still just too young. But I know even if he was to stay he would like someone with him. The next sibling is 7, so I wouldn't be happy to leave the two of them, yet.

Could the child not bring a bike and join the walk?

skallywag

It's a good question. I'm trying to think back to when my own parents would have left me alone in the house, and I think I would have been about 10? Though I'm pretty sure that I was disappearing up fields etc years etc before that when my mother would have no idea where I was for hours on end!

teggers5

My son is 12 and its only in recent months he's been left alone for any period of time. Max time has been an hour. And like you op, it's been while I walked the dogs and he didn't want to come with us.

lazygal

I was allowed to walk home from school and let myself into the house at about 10. My mum had one afternoon a week where she had to be elsewhere with my siblings. I was a very boring and compliant child though, so I think she knew I'd be ok. It'd depend on the child. There's some teenagers I wouldn't leave alone in a house for various reasons!

LegacyUser

It is very much down to the child. I was left on my own with no issues from 7 but my brother who is considerably younger, so I was out of the house when he was young, was not able to be left alone until in his teens. Some kids just have no common sense while others can be left alone for hours without any bother. You know your child how do you think they'd react? Would they panic or even notice your gone?

Dravokivich

I'd say around 10 or so as well.

Depraved

Based on observations here in The Philippines...about 4 years old.

Seriously though, it depends on the child as many have said. I do feel that we have a tendency to be overprotective in this regard. So long as they are not a firebug and know how to safely use the cooker, then it's more an issue of trust than safety. By 11, most children are well capable, both mentally and emotionally, of being alone in the home for a few hours.

Greenmachine

Came home for lunch everyday in secondary school, usually no-one home at that time.
Maybe shorter periods of time before that if my mom went across the road to the shop etc.

seamus

I always thought I could remember being at home on my own after school from about the age of 10, but it's only recently I've realised that I wasn't really - we had a granny flat with a door into the house, and my granny was always at home except for when she went to Mass.

So in effect although I thought I was at home alone, my Granny was always there too and that's probably why my parents were happy enough - if I ever needed anything I knocked into her. Though I was pretty self-sufficient anyway, at that age had no issue knocking a sandwich together for myself.

Jellybaby1

Sometimes its not so much the trustworthiness of the child. The parents might be worried about who might knock at the door and they might open it, or someone might peep in the window to break in. Or they might invite a gang in (while the cat's away). All sorts of scenarios come to mind. I usually did all my shopping etc., while they were in school. I didn't go back to work until they were in secondary school.

m'lady

My 14 year old at times could be at home on her own for a couple if hours, but I'd be in contact with her making sure she's locked the door etc, I'd never leave her at home on her own at night, I'd be way too paranoid of something happening, but that's me!

aujopimur

I'm not being smart, but boys shouldn't be left home alone at any age.

lazygal

aujopimur wrote: »

I'm not being smart, but boys shouldn't be left home alone at any age.

You could say the same about girls. Mine are very young but my boy is already much more cautious and risk averse than my girl. This kind of thing depends on the child not on.generalisations.

jimmycrackcorm

aujopimur wrote: »

I'm not being smart, but boys shouldn't be left home alone at any age.

Why?
i don't know why it's ok to let my 12 year old walk to and from school but not leave him in the house for any length of time...

skallywag

aujopimur wrote: »

I'm not being smart, but boys shouldn't be left home alone at any age.

Until when? They are 18?

Hollister11

12-15 a few hours. 16+ they should be grand

Engine No.9

I have 5 kids. 13, 11, 9, 7 and 5. I have no reservations whatsoever about leaving them all at home for an hour or 2 while I go run errands etc. The 2 eldest have phones, so any issues and I'm just a phone call away.

mfceiling

aujopimur wrote: »

I'm not being smart, but boys shouldn't be left home alone at any age.

You're right. My mum left my 38 year old brother at home for a few hours last week and he ate the last 3 slices of bread in the house. He wasn't so clever when he had to go out that night and buy her a full loaf...

seventeen sheep

It very much depends on the child.

My thirteen year old sister is very mature and responsible - not only would I leave her home alone, I'd also have absolutely no problem leaving her to mind my one-year-old son alone, during the day at least. (And I'm very fussy about who minds him!)

But I do recognise that she's extremely mature for her age (being youngest of seven children seems to have helped with that!) I certainly wouldn't leave just any thirteen-year-old child alone, let alone leaving them alone to babysit.

I think the youngest I'd consider it (even for the most advanced child) would probably be around 11 or 12 years old. That's at a stretch. I also know/know of 16/17 year olds that aren't and shouldn't be left home alone unsupervised.

It depends also if they actually want to be left alone. I've another sister who's 22 and who still actually hates being left alone in the house, ever! She never went through the teenage phase of wanting her own space.

PLL

Just don't do what my mother did and leave a 9 year old on their own from 8pm to 5am so she could go out with her friends. People actually think I'm lying about that. God I wish I was, I cried my eyes out.

Anyhow I only have a little 3 year old so no idea myself, great question though. I saw an 8 year old getting a Galway city bus home on her own the other day, genuinely felt a little disconcerted. Elderly people were talking to her on the bus that is how I know she was 8, bless her, she looked way too young, I just kept thinking she would be so easy to kidnap. Awful thing to think I know, but it happens unfortunately.

Caovyn Lineah

PLL wrote: »

Just don't do what my mother did and leave a 9 year old on their own from 8pm to 5am so she could go out with her friends. People actually think I'm lying about that. God I wish I was, I cried my eyes out.

Anyhow I only have a little 3 year old so no idea myself, great question though. I saw an 8 year old getting a Galway city bus home on her own the other day, genuinely felt a little disconcerted. Elderly people were talking to her on the bus that is how I know she was 8, bless her, she looked way too young, I just kept thinking she would be so easy to kidnap. Awful thing to think I know, but it happens unfortunately.

I remember when I was young(9,10 and again at 13) being allowed travel from Limerick to Dublin by bus alone. My parents put me on at Limerick station and my aunt was waiting at the other end for me, I recall the stop at Borris-in-Ossory lasting about half an hour and I just wandered around the hotel. Much simpler times, no way in hell would I let my kids do that nowadays.

Nekarsulm

Depending a lot on how independent and sensible the child is, and how happy they are to entertain themselves. Some can be safely left at 7 or 8, others I know would have a fit (and they're in their early teens.)

blackbird 49

lazygal wrote: »

You could say the same about girls. Mine are very young but my boy is already much more cautious and risk averse than my girl. This kind of thing depends on the child not on.generalisations.

Agree 👍

blackbird 49

aujopimur wrote: »

I'm not being smart, but boys shouldn't be left home alone at any age.

Why, I have 2 boys and when of a age I felt was right to leave them for half hour / 1 hour I had no problems

Mallagio

I was left to mind kids at about 14, I'd like to think though my mother knew I wasn't a messer and have mates & birds over on the sly.

In other words it depends on trust and if the child is capable of it - don't get me wrong though, the likes of 12,13 is possibly a tad too young imo.

Chocolate fiend

I cannot imagine having a 16/17 year old who was not able to be at home unsupervised (unless there were some additional needs to consider) I think a 10 year old should be capable of being at home alone for about half an hour or so, and progressing naturally from there. Rules would have to apply, no opening the door, no using the kettle or cooker and maybe not taking a bath!!

LoganRice

it depends on the child and their mentality, some children are afraid of everything whereas others are more rational

househero

Chocolate fiend wrote: »

I cannot imagine having a 16/17 year old who was not able to be at home unsupervised (unless there were some additional needs to consider) I think a 10 year old should be capable of being at home alone for about half an hour or so, and progressing naturally from there. Rules would have to apply, no opening the door, no using the kettle or cooker and maybe not taking a bath!!

My mum worked 3 jobs when we were younger (a day) she slept on her lunch breaks and at weekends (no exaggeration) amazing woman.

From 11 I fed my 8 year old brother reheated microwave meals after school. Usually stew my mum made at the weekend.

BUT when I was 9, both my brother and I got up to all kinds of bad behaviour when we were left alone for a few hours. Worst cases...

I broke my arm (we would dare each other to jump 1 step higher down the stairs)
He ate batteries
I made him lick the carpet and he got a real bad carpet burn on his forehead
We both went through the front door glass sledging down the stairs
We flooded the bathroom
Broke the bed as we would put on big t shirts and stuff them with pillows and pretend to be wrestlers
Smashed a lot of things playing indoor football

It was a great laugh

The Corinthian

Baggy Trousers wrote: »

When is a child (or children) old enough to be left alone in a house for say 30 mins during the day when the parents go for a walk?

I believe the legal age is 13. Beyond that I'd agree with others that it depends upon the character of the child.

aujopimur wrote: »

I'm not being smart, but boys shouldn't be left home alone at any age.

Dreadful, sexist generalization. But you're right, you're not being smart.

cbyrd

I left my 16 year old daughter at home overnight for the first time last week, I came home to a spotless house! She thought it would be so much fun to be home alone! She was bored silly after an hour! So I left her home yesterday when I went to Dublin (I live in Mayo) again.. Spotless house! Woohoo! I'm going to go every week now! Lol

mocha please!

cbyrd wrote: »

I left my 16 year old daughter at home overnight for the first time last week, I came home to a spotless house! She thought it would be so much fun to be home alone! She was bored silly after an hour! So I left her home yesterday when I went to Dublin (I live in Mayo) again.. Spotless house! Woohoo! I'm going to go every week now! Lol

Haha nice one!

Jesus Wept

cbyrd wrote: »

I left my 16 year old daughter at home overnight for the first time last week, I came home to a spotless house! She thought it would be so much fun to be home alone! She was bored silly after an hour! So I left her home yesterday when I went to Dublin (I live in Mayo) again.. Spotless house! Woohoo! I'm going to go every week now! Lol

She clearly had a party.

cbyrd

The Rodgers wrote:

She clearly had a party.

Lol, I don't mind I didn't have to clean up!

anncoates

Depends on the child.

I can remember being left at home from about 10 for maybe an hour or so. Would be usually a scenario where my mum would be going to the shops and I didn't want to go so would stay playing with friends or watching TV in the house.

I can actually remember being allowed to go into town (Dublin City Centre, about 10 or 15 minutes on the bus back then) with my friends on Saturday afternoons at about 11, maybe 12 years old. Albeit under quite strict instructions on how long I could stay.

Also had a paper round after school from about 10/11 years old.

I think, like most parents these days, I too have fallen slightly into the trap where I think my kids are too young to do X and Y but certainly I was fine doing it back then as were all of my friends.

me0w

Most 12 year olds (especially girls ime) are quite mature - they know how to diall 999 in an emergency and would be less trusting of strangers, Of course there are always exceptions to this, some rebellious 12 yr olds might take this opportunity to go out and get up to mischief with their friends

Neyite

anncoates wrote: »

Depends on the child.

I can remember being left at home from about 10 for maybe an hour or so. Would be usually a scenario where my mum would be going to the shops and I didn't want to go so would stay playing with friends or watching TV in the house.

My OH was driving a ton weight of turf back from the bog at that age, with a couple of siblings sitting on top of it bouncing around!

Now I look at my 10 year old nephew and wonder what his auld lad was thinking. But it was pretty common back then.

the_monkey

aujopimur wrote: »

I'm not being smart, but boys shouldn't be left home alone at any age.

Arse ... the best fun I had when I was a kid was home alone, my Mam never found out about all the fires and explosives I constructed in the shed.