How old do your children have to be to leave them home alone?

Ruddegar R: How old do your children have to be to leave them home alone?
My sister has two 8 year olds and a 2 year old. Sometimes she will leave them home alone for a couple hours while she goes out. I think it is very wrong and was wondering what the legal age is to leave your child home by themselves. Can she get her children taken away from her if anyone were to find out? Thanks.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Jess
I wouldn’t leave my children alone until at least 12 or 13 and depending on how mature they are.

Answer by sexbomb727
I would wait til they’re like 13, 14. Depending on how mature they are and what kind of neighbourhood you live in.

Answer by Mara
Wow, 8 years old is way too young, especially to be taking care of a 2 yr old as well.

There isn’t really a law that specifies an exact age when it’s okay to be left home alone, but I would say younger then 10 years old is way too young and any younger then 12 or 13 is too young to be babysitting.

They would definitely be able to arrest her for neglect for that.

Answer by cricketmission
Ok. My husband’s friend from Kuwait left his three kids home alone, because he went to the store to get some stuff, and his wife was in the hospital. Well CPS came and tried to take his kids from him, because they were left home alone for like 10 minutes. The Kuwaiti government had to step in and keep the kids from being taken from my husband’s friend. As a result his kids are back in Kuwait where they belong.
I know that you can be charged with child neglect/abandonment if you leave your kids home alone even for 5 seconds.

Answer by crissy having my bub dec 22nd
depends best way to find out is to ring the local police station to find out the legal age my sister left her kids for 1 hour as she was running late and she got told as long as they were responible and able to dial 000 then it was ok i think its wrong as well her kids were 9 and 10 and good kids

Answer by Heather K
I know from a legal perspective a child can be as young as 8 years old and be left at home alone, if the parent thinks the child is mature enough. A child has to be at least 12 years old to watch any other child under the age of 10 years old.

Answer by R C
Depends entirely on the maturity of the child. I stayed home alone for a few hours everyday after school when I was 9. But I had to call my mom periodically, knew how to dial 911, had common sense not to light fires or do anything stupid, and just worked on my homework.

Some 8 year olds should never be left alone. And 8 years old is too young to be babysitting another kid.

It’s also different – for her responsibility, not for the kids – depending on where she’s going. Like it’s different if she’s at work and can’t afford childcare. But it’s an entirely different thing if she’s going out clubbing.

Answer by April ~ Mommy Of 4
8 is defiantly too young.
I don’t leave my 11 year old home alone yet. 12 or 13 is okay.