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The National SAFEKIDS Campaign recommends not leaving a child home alone before age 12. Other child experts say 10 is fine. What age do you think is OK to leave kids home alone?

How did you decide your kids were ready to be home without supervision?

8 or younger (0.0%)

9-10 (6.9%)

11-12 (27.6%)

13-14 (20.7%)

15+ (6.9%)

It really depends on the child (38.0%)

The National SAFEKIDS Campaign recommends not leaving a child home alone before age 12. Other child experts say 10 is fine. What age do you think is OK to leave kids home alone?
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5
  • Autumnkat By Autumnkat
    on Feb 06, 2013  

    My daughter was very mature and responsible by the time she was 10. She wasn't home alone often nor for a long period of time at that age, but I felt confident that she would be fine. And she was. It really depends upon the child. It has to be an assessment of how confident the parent feels about leaving the child alone and how secure the child feels about being left alone.

  • Texmel By Texmel
    on Feb 06, 2013  

    I was home alone as a child at ages 9 and up. However, it seems to be a very different world today!

  • josmommy By josmommy
    on Feb 06, 2013  

    Um I don't think there's really a age I base it on maturity but I say age wise most 13 year olds are probably able to be left home alone!

  • ToyaFab By ToyaFab
    on Feb 07, 2013  

    I think its not safe to leave a child who is not a teenager at home alone. We even have to be mindful when we leaving teenagers much less because the world we living in today is full of so much sick maniacs who prey on kids.

  • msfriendly By msfriendly
    on Feb 07, 2013  

    I think it depends on the child. It may be OK to leave a little younger child home (say 12) if it's just for a short time and the child is mature.