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Dr. Altmann Asks: "At what age do you think a child can be left home alone?"
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Lainey_WebMD_Staff posted:
Hello parents!

Our Parenting guest expert, Dr. Altmann has a new discussion: When is your child ready to be home alone?

Come on over and share your views.
3 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Dr. Altmann Asks: "At what age do you think a child can be left home alone?"Hello parents!<br /><br />Our Parenting guest expert, Dr. Altmann has a new discussion: <a href="http://forums.webmd.com/3/parenting-exchange/forum/2980/">When is your child ready to be home alone? <br /><br /></a> Come on over and share your views. <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/smile.gif" align="top" border="0">
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RoseLynn02 responded:
I wouldn't leave a child under age 12 home alone, but even then
I think it really depends on the child. I think factors like maturity level & trust have a lot to do with it. Responsibility levels & how well informed the child is on different safety issues should obviously be factors as well. Also, i strongly believe that even at those ages there should be a trust adult neighbor near by who is aware that the child is there alone and willing to keep an extra eye on the place and possibly check in a few times. I also believe no child under the age of 16 should be left alone for any long period of time (EX:2hrs or more is unexceptable).
Report This| Share this:Dr. Altmann Asks: "At what age do you think a child can be left home alone?"I wouldn't leave a child under age 12 home alone, but even then <br />I think it really depends on the child. I think factors like maturity level &amp; trust have a lot to do with it. Responsibility levels &amp; how well informed the child is on different safety issues should obviously be factors as well. Also, i strongly believe that even at those ages there should be a trust adult neighbor near by who is aware that the child is there alone and willing to keep an extra eye on the place and possibly check in a few times. I also believe no child under the age of 16 should be left alone for any long period of time (EX:2hrs or more is unexceptable).
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Newdaddytoo responded:
Tough question I am far from having to think about this. I would think to answer the question a parent would have to find out legally at what age a kid can be left alone and then it would at least be that age or higher.
Report This| Share this:Dr. Altmann Asks: "At what age do you think a child can be left home alone?"Tough question I am far from having to think about this. I would think to answer the question a parent would have to find out legally at what age a kid can be left alone and then it would at least be that age or higher.
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elizadears38 responded:
Ithink it would always vary depending on the character and sensibilities of the child. My son is four, id never dream of leaving him at this age but he does ask can he pop out without me I say no when your older you can do whatever you like then so we compromised on him playing out in the front garden and reporting in every so often and he did now I allow him to play in his friends garden accross the street and check in, ill probably just do this until I have faith and trust he wont set the house on fire or draw 'lovely' pictures on the walls so it looks like his nursery school or answer the door to a stranger or allow randoms into the house just showing off as they do. I think also leaving him of a day for a few hours while I am shopping is one thing butI still cant envisage myself leaving him at night time. I guess he wil probably have to have met his wife and have his own house or me to feel really safe about it haha x
Report This| Share this:Dr. Altmann Asks: "At what age do you think a child can be left home alone?"Ithink it would always vary depending on the character and sensibilities of the child. My son is four, id never dream of leaving him at this age but he does ask can he pop out without me I say no when your older you can do whatever you like then so we compromised on him playing out in the front garden and reporting in every so often and he did now I allow him to play in his friends garden accross the street and check in, ill probably just do this until I have faith and trust he wont set the house on fire or draw 'lovely' pictures on the walls so it looks like his nursery school or answer the door to a stranger or allow randoms into the house just showing off as they do. I think also leaving him of a day for a few hours while I am shopping is one thing butI still cant envisage myself leaving him at night time. I guess he wil probably have to have met his wife and have his own house or me to feel really safe about it haha x
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