home alone

[Gerianne]

do you think a thirteen year old boy is old enough to be left home alone for several hours?

[Penwoir]

I have two children, (7 & 9) and both of those are not ready to be left home alone. Yours is much older. However I have to say it's all in the maturity of the child.  A friend of mine has a 9 year old child and I swear he's more grown up than my husband.  He seems real mature and sensible. I think only you can decide. I can tell you that when I was thirteen, I was real ready to be left home alone. I never went through a crazy teenage stage so as I say, it's all in the kid. Hope he doesn't let you down. 

[gaylasue]

It all depends on his maturity level.

[potluck6]

I think so but he has to know the rules,like can friends come over.I know I left my daughter alone when she was 12 and it was fine.She just watched tv or did homework well she watched tv anyway.

[patycake56]

as long as he has access to a phone

[Nancy5]

It depends on the child.  My one daughter babysat at 13, while my other daughter at 13 was no way ready for that responsibility, or even to stay home alone.  It depends on the child, if you can trust them, if they would know what to do in an emergency, and how long they are going to be alone.

[bob1tina]

I think it depends on the child.  Some children are more mature than others so my recommendation is you know your child is he a good kid, stays out of trouble at school, minds you when you are home, and can fix himself a snack or something while you are gone.  My girlfriend has two children (he daughter is grown now) when her daughter was 14 we couldn't leave her alone with her brother because she was always in trouble at school and at home so we couldn't leave her home a lone but after she became of age she moved out and my girlfriend and I have been letting her son since he was 12 stay home a lone never at night and we always let me a phone in case of an emergency.  So if you feel that way about your child I say try it out for a couple of hours and If he does fine you can leave him a little longer the only thing is make sure he has a house phone or cell phone so he can reach you in case of a emergency.  I hope this helps you with your decision. 

[bhiett]

It seems to depend on the length of time left alone as well as the child's maturity, responsibility, trust-ability, and level of understanding how to contact you and emergency services quickly if needed.

[countrygirl12]

Me and my brother stayed home alone all day when we were much younger than that.  And for short periods of time even before that. lol.  That was a long time ago.  But still yet, I would think so.  Depends on the kid too.  How mature he is and if he will do what you say and not do anything crazy like start a camp fire in the living room. lol   

[quietpal]

It depends on the child. I think I started staying home alone at age 12. I knew to keep the doors locked and not to answer for anybody. My parents only left me alone for no more than a couple of hours. It worked out fine.

[angprescott]

We just started leaving my 12 year old daughter alone, she is very mature and knows all the rules. We have left lots of contact numbers and it is usually for a few hours at a time and never at night. I think they have to get used to it a little at a time, and it is all in how you feel about it.

[sanglee]

sure when i was that age they had something like the latchey kids, where they would carry there own key around their neck to go home after school because no one would be home, because their parents were working.

[ancmetro]

   Yes! If you teach him how to be careful...and what to do if something goes wrong.

[luvh8tragedy87]

Like everyone else said it depends on your kid. But I was about 11 when my parents started leaving me home alone for a few hours.

[dreamyxo]

Yes.