Dads Debate: When Can A Child Be Home Alone?

We get a lot of dads asking us for advice and instead of giving them one opinion, we often open it up to the Life of Dad community to debate, discuss and share ideas freely. Here’s how dads responded to the question of an 8-year-old being left home alone.

Christine Stokes-Maindok: Gotta be 12 or older to be left alone, even if its only for 10mins.
This is illegal. And its illegal for a reason.
Tell your wife.. if something happened to her, she would never forgive herself. Its not worth it. Pay for child care or take her with you!
EDIT – My information is based on AUSTRALIAN law.

Dustin C. Dixon: You don’t really even need child care you can have her do an after school activity, like mma, weightlifting, sports until you are able to be there.

Jay Huhn: I feel like the people saying it’s okay don’t realize in most of the western world it’s illegal to leave your kids alone under a certain age and that most places that age is 12~ years old.

Doing so could get CPS called on you or worse for child endangerment.

Make sure you look up your local ordinances before even having this conversation.

Chad Johnston: Sometimes my 3 year old disappears for 10 or 15 minutes at a time which is basically like leaving them there. #HideAndSeekChampion.

Seriously, I would say if you raised them right, 8 is fine.

Tim Dickinson: It comes down to the child for the most part. Maybe yourself and your wife can compromise on a 15 minute block instead. I am all for free range kids. One day they will have to fend for themselves. When is the right time? What is the right age? It comes down to parental judgement, but one day they will be on their own. How much trust they are given before then may be very beneficial to them and you.

Cullen Monk: You should never be made to feel that your concerns are foolish. If you feel that your daughter is too young to be left alone, then your concern is valid. I don’t care if there are laws or not, as parents, it is your duty to ensure your daughter is safe and sound.
Your wife seems nonchalant about it and dismissive of your concerns. And that’s not okay.

Jeff McCartney: No you are being logical. In most States it is illegal to leave and 8 year old home alone. Look into your particular states laws on this. If something were to happen in that 30 minute span you can bet the state would come looking for you.

Anthony Robson: Make such decisions based on the maturity of your child. Never mind the law you know yourself if your child is capable of looking after themselves for a short while.

J Manuel Aviles Jr.: Ever heard of the term latch-key kid? I was one. There are a lot of people who are. It’s sad how it happens. But you have control over how your child gains the confidence to be on her own.

Elliott Fitchett: Dafuq?? Let an 8 year old stay home alone??
Where do people come up with this stuff??
Not only is that quite illegal, it’s fairly insane.
An 8 year old simply doesn’t have the synapses for logical thought. They develop later on in life. This is known science.

David Sweet: I feel like it depends where u live. Who your neighbors are. Etc. I grew up in northern Wisconsin and I was at home by myself at like 7 yrs old. Stop babying your kids. Its turning society into a bunch of whiners who feel their owed something by the world. Show your kids you have confidence in them and that you trust them, it’ll go a long way.

Tiago Miguel: My 6 year old stays at home alone for the period while I walk my dog… gates locked and rules apply. They can handle responsibility has long as you raise them towards being responsible for their actions. Trust your kid, she will value it. We don’t need to be helicopter dads…. they can handle a lot more than we think possible.

Brandon Lee: You’re seriously over thinking. When I was 9 I’d walk home from school and have to wait a while for someone to come home. A kid at 8 isn’t an idiot. Usually. If your kid is then you have bigger issues. But leaving and 8 year old for about 30 minutes is fine.

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