When you were a child , when did you first get left home alone? (babysitter, parent)

[Harpaint]

At 8 was left alone for about an hour before school. I didn't like it at all and usually went over to the neighbor's house after about a half hour.

[clearlevel]

I was left alone the whole time, pretty much. My parents worked a lot. I don't remember that much, though, but it did help me, because I can just be by myself all the time, and it's not a big deal.

[ovi8]

I was 9 and my brother was 7. We just moved into a new house and my parents went back to get more stuff - maybe an hour but it was already dark. I decided it would be cool to bring my little bro out for an adventure - binoculars and all - we walked out of the house and started looking for mom and dad as a sort of fun thing. My parents happened to drive home shortly after and saw us across the way from the road. Apparently (and probably lucky for my parents), none of the many cars driving by thought anything of 2 little kids walking around by themselves at night. Needless to say, it wasn't smart on any of our parts.

I could never imagine leaving my boys alone [for hours] any younger than 10.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

I don't remember when I was first left alone. When I was four, I was left at an aunt's house while everyone else went elsewhere for an entire day. I thought maybe I could call them and remind them that they'd left me all by myself, but I didn't know the phone number of the house where they went.

I was about 8 when I started to babysit other little kids in my neighborhood.

[emm74]

I was a latchkey kid starting at age 9, after being left my with my older sister about a year before that (she was 11 or 12). I would not have left my own kid home alone at 9, but not because things are so different now, he's just a different kid than I was - he was completely against the idea of being home alone and at that age, felt like he'd need to be about 13 before he'd be ready. Interestingly, he wasn't quite 11 when he decided he was ok with it after all.

[spencgr]

Don't know when I was first left alone, but I know I was babysitting the neighbor kids overnight when I was 11. So, it must have been well before that.

[Coldjensens]

All Alone? I have two older siblings and one younger, so I am not sure I was ever alone. Maybe by accident at some point,

For a long period, like weeks, I think I was about 15 or 16, probably 16 because I must have been able to drive to go get food or other necessaries.

For a short period More than 5 minutes? Hours? Do you count a few seconds?

[HighFlyingBird]

I was 9 and my sister was 11...but she didn't "watch me" as planned, so pretty soon my parents let me stay home alone without her. I don't remember being bothered. It wasn't for super long periods of time, just a couple hours. When I was 14 I was left "alone" (alone except for all my friends I would invite over) for a couple days at a time.

I started letting my son be home alone when he turned 11 for an hour here or there. My daughter is 10 and I don't think she will be staying home alone any time soon. She just isn't emotionally mature enough. My son could handle an emergency where my daughter just cant. But I will leave them together. We live on a very safe street and have good neighbors too.

Where I raised my step kids, there was so much crime, I don't think I left them alone until they were 14 or 15. And even then not for long.

[tnff]

I don't actually remember when I was left at home alone, but I know I was wandering the woods alone at a pretty young age. My kids were older than I was however because we live in a world where I was more scared of someone calling children's busybody services on us than something actually happening.

[Angie682]

Latch-key kid in the 70's. Got myself ready for school in the morning and to and from school in the first grade. My parents used to set the timer on the stove so I would know when to leave.