Is eight too young to leave a child at home by himself? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

BartSmith · 04-29-2006, 01:53 PM

(this was in a magazine column)A husband's wife leaves their 8 year old son alone frequently for a "short run to the store." "Sometimes she's gone for about an hour." Does anyone at SO think that's too young to leave their son alone?

~LadyJess~ · 04-29-2006, 02:03 PM

Umm...yes. Seems quite obvious to me you don't leave an 8 year old child at home alone.

Brieannas21 · 04-29-2006, 02:05 PM

I don't, as long as she's not gone for 4-5 hrs. When I was around that age my mom and dad left me at home by myself. If they had to run errands or something and I didn't want to go I would stay home. They would always say, don't answer the phone, or the door and stay inside.

retrochick9 · 04-29-2006, 02:09 PM

I think that's wayyyyyyyyyy too young, especially for boys (sorry guys!!!) That just gives them a chance to say, "Hmmm no one's here, I always wondered how this stove, lighter, fireplace works..." LOL

swedeace · 04-29-2006, 02:13 PM

Yes, it's a little young. A child that age usually doesn't have the mental capability of logically handling emergency or safe circumstances. They would understand the differences between good and bad (i.e. strangers calling or knocking at the door), but they don't always understand the importance of how to handle situations as they arise. Other things like turning on the stove, keeping an eye out for the washing machine/dryer, can be tricky if something goes wrong.

PZelda · 04-29-2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

I don't, as long as she's not gone for 4-5 hrs. When I was around that age my mom and dad left me at home by myself. If they had to run errands or something and I didn't want to go I would stay home. They would always say, don't answer the phone, or the door and stay inside.

I agree. As long as the parent(s) will only be gone for under one hour, I don't see anything wrong with it. But if it's longer than that, I would insist the child come with me, or I could take the child to a friend/relative's house until I am done with doing what needs to get done.

I was about that age when I became a latchkey kid, because my mom worked weird hours at her job at that time. I had an older sister, so my mom knew she could trust the two of us not to make any trouble. I would think that as long as the child is known to be very well-behaved and knows what not to do when they are home alone, it would be okay to leave them alone for a short period of time.

It really depends on the situation when you get down to it. In my case, I had an older sister, and I didn't -have- to stay home if I didn't want to. I could just go to a friend's house or whatever. The letter didn't mention the child having any older siblings.

EmoJoe · 04-29-2006, 02:37 PM

definitley...

Mr. Television · 04-29-2006, 03:38 PM

It's probably a little young. I think I was 10 before I was left home alone for any real amount of time. Of course I rode my bike all over the trailor park when I was 8 and it was quite large but then it was a safer time too.

Mijada · 04-29-2006, 04:18 PM

I would NEVER leave a child that young home alone even for an hour. If I were just walking down the street for a few minutes to see a neighbor or something I probably would but I would never get in a car and run to the store without taking him with me or having someone look after him. I would wait till they were 10 or 11 before leaving them alone. Anything could happen and kids that age aren't always mature enough to handle a problem should one come up. Besides all that I believe it is against the law to leave a kid that young by himself.

Courtnee · 04-29-2006, 04:23 PM

As long as the kid is known for being reeeeeeally good, i don't see anything wrong with it.

Moonlight Lady · 04-29-2006, 05:08 PM

It is way too young. I don't care how long the parent is gone for.

cralappyhappy4 · 04-29-2006, 05:54 PM

no, i stopped having a babysitter when i was 8 and my mom and dad left me, my 10 yr old brother and 6 year old sister home alone all day nothing happened besides us being hungry and not knowing how to cook

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 04-29-2006, 06:07 PM

Yes. Wow I mean maybe my parents were over protective but I nneeever stayed home alone when I was that little. That'd be me being like 8 and my sister 6. You don't leave kids that young home alone. They fight, they do **** they're not supposed to and then there's that chance of an emergency. It's not worth it.

PrettyinPink55 · 04-29-2006, 06:07 PM

Absolutely

Ireneparalegal · 04-29-2006, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BartSmith

(this was in a magazine column)A husband's wife leaves their 8 year old son alone frequently for a "short run to the store." "Sometimes she's gone for about an hour." Does anyone at SO think that's too young to leave their son alone?

04-29-2006, 01:53 PM	#1
BartSmith Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 13, 2004 Posts: 65	Is eight too young to leave a child at home by himself? (this was in a magazine column)A husband's wife leaves their 8 year old son alone frequently for a "short run to the store." "Sometimes she's gone for about an hour." Does anyone at SO think that's too young to leave their son alone?

04-29-2006, 02:03 PM	#2
~LadyJess~ Football Chick Forum Fanatic Join Date: Mar 15, 2002 Location: At the Shamrock doing shots with Mo Posts: 8,260	Umm...yes. Seems quite obvious to me you don't leave an 8 year old child at home alone.
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04-29-2006, 02:37 PM	#7
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	definitley...
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04-29-2006, 03:38 PM	#8
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	It's probably a little young. I think I was 10 before I was left home alone for any real amount of time. Of course I rode my bike all over the trailor park when I was 8 and it was quite large but then it was a safer time too.
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04-29-2006, 04:18 PM	#9
Mijada Spencers mom Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 02, 2001 Location: eastern US Posts: 4,093	I would NEVER leave a child that young home alone even for an hour. If I were just walking down the street for a few minutes to see a neighbor or something I probably would but I would never get in a car and run to the store without taking him with me or having someone look after him. I would wait till they were 10 or 11 before leaving them alone. Anything could happen and kids that age aren't always mature enough to handle a problem should one come up. Besides all that I believe it is against the law to leave a kid that young by himself.
	__________________ Proud mom to Spencer, Justine and Colleen

04-29-2006, 02:05 PM	#3
Brieannas21 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 05, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 9,792	I don't, as long as she's not gone for 4-5 hrs. When I was around that age my mom and dad left me at home by myself. If they had to run errands or something and I didn't want to go I would stay home. They would always say, don't answer the phone, or the door and stay inside.

04-29-2006, 02:09 PM	#4
retrochick9 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 07, 2006 Location: On the couch, in my jammies, watching TV! Posts: 620	I think that's wayyyyyyyyyy too young, especially for boys (sorry guys!!!) That just gives them a chance to say, "Hmmm no one's here, I always wondered how this stove, lighter, fireplace works..." LOL

04-29-2006, 02:13 PM	#5
swedeace Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 22, 2003 Posts: 9,009	Yes, it's a little young. A child that age usually doesn't have the mental capability of logically handling emergency or safe circumstances. They would understand the differences between good and bad (i.e. strangers calling or knocking at the door), but they don't always understand the importance of how to handle situations as they arise. Other things like turning on the stove, keeping an eye out for the washing machine/dryer, can be tricky if something goes wrong.

04-29-2006, 04:23 PM	#10
Courtnee MAN VS SAMMICH. Forum Star Join Date: Mar 23, 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 16,413	As long as the kid is known for being reeeeeeally good, i don't see anything wrong with it.
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04-29-2006, 05:08 PM	#11
Moonlight Lady Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 18, 2002 Posts: 16,052	It is way too young. I don't care how long the parent is gone for.
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04-29-2006, 05:54 PM	#12
cralappyhappy4 GO STEELERS!!!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 07, 2005 Location: Glassport, Pennsylvania Posts: 132	no, i stopped having a babysitter when i was 8 and my mom and dad left me, my 10 yr old brother and 6 year old sister home alone all day nothing happened besides us being hungry and not knowing how to cook
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04-29-2006, 06:07 PM	#13
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	Yes. Wow I mean maybe my parents were over protective but I nneeever stayed home alone when I was that little. That'd be me being like 8 and my sister 6. You don't leave kids that young home alone. They fight, they do **** they're not supposed to and then there's that chance of an emergency. It's not worth it.
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04-29-2006, 06:07 PM	#14
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	Absolutely
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