[-al-]

I guess 10, but I would do laps of a big block, not walk 15mins one way and then come back, or do a circut, just so if something does happen you can get back in a reasonable amount of time.

[Aqua Kitty Kat]

Probably around 12. It's hard to say when yours aren't quite that old yet.

[Overtherainbow]

Depends on the child and neighborhood. We live in a great street where kids know everyone and neighbours help out which is great. My eldest is immature for his age, we're gradually giving him more responsibility and I'd say 11/12 he'd be ok but I'd be only walking a 2 block radius and doing lots of laps.

My concern is that chn know to ring 000 but may forget to press talk. They may forget that in a fire getting out is more important than collecting their favourite toy and may let a stranger in if they gave a good reason.

Get a skipping rope and jump in the backyard ;-)

[aprilrain]

Wrong. There is no set age at which a child cannot legally be left at home alone. Provided the parents have made adequate provision for their care.

Qld fact sheet

Steph

People in Qld have been charged with "leaving a child under 12 home unsupervised for an unreasonable amount of time" the judge gets to decide whats unreasonable, not the parent. Especially if there is an incident.

I'm not saying I think this is the way it should be, I left my son at home when he was nine, watching tv, when he had a broken leg and had plaster toe to thigh. It hurt him to move, so I would drop the others at school, go to woollies etc with my mobile, I could be home in 5mins, and would ring him when I was gone. I'd never heard of courtcases where it was a problem. I would hate somebody to end up humiliated in the media because they'd made a decision like this.

[jofisk]

I have left DD1 home for 30 mins alone when she was 9 years old. DD2 was nearly 6 yrs old when she was at home by herself for 15-20 mins 3 afternoon a week after the school bus dropped her off from school. I was at DD1 school collecting her so only 2-3 min drive away and DD2 would always ring me and locked the house when she got in. This went on for the whole year as she was the first child off the bus in the afternoon and I couldn't be home at the time.

DD1 nearly 13 gets left alone for about 7 hrs on pubil free days as I need to work and no OHSC will take her in my area. I have done since beginning of Term 3 last year. She always phone me when she wants something or needs help. I work 10 mins drive away and my mother is usually is available if she wants to be with her. DD2 usually goes to my mum's on these days, but my mum does cope well with having both my girls together.

[-al-]

There should be a law made perhaps children under 8 not allowed unsupervised, children between 8-12 under reasonable conditions (with guidelines)
People in our neighbourhood would leave thier 3 children under 9 years old the youngest 3 years old (and the younger two 6 and 3) by them selves FOR HOURS!!!!!!!!
I would often see the baby when she was not yet 3 following the older ones down the street - her on foot them on their bikes as they rode around the neighbourhood. I rang child protection....there was nothing they could do unless I reported it at the time and they found the kids in danger.

[Carmen02]

my almost 10yr old i would leave alone for a half an hour now but by herself not with her 7yr old brother she would be very good at that...DS on the other hand i was having a shower the other day and gave them a talk about no opening doors to anyone i dont care if its daddy with a lost key or answering phones...get out of the shower and DS had let my mum in! and he didnt know it was her when he opened the door!

[idignantlyright]

I left my son at home when he was nine, watching tv, when he had a broken leg and had plaster toe to thigh. It hurt him to move, so I would drop the others at school, go to woollies etc with my mobile, I could be home in 5mins, and would ring him when I was gone.

I am still at this.
Why would you do that?
I wasn't even keen to leave DD17 whilst she was sick to just run up to the shops. There was too much that could go wrong, and I would have hated myself if it did. I could not imagine leaving a 9yr old home alone with a broken leg.

[Wrangler]

I have left DD1 home for 30 mins alone when she was 9 years old. DD2 was nearly 6 yrs old when she was at home by herself for 15-20 mins 3 afternoon a week after the school bus dropped her off from school. I was at DD1 school collecting her so only 2-3 min drive away and DD2 would always ring me and locked the house when she got in. This went on for the whole year as she was the first child off the bus in the afternoon and I couldn't be home at the time.

DD1 nearly 13 gets left alone for about 7 hrs on pubil free days as I need to work and no OHSC will take her in my area. I have done since beginning of Term 3 last year. She always phone me when she wants something or needs help. I work 10 mins drive away and my mother is usually is available if she wants to be with her. DD2 usually goes to my mum's on these days, but my mum does cope well with having both my girls together.

My Bold.
Really. So she was 5??

[qak]

In the case of the boy with the broken leg - what if there was a fire & he couldn't move to escape?

This post has been edited by qak: 20/01/2012, 06:00 AM