Teenagers home alone - Real Mum story on MoM

Im wanting everyones opinions on what age you think is appropriate to give your child the freedom to be home alone?

I have a 13 yr old boy, he finishes his first year of high school this week and I have quite a busy schedule and lots of running around to do over the next cpl of weeks. I have left him alone for small amounts of time ie 30min to 1hour. Is it ok to leave him for a couple of hours??

Also, what age do you give a child a key to the house? I want to give him independence but worry he’ll loose it and someone will have access to our home

Posted by rachh_05, 10th December 2013

9 Comments

- - mom81879 said
  - 13 Sep 2015
    7:49 pm
In my opinion, you seem to be doing fine and doing it the right way. Do little, short bursts of time for him alone at home, see how he goes. And work it from there. If he’s fine, more time, if he’s not coping, less time

- - pakeko said
  - 06 Jul 2015
    9:11 pm
Miss 13 gets left for short amounts of time, she knows how to contact me at all times and she has the neighbour should anything happen

- - mom113055 said
  - 11 Apr 2015
    1:13 pm
nice story i enjoyed it

- - mom57522 said
  - 09 Jan 2015
    7:57 pm
I think it depends on the child.

- - shazzbot said
  - 07 Apr 2014
    9:07 am
We left my 16 year old home alone for 3 nights, he is a very mature 16 year old, no parties, he cooked for himself and cleaned up. We do not live within walking distance of any takeaway shops and also no one will deliver take away food to us because we are to far away. We were very proud of him and he told us he missed us while we were away and that he wants to come next time.

- - jodie80 said
  - 26 Mar 2014
    1:19 pm
i couldnt imagine the parties my kids would have if i left them alone

- - mandyjane said
  - 10 Dec 2013
    8:47 pm
If u think he’s ready to have that responability it’s then let him. I’m one of 8 kids when we all turned 13 except the youngest 2 we all got keys to the house and the code to the alarm system as my father worked til late and our mother was in and out droping some of us off at dancing or swimming after school we also all went to different schools which made things hard. The only reason 2 never got keys is cause one has only just turned 13 the other is 16 the rest of us r all over 22 nw with our own families so our mother doesn’t do alot of driving around nw and our dad doesn’t work as late anymore. There is nothing wrong with leaving him on his own for a couple of hrs he is old enough to be just maybe right a list of things u want him to do while ur not there and u wil check it’s done as soon as ur home

- - kayc.64 said
  - 10 Dec 2013
    6:09 pm
my children never got a key to the house until they were 17 and 16, and touching on the subject of leaving children alone home I would never consider leaving my children at that age at home by themselves as you never know what could happen, I understand children need to be independent that at 13 use of age I think is too young
- mom165081 replied
  
  20 Dec 2015 , 8:00 pm
  I tend to agree with you, 13 is a little too you, but it does depend on the child.