How Old Should Children Be Before They Are Left At Home Alone?
You better watch out, you better not cry. You better not pout, I'm telling you why. Yakima Schools are closing next week, and that means parents and guardians must figure out what in the heck to do with their younger kids from Thursday (Dec. 20) through Jan. 4.
If your child is not old enough to be left home alone while you are at work, what do you do with your kid(s) during winter breaks?
I was 9 years old when my parents left us home alone while they were at work. My younger brother was 3 years old, and quite the handful, I might add! I remember calling my mom at her job all the time to complain that my brother had chased me around the house with a baseball bat (another time he chased me with a pair of scissors)! My mom was very frustrated with all of my calls and finally told me not to bother her unless someone was bleeding or had broken bones!
Washington state does not have a set age dictating how old a child can be left alone, but the guidelines hover around not leaving kids younger than 8 years old at home by themselves for any length of time. Do you think that is too young to leave a child home alone?
Remember Kevin in the movie, Home Alone? He was 8 years old when he was left by himself and he singlehandedly destroyed any would-be robbers. That's the movies though -- in real life, your kid might not be so lucky! Good luck!