Parents are learning when is a good age to let their kids be independent.
You want your kids to be safe…
You want to be abiding by the law…
But you’re also wondering if it’d be okay for your kids to be home by themselves after school for a couple of hours before you come home from work…
Or if it’d be okay if you run out to the grocery store after dinner while they’re home by themselves.
Generally speaking, a child must be 12 years of age or older before you are legally permitted to leave him home alone for any period of time. In some states and municipalities this may be different, and before you even consider doing so, check with your local law enforcement agency to know the laws.
But age alone is not the only indication of whether it’s a good idea to leave your child at home by himself…or with young siblings.
Read the full article to find 5 things to consider when you’re thinking of leaving your kids at home by themselves…
You’ll also find 5 suggestions for helping your kids get familiar with the idea of staying home by themselves; starting with just leaving them alone in the house for 30 minutes while you walk the dog or go around the block to see how they do with that short amount of time by themselves.
The Age of Independence [Parent]
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