School gets out at 3:00 and they'd most likely ride their bikes home. That would take them about 15 minutes and my class gets done at 5:20. It'll take me about 40 minutes to get home, so I'd be home at 6:00. So they'd be alone for two hours and 45 minutes (three hours if you count the time they travel from the school to our home).
I remember reading on a CPS site in another state their minimum age limit for children staying home alone is 8 years and only for a maximum of three hours. I know each state has their own guidelines for this sort of thing, and I can't find one for Wisconsin.
My son will be nine years old when my college classes start.
i honestly say NO! really. does a nine year old know what to do if your house catches on fire, what if he tries to cook and doesn't pay attention. nine is young, and they really aren't that mature... :\
At nine I knew what to do if the house caught on fire. :| I stayed home alone (I had siblings older and younger though) when I was 8. I was as latch key kid as they came.
I think if you were to go over all possible things.. like "don't open the door for anyone when I'm not home. no friends over when I'm not home. call me when you get in the door. if there's a fire stay low to the ground and gtfo, go next door and call 911" kind of things... 9 is old enough to follow rules and be ok on their own for a few hours.
That's what I was thinking. My mom used to leave me home alone with my brother when I was 8. He was 6. Sometimes I got nervous, but my mom had arranged for me to call my grandma when that happened. I always felt better after talking to her.
My mom is of the opinion if I didn't live a mile from the interstate, there'd be no problem with my kids staying home alone. She thinks they're both mature enough for it, especially with my son hounding me lately to just leave him home when I want to run errands he'd rather not go on.
They both follow the rules. The only thing that worries me is if there aren't any state guidelines, is this something CPS could be called for?
Since there are no state guidelines I would say that IF CPS was called they would do an investigation and determine if the children are indeed mature enough to be home alone and/or if they were in any danger by being home alone. The results would likely be determined by those findings.
Personally, I don't think ANY 9 year old is capable of making quick, responsible decisions in a life threatening situation. Even a very level headed and mature 9 year old is still a 9 year old. I wouldn't leave a child alone routinely until at least 11 or 12. My mom went back to school when I was a kid. She waited until I was 13 and my brother 11 before she went back because she knew she wasn't going to be able to afford childcare for us while she was gone.
Could you take online or evening classes so that he doesn't have to be alone? I would think you'd work your schedule around your child rather than your schooling.
BTW - Almost everything I can find online says the recommended age is 12 for most children. A few states are 8 or 9 but I also think it's one thing to run up to the store and leave them alone and a whole other thing to expect them to get home from school and take care of themselves completely for a couple of hours every day! http
I'm looking at going to college from 8 AM until 6 PM. My children get done with school at 3 PM, so there's three hours there that I need to figure out. If I can get free child care through the state, I'm going to do that. Otherwise, I'll see if they can go to their grandparents' shop after school. It's a business, but my kids are both old enough to behave while they're there. It just sucks that when I try to go out and do something to contribute to the family, my husband gives me a hard time about it because of the kids. But when I suck it up and stay at home, he gives me a hard time about not having a job. I can't win no matter what I do!
I think going to their grandparent's shop is a good idea. Maybe they can find a little space where they could do their homework or even do small work and earn some pocket money. Even if they aren't actually "looked after" there, they will at least have someone that knows they showed up every day and someone to go to for help if something were to happen or if one of them were to get sick or something.
Problem is my husband won't ask his parents about it because he doesn't think it's appropriate for the kids to be there during business hours. :(
I'm thinking about taking General Education classes and getting home before 3 PM. Maybe when they're older, I can specialize in something that will take longer.
You mention "kids" - is your nine year old the eldest or youngest? At nine I'd think he'd probably be okay by himself, but I don't think he would mature enough to handle being the one in charge of his sibling.
I was home alone at that age, but I'm the youngest so it was either just me or me and my older sister.
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I remember reading on a CPS site in another state their minimum age limit for children staying home alone is 8 years and only for a maximum of three hours. I know each state has their own guidelines for this sort of thing, and I can't find one for Wisconsin.
My son will be nine years old when my college classes start.
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I think if you were to go over all possible things.. like "don't open the door for anyone when I'm not home. no friends over when I'm not home. call me when you get in the door. if there's a fire stay low to the ground and gtfo, go next door and call 911" kind of things... 9 is old enough to follow rules and be ok on their own for a few hours.
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My mom is of the opinion if I didn't live a mile from the interstate, there'd be no problem with my kids staying home alone. She thinks they're both mature enough for it, especially with my son hounding me lately to just leave him home when I want to run errands he'd rather not go on.
They both follow the rules. The only thing that worries me is if there aren't any state guidelines, is this something CPS could be called for?
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Could you take online or evening classes so that he doesn't have to be alone? I would think you'd work your schedule around your child rather than your schooling.
BTW - Almost everything I can find online says the recommended age is 12 for most children. A few states are 8 or 9 but I also think it's one thing to run up to the store and leave them alone and a whole other thing to expect them to get home from school and take care of themselves completely for a couple of hours every day! http
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I'm thinking about taking General Education classes and getting home before 3 PM. Maybe when they're older, I can specialize in something that will take longer.
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I was home alone at that age, but I'm the youngest so it was either just me or me and my older sister.
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