Thoughts on 6 y/o left home alone?

RunTheBull13 · 2023-08-08T11:58:00+00:00

Not old enough i think. I would call CPS next time it happens. They won't take the kid away from her unless they find more. They will make a visit and talk to her and the kids. You have official documentation of this if needed in the future.

azwildcat74 · 2023-08-08T12:56:04+00:00

Many individual states have rules/laws around when kids can be left alone, my particular state doesn't have a law but does have DHHS guidance of 6yo being "ok" to leave home alone for short stints. See what your state says, fact of the matter is that if guidance is that it's ok for 6yo to be alone at home nobody will do anything about it.

tvtv3323 · 2023-08-08T14:33:23+00:00

If the child is not old enough to know what do to in case of a fire, and have the maturity to be able to do that, they are not old enough to be left alone. I know some may consider that to be helicopter parenting, but that was absolutely our standard and I think it's the responsible one.

That_Ignoramus · 2023-08-08T15:32:22+00:00

It depends on the child, but... 6 is very young; even the most advanced 6 year old is just not safe without supervision. 10 minutes in the car while you run in to drop off some dry-cleaning, sure; an hour at the home with no one else there seems like it's too much.

NefariousNaz · 2023-08-08T13:44:08+00:00

These days probably considered too young.

I do know I'd be left alone at around 4 when I was growing up, and I was walking home on my own from school by the time I was 8. With all the devices like phones, cameras, ipads it would be better comparatively.

Timely_Froyo1384 · 2023-08-08T14:39:06+00:00

Female here. She is wrong, leaving a 6 year home alone is wrong. He is not of the age of reasoning. This means he doesn’t have the reasoning power to solve dangerous situations. He is also to young to handle the emotions that can result of being left home alone.

I would report her, if it was my child. Not as being vindictive but as a this is not acceptable behavior and it needs to stop for the benefit of the child.

Boo hiss on her!

Old_Payment_4335 · 2023-08-08T15:13:10+00:00

We started age 12 for longer than an hour. 10 years old fir maybe 25 mins. Also depends on child

Flashy_Yam967 · 2023-08-08T13:37:12+00:00

I think we started no later than 7 but have started testing at 6 with a 10 minute run to the store. Maybe we didn't start at 6 but definitely by 7. Many parents will say that is far too early and I will counter that every kid and situation is different. I know parents that won't leave their 11 or 12 year old home alone at all.

My state doesn't have strict age limits but a few states do.

Reflog1791 · 2023-08-08T16:08:10+00:00

You may not like it but this is not enough to change a thing.

Inviting CPS into your lives over this is a mistake. They will not even give the mom a warning about this. They will poke around and eagerly take a report of every negative thing you or your ex say about each other.

cdjohnny · 2023-08-08T12:58:04+00:00

Not even close to being old enough. Next time home alone call the police to do a welfare check.

zarx · 2023-08-08T13:51:19+00:00

Way too young, and it's dangerous. If you need leverage for custody, this might be a good one. Ask your lawyer.

chicken_po_boy · 2023-08-08T15:14:54+00:00

A house fire in 2016 near where I live claimed the lives of three of a couple’s four children. The deceased were ages 11, 10, and 7. The 9yo escaped. The 11yo died trying to save the younger siblings. The parents were attending a church meeting at the time of the fire. It was terribly tragic.

Lumptbuttcat · 2023-08-08T18:09:21+00:00

There’s no law in Florida. This means if you leave a child alone it is legal.

However, there are very strict neglect laws, where leaving a child unsupervised, especially if they are harmed, can result in very severe punishments.

“Child neglect is a form of abuse that consists of omitting or failing to provide a child with supervision, care, or services necessary to the minor's physical or mental welfare.”

Weary_Landscape_7098 · 2023-08-08T18:09:52+00:00

One of my kids almost started a fire in the microwave when they were 7. I barely caught it in time.

Efficient_Cod1147 · 2023-08-08T18:30:29+00:00

Maybe it’s cultural difference but imo it depends on the area you live as well as well if your son knows how to behave and might knows how to call mother who is reachable in this time frame

HardeeHarHar2 · 2023-08-08T21:12:55+00:00

Legally, probably not cool in this day and age. Functionally, depends on the maturity of the six year old. IMO, people don't allow kids to mature as much as they could.

San_Ra · 2023-08-09T01:47:25+00:00

No! Just no doesnt matter how independent they are no. Different country here but our laws say 12 y/o min. And even then its questionable.

In saying that my 9 year old maybe but still no and a defo, not my 6 year old.

internetTroll151 · 2023-08-09T03:22:55+00:00

No way at 6. I think maybe some kids at 10.

dadplup · 2023-08-09T05:28:03+00:00

During my divorce my daughter asked to stay with me she was 16 at the time and I had to look and do research on the subject based on my local laws and there were certain guidelines I had to follow, which they weren't too bad but, as others have pointed out you should do your research about it too about your local agencies, maybe even consult a lawyer,

If something happens to the child and it's determined that you knew he was alone and did nothing about it, they could possibly claim neglect, so just cover yourself ok?

Good luck to you

dnbndnb · 2023-08-09T17:00:58+00:00

I’m old. I was a latchkey kid at 6 with working parents. I don’t think it has any negative impact on me and if anything it was a positive for me. Much depends on the child, and the environment.

Title	Thoughts on 6 y/o left home alone?
Author	DaddyPower22
Upvotes	11
Comments	27
Date	August 8, 2023 11:25 AM UTC (3 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/Divorce_Men
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/Divorce_Men/comments/15lffc1/thoughts_on_6_yo_left_home_alone/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/Divorce_Men/thoughts-on-6-yo-left-home-alone.1227834 https://theredarchive.com/post/1227834

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