Here’s a long-standing parenting question: at what age is it OK to leave your child at home alone?
It’s a complicated question. Obviously, there’s no perfect, universal age, as a number of factors — like your child’s maturity, comfort level, the availability of neighbors, etc. — should be taken into account.
There’s a great post at Babble about it. Today, a lot of parents today are leaving their kids home not out of necessity but as a way to help them learn from the experience. The article also discusses how in many cultures, kids are left alone at a young age, though it’s generally looked down upon at the U.S.
What age is appropriate for a child to be left home alone?
From Strollerderby. Photo by Daniel Y. Go.