We started leaving our son when he reached 12. We are confident to leave him at home because we know that he is responsible enough to handle unexpected situations or emergency. Besides we registered him to SafeKidZone to ensure his safety. It’s a panic button alert installed on his cell phone that would help him in times of emergency. In just a press of it, he would be able to put his trusted friends and family members in a conference call and will notify them that he is in danger. It is really very helpful for him because he will also be notified if he is near at danger zones. If you want to check it out, this is their site http://safekidzone.com/

My parents BOTH worked - I remember in 1970, at the age of 10, watching my 2 sisters, 8 and 3 then, ALL summer long...and you know what? We survived. Parents need to sack up and take some PARENTING classes, and TEACH their kids RIGHT FROM WRONG...and stop blaming OTHER people for their problems. Us kids KNEW our boundaries, and we did not have the INTERNET, or 600 channels on TV...we did CHORES...we CLEANED up the house, and IF there was a problem, the OLDEST one called MOM/DAD to have them take care of it. Spare me with this welfare state and EBT and Head Start daycare...ANYONE ELSE here wonder why the economy is the way it is? Start here...LAZY kids = LAZY workers later...FREE daycare = FREE medical/dental medical and EBT dependency later...I got a GREAT idea...close the office at California and Union and SEE HOW MANY people actually HAVE TO GET A JOB in this town...

momof3-so what do these parents do that are trying to work menial jobs to stay off welfare and can neither afford private chid care nor qualify for subsidized child care? Quit and go back on welfare? AS long as affordable child care is limitted to chronic welfare clients or two income families, there will be kids staying home alone. If you raise your kid right and instill safety skills in them at an early age, why couldn't they stay home alone? Get real people. Lack of choices do not make us neglectful parents!

I agree with jhodge and I was a single working parent. It is no wonder why so many kids are into bad things these days. I see on a daily basis the low of society and would never forgive myself if some piece of trash was able to get to my kids! No way!!

jhodge-obviously your not a working single parent.

leaving children home alone is asking for trouble. Why would a caring responsible parent ever want to leave their precious child home alone, it doesn't make sense. You may think a child at age 12 is mature enough but think again, he/she is still a child and needs to be looked out for. No way would I ever leave my child home alone, not even for 5 min.