Comments on: Leaving kids home alone

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:42:00 +0000

There's a theory going around that if you cotton-wool children at a young age from risk taking then when they are off the leash as teenagers the risk taking they employ is often fatal.
The risk taking can be things like fast driving, drugs, alcohol etc.

I believe that allowing children to engage in small and controlled risk-taking is a valuable learning experience that produces better balanced and mature teenagers.

Allow children to experiment on swings (and occasionally fall off), ride a skateboard down a hill, play with other children, climb trees, make mud pies and have a fight with them.

By: Glenda Larke

Glenda Larke — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 06:33:00 +0000

To tell the truth, I was really impressed with the maturity of European teenagers when we were living in Austria. And I wonder if it might not be because they are given more responsibility at a younger age.

Vienna was a great place for kids to explore by themselves - everywhere accessible by bus/train/tram/u-bahn - and no mad traffic roaring around. I think my girls were very lucky to have spent a formative part of their life there.

the funny thing about govt interference in the family is that so many kids who need intervention don't get it. Instead you get stupidity. Here's my daughter's in-laws in US - mother a paediatrician, father stay at home dad. Has baby with fever. Gets prescription, goes to pharmacy. By the time he gets there, he has 2 kids sound asleep in car, so he leaves them there and goes in to get the medicine.

Comes out and gets arrested for parental neglect. All of 5 minutes.

By: Jo

Jo — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 05:55:00 +0000

I don’t understand this as there are many kids out there who babysit for people and are certainly younger than 17. Or does the length of time make a difference do you suppose? A lot also depends on the area, as you said when you were in Vienna it was pretty crime free at the time.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 03:17:00 +0000

I suppose that is true as well, and I do believe that every family has the right to their own arrangements. But these days, if you leave your kids at home, you have to be worried of the neighbours reporting you to DOCS. Sad, really.

By: Glenda Larke

Glenda Larke — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 02:59:00 +0000

I feel that sensible kids can only benefit from the experience, quite frankly – and become more aware of how much Mum does! However, as I said, it was a very safe place, there were neighbours – sharing a wall! – who were very supportive, and a load of back up.

I guess a lot depends on the kids.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 02:35:00 +0000

I find this a really scary post. In today's age of paranoid parenting, where does government interference stop?

I know of divorced fathers scared to hug their kids for the fear of being labelled sexually abusing.

I know a mother who lost custody of a 3yo for a year because he fell off the swing and the parents couldn't prove it wasn't abuse.

At what age would children be considered old enough to stay home by themselves? I know mine would - they are 11, 13 and 15 and if an emergency arose, I would no doubts about their ability to survive. They'd even do the shopping.

However, the question is: would I leave them alone?

In my case: only in an utter emergency.

I don't think it is fair for both parents to go on a holiday while they're at school, and in our case, there would be no reason other than a holiday for us both the be away from home at the same time. I believe in solidarity as a family in good times and in bad. Term times are obviously bad times ;-)

But I do believe that every family should be allowed their own views and habits. What would you do if you were a single parent and had to travel for work? Government should keep their big noses out unless there is evidence of maltreatment.

Geez, this scares me.