8 is too young to stay at home, I think 12 is more appropriate, but it is a personal choice.

No i think 12 sounds more like it. I know I wouldn't be able to leave my daughter home alone. She is not ready for that at all. I mean she is scared to walk to the bathroom at night by herself, she for sure is not ready for that. Thank you though for the advice, at least now I know that I am not being over protective...

:-)

My older son was capable at 8, but I didn't allow it until he was 10 and that was only for 10 minutes after school one day a week. He has taken multiple safety/home alone classes and is babysitter certified...now, my younger son, I'll see if he's ready at 10, 11 or even 12...if he is, it's going to be limited...he's just not the same as my first born - he's adventurous where my older one is cautious. Anyway, there is no law for age in our state to stay home, but I believe there is in some states. Also, the federal recommended age is 10, and I believe that is limited to time as well, something like 1-2 hours. Anyway, if you're not ready - I don't blame you, and nowadays, I don't think it's overprotective on any level....my younger son's daycare has a 13 and 14 yr old that attend during the summer. Parents decided they just couldn't and won't be left alone. BTW - my kids may stay home for 30 minutes to a couple hours alone, but I don't let them ride their bikes more than a block away either...at least at home I know they are there and are behind lock and key! :)

Your not being overprotective. I have 3 daughters, 12, 10 and 7 and seems that everything is pushed at an early age. My eldest daughter would have been capable but was insecure at 8 to be left home alone. We really started in small 10 minutes here, 20-30 minutes tops at around age 10, but more mid-10. It is definitely a personal choice and siblings make it all that more interesting. Our state recommends age 12 and I'm babystepping into it. This summer is the first that 12 (who will be 13 next month) has had any real babysitting time with her sisters which lasted about 10 days for about 4-6 hours per day and that was plenty. Only do what you feel comfortable with. There is nothing wrong with them knowing the basics in the event of an emergency, but there is nothing wrong with letting them be kids and be a caring parent and not rushing into having them grow up. That is my motto anyway and it's tough to stick to that in the day of fast moving lifes, cell phones, texting and the works. And no, 12 does not have a cell phone, yet... we're seriously considering for her birthday as she'll be entering 8th grade this year, she only uses the house e-mail and phone and no FB or online accounts other than things like Club Penguin which she really doesn't do anymore, but 10 and 7 do.

Hang in there! Keep up the good work!

There should be state laws that tell you....just to make sure that you don't get in troube with the authorities. Now, the law might say 11, but your child may not be mature enough....it is a personal choice. We have an 8 year old girl & I would not leave her home alone. To each their own:) Good luck....we are all on this path together.
-Jennifer

Richard will be babysat until he is 15, and e then when he gets of age-HA! I will have an older male there to make sure he doesn't get a girl over or anything..................................

8 is too young, ten is ok for an hour no longer.

I think 8 is WAY too young to stay at home by their self. I have a 10 year old and I would not leave him home either! I know that I can go over things with my kids but I know that if it came down to the crunch they would not remember the first thing. I do not think that you are being over protective, you are doing your job as a parent. Best of luck!

I agree with everyone so far...8 is too young to have a child stay home alone. Even at 10 I would be a little nervous (I would have two 10 year olds at home, one with Aspergers, that fight all the time...). I know my mom let me stay home alone at 10, but it was also a different time back then. I'm thinking 12 or 13 sounds better.

I agree 8 is way too young, double digits, I think when they're a teen.

I was left home alone at 8, but only for an hour tops, if my parents had to go shopping and I didn't want to go or something. They went over a plan with me in case anything went wrong, and they never left me if our older neighbor wasn't home, just in case I got scared I could go over there. I did start staying home alone longer when I was 10, and I even looked after my baby brother sometimes. But I wasn't alone for hours at a time untiil I was 12.

I was very self sufficient and I always knew what I had to do if something happened. Make sure you have a plan is something happens when they are alone, and go over all the time, just to help keep it in their heads, and yours.

i know where you are coming from!! my 8 yr old wants to stay home alone also when he doesn't want to go where i have to go, but NO WAY!!! i told him 12-13 would be more like it :}