Man charged with leaving boy home alone while parents worked

[Throckmorton]

A Connecticut family leaves their 7 year old home alone while they work.

http://wcbs880.com/connnews/CT--HomeAlone1stLd-Wr-mn/resources_news_html

Seven is definitely too young to be left home, but what age does one leave their children home. During daylight hours, my mother left me home alone starting at the end of the fifth grade, I had just turned eleven.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

1. i was left at home alone from 2nd grade forward...starting at 7 years

both of my parents had to work and could not afford after school care for me. I was given a key to the apartment and given a set of rules to follow. I was also introduced to other adults who were home during the afternoon in the same apartment building...so I guess there are many factors that could be put into this.

theProdigal

[Throckmorton]

4. I have been told, but never actually seen the law,

but I think that Connecticut uses 10 as the minimum age, with 12 being the minimum age required to watch children under 10. But I can't swear to it.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

5. it actually helped me a lot in the long run

much better able to care for myself and don't always need someone around to feel ok. I was alone for about an hour each day and it was good time for me. I had a solid set of rules to follow and a safety net if anything went wrong. Today it would be considered neglect for certain...even though it was anything but.

theProdigal

[seabeyond]

2. legally in texas i believe

it is 12

mine are 9 and 7, if i am going out somewhere real close, like a couple minute drive home, and just a small time away, i leave them. they like to feel the independence. is hard for me, but i do. good for them. i dont know when you leave children home alone

[GodHelpUsAll2]

7. In Texas

it's 10. Last time I checked.

[samtob]

3. 18

just kidding. Call me paranoid, but I don't feel comfort leaving kids alone till they are sixteen. That sounds over the top I know, but they are my kids...my responsibility, and I would rather be overly cautious than guilt ridden for the rest of my life if something happened.

[n2mark]

6. Home Alone

Sometimes a person got to do what a person go to do! I've visited and worked at some horrible daycare centers, many overpriced. Home alone might be better. There are many daycares out there just interested in the bucks and not the child. A parent working for minimum wage or even a little more cannot afford childcare, and this is also the parent who cannot afford to take time off because they will not get paid. I don't condone it but I do understand. When my child was 7 she was 12, when she was 12 she was 7. It is difficult for parents today especially for single parents. I bet this happens more then we know.

[w4rma]

8. If one of them were being paid enough then they both wouldn't have to go

to work to support the child. Billionares need their tax breaks, though.