i have two girls 12 & 17. We have only just started to leave our 17 yr old to watch her sister but only for an hr or so  not that we dont trust her its hard to trust society with some nutcases out there.But i would never leave them alone at night.Our children are to precious to let anything happen to them and it only takes once for a mistake to happen and i dont think i could forgive my self if any thing happened to them.But at least they are responsible when we go out as i tell them dont let anyone in even if we know them till we get back home and if someone calls never tell them that an adult isnt home

Well I am 16 and I think the first time i stayed at the house by myself I think I was around problly 11 or 12 and I was fine.

I would like to say thank you to you all, and you all share my opinion and my husbands... We are trying to figure out how to fix this issue...  As it is not one we like at all, don't believe it should happen, and will find a way to make it stop...  Thanks again....

I have to agree with everyone else - no way!  We live in a relatively safe area but my kids would need to be at least 14 or so before I would leave them alone by choice, and definitely not for that long!  I understand that some people don't have a choice and their teenagers have to go home alone for a couple of hours, but 9pm is way too late! 

Im  mother of two young children and when my mum wnet back to work when my sister was 4, i wads allowed to walk home whic was a 10min walk and let myself in the back yard to play and also use the shed for my home work. I was 9 at the time.

When we moved house a year later and my mum started working a few more days i was allowed to go in the house but wasnt allowed friends over or to answer the phone unles it was the special ring. i was never alone that long maybe an hour by not until mid night.

I would never leave my kids home by themselves thatr late.

Children 12 years and under are not allowed to be left unsupervised. I would never leave any of my children unsupervised at all until at least 16 especially the way the world is today, also there would be no-one to support the child if they needed support , no-one to make sure the school work is done and no-one to fix them dinner. Children even aged 12 need the love and support and devotion of having a parent at home at all times, if parents are both working they should have a relative or carer to be there for the child.

I would not agree with that long. When my son was 12 I worked and he had to be at home for an hour on his own before I got back and that was freaky enough. Also the day may be fine but I don't like the idea of kids alone at night. It's scary enough when you are an adult and have to do it believe me!

no way at all. not in todays society. maybe 15 but no way at 12

I had to leave my son at home before or after school because Im a single parent and had to work. I hated it every day I have since found out it is law that chn under the age of 12 are not to be left alone.

Here is  a link for Australia laws...

http://www.parentlink.act.gov.au/parenting_guides/specific_issues/home_alone

xx cazza

I would have to say a really big NO on this one. 12 year olds need a parent at home when they get home from school. If the child has had a really bad day at school the poor kid has to go home and brew over it and has no one to talk to through with.

Also the other thing would be what happens if the child decides that they don't need to go straight home, they could be walking around the streets at all hours of the night.

One more, who would get this poor child dinner?

Hope this helps

Juzzy