NickFeb 25

Just read a 1989 Calvin and Hobbes strip about Calvin being deliberately left home alone, unwisely, for a couple of hours. Calvin is 6.

The NSPCC says there is no set legal age and “while every child is different, we wouldn't recommend leaving a child under 12 years old home alone, particularly for longer periods of time.”

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/advice-for-families/home-alone/

How old were you when your parents first let you be at home alone?

8 or under
39.4%
9-10
27.9%
11-12
16.3%
13 or older, or they still won’t
16.3%
Poll ended at .
Staying home alone

Explore the NSPCC's expert advice on when and how to safely leave your child home alone, including legal guidelines, readiness indicators, and safety tips.

NSPCC
Show threadPinchy63 🇨🇦Feb 25
@Nickiquote
I was babysitting other kids at age 9.
Show threadNick
@Pinchy63 You must have been The Responsible One.
Feb 25 at 6:09pmWeb
Show threadPinchy63 🇨🇦Feb 25
@Nickiquote
I sure was. Plus I enjoyed the money.
Show threadKim Possible Feb 25
@Pinchy63 @Nickiquote I gotta know the hourly rate.
Show threadPinchy63 🇨🇦Feb 25
@kimlockhartga @Nickiquote
There was no hourly rate. Usually you got 20 bucks for the whole night. Better money if the parents came home drunk which was often.
Show threadKim Possible Feb 25
@Pinchy63 @Nickiquote oh my!
Show threadPinchy63 🇨🇦Feb 25
@kimlockhartga @Nickiquote
It was the 70s. Attitudes were different.
Show threadKim Possible Feb 25
@Pinchy63 @Nickiquote True that. I started babysitting in 1976. I got paid $1.00 an hour.
Show threadPinchy63 🇨🇦Feb 25
@kimlockhartga @Nickiquote
Not bad wages for sitting at someone’s house, eating all their chips and drinking all their pop. At least that’s what I’d did.
Show threadKim Possible Feb 25
@Pinchy63 @Nickiquote oh wow. My clients did not care for that.
Show threadPinchy63 🇨🇦Feb 25
@kimlockhartga @Nickiquote
Oh wow. That’s too bad. Mine would order pizza for us all if the kids were still up when I got there. There were always snacks too.
Show threadKim Possible Feb 25
@Pinchy63 @Nickiquote man. I had a cheapskate neighborhood. 😁
Show threadKaren D 🇨🇦Feb 25
@Pinchy63 @kimlockhartga @Nickiquote
That's all true except some drunk dads drove you home and wanted to ... give you a tip.... 😵‍💫🤬🤢
Show threadKim Possible Feb 26
@KarenDorman @Pinchy63 @Nickiquote oh nooooooo.
Show threadPinchy63 🇨🇦Feb 28
@KarenDorman @kimlockhartga @Nickiquote
OMG yes! I remember walking home many a late night because I didn’t want to get into the car with a drunk dad.