1) What age would you leave your child at home alone?
I think that is completely dependant upon the individual child, their level of maturity, common sense and capabilities etc. I was left home alone for several hours at a time from age 9 and for a week at a time by about 14.
2) For how long? ie what age would you leave your child all day or overnight perhaps.
Again that would depend on the individual, their maturity, capabilities and trustworthiness etc. I will leave my DS2 (age 3) for 2 minutes whilst I run to the end of the street to post a letter because I know he will just watch at the window or wait at the front door for me to come back. He's very danger aware / conscious even now so I would guess for him during the day for at least an hour or two by about age 8 but we will see what the future holds. DS1 probably never, he is ASD and at age 8 hasn't an ounce of common sense in him and struggles to retain information so even giving clear instructions would probably be quickly forgotten.
3) What age would you deem you elder child responsible or able to care for younger siblings?
I again think this boils down to the individuals concerned. How mature, sensible and trustworthy the caring child is, the age of the child(ren) you are leaving in their care thus dictating how much care they are required to give (will they be required to change nappies etc) and whether the younger child(ren) is well behaved enough to do as an older sibling tells them when you're not there to back them up.
4)Do you know what the legal age to leave children home alone is?
To my knowledge there is no definitive age.
5) If you have recently left your child alone for the first time - would you do it again?
I Kind of did at the weekend just gone and 'no' not for a long while when said child(ren) can actually prove themselves to be mature enough and trust worthy.
Basically my DP's daughter is almost 11 and I generally wouldn't trust her alone for more than 15 minutes let alone in charge of another child as she is very immature can be very silly, moreso when around other kids. At the weekend I needed to make an important phone call so I gave her a chance and entrusted her to watch her younger brother (7) my DS1 (8) and my DS2 (3) for 10 minutes whilst I popped literally across the road to my Mum's to make a phone call (no phone at mo) so I was nearby if needed, I came home to her having ruined my leather sofa by drawing / writing on it in biro and then she had the audacity to lie about it having been her that did it despite it being obvious that it was!
6) What age would you allow your child to walk home from school alone?
Again this depends as their are many factors to consider such as how far is the school, are there lots of busy roads, your child's road safety awareness and general maturity of child.
Obviously DS1 isn't in school yet but I imagine I'll probably start letting him walk alone from about age 5 or 6 (he'll be 4 when he starts next year) as it is literally a 5 minute walk, he's already very road safety aware and if he crosses to the other side of our very quiet street from the front of the house he just has to follow the road around until he reaches the lollipop man who will cross him onto the school premises, easy peasy! DS1 gets a school taxi (minibus from the front door as he goes special school). DP's children don't walk to their school as aside from the fact they are too immature and lacking in danger awareness, they dawdle and would take forever to get home / to school (its around 20mins at a half decent pace) and there are lots of very busy roads to cross.
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