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A:
At age nine or ten, it would be appropriate to leave your son
at home alone if he's interested. I would suggest no more than
half an hour to start, with his knowing exactly where you are
and how to call you. It's also important that you're not far away.
Depending on how your son handles it and the general safety of
your neighborhood, you can gradually increase the amount of time
for his independence, but don't hurry.
By age 12, children are eligible for baby-sitting
classes. They're good for all children whether or not they're
interested in baby-sitting. They provide some important safety
tips and kids will listen more carefully to an instructor than
they will to their own parent.
Dr. Sylvia Rimm, Phd
Copyright © 2000,
Creators Syndicate, Inc.
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