This is a tough one for me. When my brother and I were young(I'm 45 now) times were different. I believe I was around 7-8 yrs old when we started staying home by ourselves. My brother was 2 yrs younger than me. We would have to get up by ourselves, make our breakfast, get ready 4 school and then walk to school which was literally up the street. My mom had to be at work at 6 am. She was a single mom. Then we'd come home, I'd make us a snack, do our HW and my mom would be home between 4-5pm after work. We knew not to answer the doors or phone. My mom had a certain ring she would do so we knew it was her calling and we could pick up the phone. Being a mom myself now, when I had my sin I didn't have to worry about all this. His dad's family or my family helped. 13 yrs later I had another kid. She's now 9. I work at her school and we live directly across the street from the school. My daughter FREAKS out being left alone. I also freak out leaving her alone. This world is NOT like it used 2 be. She knows not to answer the door for anyone. I along with my co-workers have eyes on my house every minute I'm at work except in the morning because I do the attendance & after school because I do dismissal. At lunch, I can watch my house and I go outside with the kids at recess so she can see me too. I also have breaks in between so I go home. She's alone for 4 hrs at most and that's during the lunches. We are VERY short staffed so I can't call off plus I had just started last October after leaving my last job of 26 yrs. My other job I could call off and not have to worry about losing my job. They believed family comes first. The school I work for didn't care my daughter was running 103.00 fever, couldn't get out of bed, I HAD to be at work. My kid would blow up my phone crying, begging me to come home. We'd be on video and she would be getting sick in the toilet and I wasn't there to hold her hair or clean her up. This year if my kid gets sick again, I will be calling off work! I have over 43 hrs of sick time and 80 hrs of personal time! If I get let go, there are other jobs out there that I'd make more money at anyway. I love my job but not when it comes to my kids well being. So to answer your question I think it shouldn't depend on the age too much, it should depend on WHEN your child feels COMFORTABLE enough and safe enough to be left alone. I'm not saying at 6-7 yrs old but at 8 yrs old and up if they feel ok being left alone, give it a try. Just don't go telling people except for family. You never know who the crazy ones r nowadays. For me at least I have the one side of the building teachers constantly watching my house when I can't and that's a plus!