Your bf needs to send his son to live with a responsible adult/s.

That's way too young in my opinion.

I shudder to hear what passes for parents these days. What a total idiot.

Alone for how long? I was by myself at 8 for a few hours at a time. Every child is different. Not everyone is mature enough to be left alone even at 14... But the golden number is normally 10-12 years of age.

16 years .

Go with your instincts, 8 is way too young regardless of maturity. Most community centers offer "babysitting/first aid" courses to children beginning at age 12- that sounds about right for MOST children. Maturity levels, where you live, the things that are in your home, your neighbors and neighborhood...so many variables to take into account on this one! Good Luck! *Oh, if your bf doesn't like your answer you can always point out that, at least in the state where I live, it's considered "neglect" by schools/social services to leave a child under the age of 11 alone/unsupervised afterschool.

i know grown ups who cant be be left alone let alone 8 year olds

Your bf sounds like he has some sort of mental problem. I do believe that there are laws regarding this issue. And, since the child has ADHD, that even increases the problem. If he leaves that child alone he needs to be locked up for endangering a child.

I was let home alone at nights from around that same age and develop insomnia from spending the whole nights reading while I should be sleeping, so generally it's not a good idea worst if he has ADHD.

Very few 8 year olds are ready to be left alone for any longer than a short trip to the store, and most not even that. It is best to start out small, with a half hour errand, and if they can handle that, work your way up to an hour or two shopping. Left alone for a full night of going out on the town, not until the age of 13 to 16, again depending on the maturity and experience of the child.

On the brighter side, he'll only have to try it once to learn his lesson. The ADHD kid will most likely be fine, but he probably won't have a house left. (Knew one mom with an ADHD boy - she made the mistake of "sending him to his room" once for an afternoon. Even though she'd sterilized it of everything save his bed, an night stand, and a lamp ... when she came in 30 minutes later he'd completely dis-assembled the lamp parts ... but all were still wired, plugged in, and ON.)

Most states have laws about this. I would think 8 yr even without ADHA is too young. I have two 8 yr olds right now (for 1 1/2 months they are same age) I would not even think of leaving them home alone. I do let them stay home with my 14 yr old daughter babysitting. And have been showing them they do not open the door or anyone. And testing them by coming back and ringing door bell. ----- What State are you in?

this is why they need sitters ,employ your local baby sitter,simulate the economy

I'm not sure that I would leave an 8 year old home alone for too long. Especially one with ADHD. But I think that you have to figure out at some age that you can test your children with this. Perhaps this mom thinks he can, and that's great. So leave him alone for 15 minutes while she runs to the store or post office. Then after 15 minutes is comfortable, try 30 minutes. I'm not sure I'd do much longer than that anytime soon. They have to feel like they are being given some trust and responsibility. Make sure there's a phone and I would even let a close neighbor know what's going on. There are lots of ways for her to use this as a testing and learning experience.

It depends on the maturity and intelligence of the kid. I started staying home alone when I was about 7 or 8 and I was fine. I started letting my daughter stay home alone for short periods of time when she was 9. Now she's 10 and she stays home alone for hours at a time sometimes and she's fine. So, you have to be the judge of it, based on how much you think you can trust them.

i think 10 or 11 is a good age to start leaving a kid alone for a couple hours and slowly build it up as they prove themselfs. 8 is much to younge

HELL NO....your BF is a self-centered idiot! YOU need to always do what is best for YOUR CHILD...and to hell with this bozo's ideas of what is safe and best! Our son (also ADHD/AND ADD) was not left alone until about age 14...and then only for very brief amounts of time to start...we also had cell phones so he could call us, and we would call and check on him...he would also call and check on US as he got older and the time lengthened...lol Even now, at age 21, if I'm out working late, he waits up for me to get home, and makes sure there is something for me to eat when I get home, unless he knows I'm going to eat while out and about, or with friends.

That depends on the child. Some kids are mature enough at that age, some aren't. I started staying home alone at nine, after my babysitter caught our couch on fire and I was the one who called the fire department. It was clear that I was more mature than she was, and I never had a sitter again. My thirteen year old babysitter, however, clearly shouldn't have been left home alone.

The most important factor to consider is actually not the age, but how mature the child is. For instance, it may be okay to leave a mature 12 year old alone all day, but not an immature 14 year old for an hour. While 8 seems far too young, there are some incredibly mature and advanced 8 year olds out there that would even put many adults to shame. Some kids are just extra special like that. However, the NSPCC says that children under the age of thirteen are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time, children under the age of sixteen should not be left alone overnight and babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone. In the instance of the first two, personally I think it is a judgement call. Some advice for your boyfriend if he intends to leave his son alone, it comes from the British government: * leave a contact phone number and make sure you can answer it right away * leave a separate contact list of people you trust, in case they can’t get hold of you * talk to your child before you leave about how to stay safe, and tell them not to answer the door to strangers * make sure dangerous objects like matches and knives are out of reach, as well as medicines and dangerous chemicals * leave clear instructions on what to do in case of an emergency (like a fire) * tell them what time you will be back, and don’t be late * set some basic rules about what they can and can’t do while you are out * teach them basic first aid

Others may disagree but I think 8 is too young. No matter that he has ADHD.

you can call your local police and ask them what age is appropriate.........don't call 911 or anything...hahha.......i used to date a gal and she called them when little kaylyn was 9, and they (i am in texas) said that as long as they are 9 and above and responsible for that age, that is not a problem....but, a child who is 8 and with ADHD is another thing......i do not think that he is ready yet.........take care....brian.....

14 sounds about right but depends on your kid ... and your neighbors ... and your neighborhood

your boyfriend should rethink his decision. An 8yr old ADHD kid is not necessarily capable of controlling himself. I am sure you don't want the boy to get into any trouble or hurt himself or anyone else. This is screaming DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN!!!! good luck +5

Not only is he not old enough to be left alone it is illegal Your boyfriend sounds to me as if he does not know much about looking after a child of eight. That is child neglect Even without ADHD he is still only a young child and should not be at home alone until he is about 14.

Your boyfriend is a MORON !! A child such as his should at least be 14 - 15 before left alone ... Sure hope you aren't thinking Marriage with this guy ... +5

ADHD has nothing to do with it. An 8 year old is too young to be left alone. When a child is old enough to know what to do in case of an emergency then they may be old enough. Also has to do with maturity level. They need to be mature enough to know "safety" and follow it: don't tell anyone parent's aren't home, don't open door, etc.

i'd say about 10-12, that's when i started staying home alone. and i don't think anyone should be diagnosed with ADHD until then, he's a KID, of course he's gonna be hyper with the attention span of a goldfish

I don't suggest leaving a kid with ADHD at home by himself.

If you're still in town but leave him just for a few hours 12, out of town at least 14

I also think that is way too young to leave his son with ADHD alone. I would think the very youngest a child should be left home alone is 12 or 13. They should have phone numbers to call in case of an emergency.

get him a video game that can / will absorb his attention for the duration of the interval. Is He medicated? other than school. when my son was in drug letdown(Ritalin, one before school,one at school, by 3:30 he would get massive headaches) his 5 year younger sister loved to bug him, and he was near to killing her. set up a camcorder and find out how they do when no adults are present. nanny cam them a few times and see what goes on. If they can get along and not get into mischief, then maybe you will have data for a yea or nay. I looked at your other questions the 6 y/o is yours?

You better know your state law. In my state a child cannot be left alone under the age of 12.

I do not know, I have never had an 8 year old... depends on the kid and if ADHD is his only abnormality... so many people with ADHD as one of many of their diagnosies claim it and neglect the other(s)... maybe norms have a hard time telling the difference, but pure ADHDers can usualy tell off the bat if a professed ADHDer is neglecting to tell some other disorder. generaly ADHDers get along with other ADHDers better than normals do other normals, but when you add another disorder on top they usualy irritate us. brain maladies such as bipolar disorder are amplified by the mental framework of ADHD making their behavior that much more eratic (not even ADHDers can predict their behavior)

I think 12.