Comments on: At What Age Can You Leave Your Kids Alone in a Hotel Room?

By: Dawn

Dawn — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:31:38 +0000

I am wondering what age everyone thinks is appropriate for a kid to be in the OCEAN by themselves. My ex let our 10 yr old go down to the beach and in the ocean with his girlfriends 15 yr old son. I was a little shocked, as I always insist on an adult being on the beach while my son is out there. Of course my ex thinks its no big deal, so I am just wondering if others feel I’m over protective in this situation.

By: Michele Bauer

Michele Bauer — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:34:34 +0000

As parents, our job is to help children grow into independent adults. This requires that we gradually provide growing amounts of responsibility and autonomy. Age and intelligence do matter. In fact, they are crucial in determining how to react and guide our children. The law requires that we act as reasonable people under the circumstances. Certainly a 7 year old child who is happily watching a movie or television program in a locked hotel room while the parents walk 200 yards away for an hour or two is within the realm of reasonable behavior.

I provided my child with a cell phone to call me, instructions not to leave or open the door for anyone and to enjoy her movie. She requested to remain in the room and watch rather than join the adults. She called once or twice to make contact. She knew where we were and was not afraid. She joined us for desert. She felt independent and proud and had a good time.

It is true, bad things happen and not all people are good. However,these are the exceptions and not the rule. We must help our children learn to live life sensibly and without fear, growing into confident mature adults able to navigate situations and embrace the world around them.

By: lisa

lisa — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 06:10:30 +0000

I’m with Angie on this. I couldn’t leave children of any age in a motel room
unsupervised. Because they are just that. Children. We need to protect our children as much as we can, even if it is constantly going out of our way to do that. It doesn’t have anything to do with how “smart “we think our children are..
or if we think they are “comfortable” with it. Please do not take chances with our children. Get a sitter, and then go be carefree!

By: Nervous Nellie

Nervous Nellie — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:25:03 +0000

Kudos to all who have commented. It’s so nice to read comments from level-headed, non-judgemental people. I have two small girls (2 1/2 and 1) and I’ve only been away from the oldest when I gave birth to the little one. We haven’t even spent a night away as a couple yet! You guys give me so much hope that we’ll be able to travel and make good decisions for our family. Of course, when we’re comfortable!

By: Get A Trip

Get A Trip — Sun, 10 May 2009 07:30:25 +0000

Travelling with kids is always a challenge, but especially in new and foreign areas you have to twice as vigilent. Every situation is different, but just remember our kids need our protection and we need our space occasionally too– so the happy medium would seem to mean take that 45 minute break during the day, not a late night stroll, leaving them alone in a hotel room. It is all age dependent too.

By: wandermom

wandermom — Sat, 02 May 2009 07:14:58 +0000

My kids are 4yrs apart (currently 8 and 12). Leaving them alone in hotel rooms has become a huge treat for us on vacations in the past year or two. Could I have left them alone when they were younger? No. I think it depends both on the maturity of the children and the age of the youngest child.
But then again, my husband and I are both Irish, as are many of our friends. We come from large, mainly catholic families who mostly grew up in low-to-middle-income rural circumstances. The houses we grew up in were all heated by open coal fires and each of us regularly watched many younger siblings while our parents were out of the house. In our vernacular, “at least there’s no coal fire” (when talking about leaving children alone at home or in hotel rooms) is shorthand for “hey, they’re much safer than we were”!!

By: Bridget Smith

Bridget Smith — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:51:53 +0000

This is a hard one. I’ve let my son stay home alone for small periods (started with 15minutes) since he was about 8.5. I’ve even had hime watch one of his younger siblings, either sleeping or occupied with TV.

I haven’t done a hotel room though. It concerns me that others have keys to my room, and it just seems too public a place. It is easy for any observer to see the adults go in and out. I don’t even like to think about having the kids in a separate hotel room when we travel due to the doors that go directly to the hall. For now, since we have three kids, we do alot of sneaking someone in.

By: MountainMama

MountainMama — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:29:09 +0000

I agree, Linda. What a pleasure to have varying opinions that have all been delivered with respect.

I love TravelingMamas.com readers!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:22:14 +0000

I never thought I’d leave my kids alone in a hotel room, but we did this last January.

At one resort in Thailand, our oldest daughter (11 years) was sick with the flu. We left her in the room, with the door bolted and she had one of our cell phones with her. She did great and we were just 50 yards away eating.

At another resort, our 9 year old got sick. We did the same thing for her; had her bolt the door behind us and left her with a cell phone while we went downstairs to eat. She called us once and we called her once. She was fine.

Would I leave the resort with my kids in a room…NO. But they were comfortable with it and so was I….I think you have to know your kids and if they can handle it.

By: Linda

Linda — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:32:45 +0000

As my kids approach those ages (the boys are now 6 and 8), it seems very young to me. I don’t think of myself as being overprotective, and we live in a very safe area, but my kids have never been home alone yet.

I don’t know when I’ll leave them alone, but I think I’d be even more reluctant to leave them in a hotel room than I would be at home.

I’m glad to see the comments here have been varied yet civil.