What age can I leave my children unattended?

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

Originally Posted by polymath

My grandfather's 3rd grade teacher used to let all the boys bring their squirrel rifles to school during hunting season. I'm talking about 10 minutes. I know their are million things that COULD happen in those 10 minutes, but newsflash, we cannot remove all risk from our kids lives. And yes, I'm such an ASS that I don't require my children to wear those stupid sissy bike helmets that don't do a damn thing when they break their wrist from breaking their fall when they wreck.

Newsflash - wearing helmets protects children's BRAINS if they hit their head. I, as an adult, would NEVER consider riding without one. Went off head first in a bike accident - yeah, hit the pavement with my HELMET. Guess who could ride home after that. No helmet, I would have been riding in an ambulance.

As for helmet laws:

Ohio
Akron Under 16 2001
Beachwood Under 16 1990
Blue Ash Under 16 2003
Brecksville Under 18 * 1998
Brooklyn Under 14 2001
Centerville Under 16 1999
Cincinnati Under 16 * 2004
Columbus Under 18 effective 2009
Dayton Under 13 2004
East Cleveland Under 18 * 2004
Enon Under 16 * 2004
Euclid Under 14 2001
Glendale Under 19 * 2000
Kettering Under 16 * 2004
Lakewood Under 18 1997
Madeira Under 17 * 2002
Marietta Under 16 * 2004
Orange Village Ages 6 to 15 1992
Shaker Heights All ages over 5 inc. passengers 1997
South Euclid Under 14 2000
Strongsville Under 12 1993
Waynesville Under 17 * 2000

http://www.helmets.org/mandator.htm

[bononos again]

Originally Posted by TinkerBelleLuvr

Newsflash - wearing helmets protects children's BRAINS if they hit their head. I, as an adult, would NEVER consider riding without one. Went off head first in a bike accident - yeah, hit the pavement with my HELMET. Guess who could ride home after that. No helmet, I would have been riding in an ambulance.

As for helmet laws:


[url=http://www.helmets.org/mandator.htm]Bicycle Helmet Laws[/url]

I think this posters a troll. No one is that ignorant.

[polymath]

I smell a liberal...

First of all, children shouldn't be riding bikes where cars travel. God made sidewalks for that. Second, and seat-belt studies back this up, putting a helmet and wrist-guards on a child gives them a false sense of security, actually increasing their odds of serious accidents.

Loosen the reigns and stop sending your kids into the adult world full of anxiety and fear. I was simply looking for the LEGAL answer to a question, not parenting advice. We all have our own way of doing things.

[Antigone*of*Greece]

Originally Posted by polymath

I smell a liberal...

First of all, children shouldn't be riding bikes where cars travel. God made sidewalks for that. Second, and seat-belt studies back this up, putting a helmet and wrist-guards on a child gives them a false sense of security, actually increasing their odds of serious accidents.

Loosen the reigns and stop sending your kids into the adult world full of anxiety and fear. I was simply looking for the LEGAL answer to a question, not parenting advice. We all have our own way of doing things.

I think you are right Bononos, we got our pantie/boxers (or briefs) in a bunch over a stinking troll

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

Sidewalks are NOT available everywhere. Secondly, if they only travel around a block and cross NO street and NO driveways, then, yes, cars wouldn't hit them. But guess what - children can FALL off bicycles and hit their head on that lovely sidewalk. Don't you care about protecting your children? Don't you love them enough to make sure they are safe?

Yes, it might be a lot of work to stuff four children in the car to go a mile, but things can happen in that 10 minutes. YOU could be in an accident and NOT be able to return home in "10 minutes."

This isn't about what is convenient for YOU. This is what is in the best interest of the children.

[bononos again]

Originally Posted by polymath

I smell a liberal...

First of all, children shouldn't be riding bikes where cars travel. God made sidewalks for that. Second, and seat-belt studies back this up, putting a helmet and wrist-guards on a child gives them a false sense of security, actually increasing their odds of serious accidents.

Loosen the reigns and stop sending your kids into the adult world full of anxiety and fear. I was simply looking for the LEGAL answer to a question, not parenting advice. We all have our own way of doing things.

God didn't make sidewalks. Your ignorance strikes again!
Many neighborhoods, including EVERY one in my quiet township do not have sidewalks.
Tighten the reigns and stop neglecting your children.
Your way of doing things can get you a visit from CPS and about 4 charges of child neglect. Have fun with that!
You have received you LEGAL answer.
Go out to the local bar with your @ss crack showing low life buddies and leave your kids home alone instead of annoying us with your ridiculous views.
Maybe those idiots will back your poor parenting up. No one else will.

[bononos again]

Originally Posted by Wirelessany1

I think you are right Bononos, we got our pantie/boxers (or briefs) in a bunch over a stinking troll

Trust me, this low-life would get nowhere near nor cause anything to happen to my panties!

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

I'm with you on that one.

I write what I write in these situations in case someone comes in afterwards and looks for information in these stupid scenarios.

[nemofinder84]

Originally Posted by polymath

Our children are trustworthy for that amount of time. My wife and mother, of course come down on the neglectful side of the argument. Any responsible male attorneys with children wanna weigh in?

If their mother feels like it is neglect, wether it is legal or not, you shouldn't even be questioning it. Asking for a male lawyer sheds a little light onto you ignoring her opinion!

[Ohiogal]

Originally Posted by polymath

No offense but I'm looking for a legal answer. Our children are trustworthy for that amount of time. My wife and mother, of course come down on the neglectful side of the argument. Any responsible male attorneys with children wanna weigh in?

No offense but I gave you a legal answer. I am a FEMALE ATTORNEY WHO WORKS IN JUVENILE COURT defending idiotic parents whose children have been removed because they were left alone at the age of 10 or below or even 12 or 13. The reasons why are amazing. I have also represented children as an ATTORNEY GAL in juvenile court who were adjudicated as neglected or dependent or even ABUSED in some cases due to the facts of the case which at times included being LEFT ALONE. So why don't you try to get a grip. Or you will be seen in Juvenile Court explaining to a magistrate why a 10 year old was left in charge of a toddler for just ten minutes when windows were broke or a fire started or one of the toddlers got out of the house and was wondering the street or something of that nature happened and the police arrived and your children were removed because you decided to run down to the store/bar/library for 10 minutes.

[Ohiogal]

Originally Posted by polymath

Whether or not I'm an ass has no bearing here. Mothers tend to be more protective, which can color their opinion. Again, I'm looking for the legal answer. I can get 12 opinions in my neighborhood.

We live in the country in a small subdivision containing 6 homes. My children are close with all the neighbors, whom I trust. If we lived in an urban setting with drug dealers on the corner, I wouldn't even consider it.

Really? Meth labs been set up in nice wealthy subdivisions. Be careful what you stereotype. Children have fallen into storm sewers in nice wealthy subdivisions. Children have wandered off in small subdivisions.

[Ohiogal]

Originally Posted by polymath

My grandfather's 3rd grade teacher used to let all the boys bring their squirrel rifles to school during hunting season. I'm talking about 10 minutes. I know their are million things that COULD happen in those 10 minutes, but newsflash, we cannot remove all risk from our kids lives. And yes, I'm such an ASS that I don't require my children to wear those stupid sissy bike helmets that don't do a damn thing when they break their wrist from breaking their fall when they wreck.

If you are in my county prepare that one of the MALE magistrates will remove your children and adjudicate your children as dependent (ETA) or neglected for this bonehead move. Even if a male or female attorney is trying to tell the judge that you didn't mean to neglect them which under OHIO LAW you did. Oh and bike helmets are required in this state. Betcha think seat belts are also sissy.

[Ohiogal]

I smell a liberal...

I smell an idiot.

First of all, children shouldn't be riding bikes where cars travel. God made sidewalks for that.

God did NOT make sidewalks. Man did. And in many areas bikes are NOT allowed on sidewalks. AT. ALL.

Second, and seat-belt studies back this up, putting a helmet and wrist-guards on a child gives them a false sense of security, actually increasing their odds of serious accidents.

Really?

Loosen the reigns and stop sending your kids into the adult world full of anxiety and fear. I was simply looking for the LEGAL answer to a question, not parenting advice. We all have our own way of doing things.

Your way will cause you and your wife to have your children adjudicated as neglected at some point. Which means CSB can remove them and put them in foster care and YOU will get to complete a case plan.

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by polymath

Whether or not I'm an ass has no bearing here. Mothers tend to be more protective, which can color their opinion. Again, I'm looking for the legal answer. I can get 12 opinions in my neighborhood.

We live in the country in a small subdivision containing 6 homes. My children are close with all the neighbors, whom I trust. If we lived in an urban setting with drug dealers on the corner, I wouldn't even consider it.

Ok dad...lets look at this from another perspective....

What happens if you get a flat tire and end up being gone an hour or more?

Or you have some other mechanical problem with your car?

Or the gas station gets robbed and you are held hostage for a couple of hours?

Or any other myriad of things that can go wrong...Murphy's law you know?

Let me give you a real life example of something that can go wrong. When I was 11 about to turn 12, with siblings who were 10, 8 and 4 my mom took a summer job. My dad's office was only a couple of blocks from our house and I was VERY responsible, so they decided to leave me in charge.

The very first day I decided to discipline my sister by locking the screen door and not letting her into the house. She pounded on it until she broke the glass and cut a huge gash in her arm. While I was on the phone screaming to my dad that my sister was bleeding to death, my brother decided to take his cat for a ride on his bicycle...he then came screaming into the house that he killed his cat.

When my dad came roaring up in the car (leaving a client sitting in his office) all four of us were in hysterics. Dad got my sister bandaged up and then went outside to deal with the alledgedly dead cat. The cat was NOT dead, the cat was merely extremely ticked off because its tail was caught in the spokes of the bicycle....and the cat pretty much shreaded my dad's arms while dad was extracting said cat. In the meantime, dad's client left, never to return.

Needless to say....mom and dad paid one of the neighborhood mothers to watch us for the rest of the summer.

Look...I myself have once or twice taken risks I shouldn't have taken. Every parent has, and anyone who says that they never have, is probably lying or anal.

I would leave a trustworthy, smart 10 year old home alone for up to 30 minutes. I wouldn't leave multiple kids home alone for any time at all at those ages, simply because the odds of Murphy's Law kicking in increases exponentially.

Now...to give you a LEGAL answer...in most states its legal when the child is old enough to take the safe babysitter class...and passes said class. When no other children are involved, the average age is 12, but states vary. Do a google search if you want to find the age for YOUR state.

[swrdmbo]

I have a true story to tell as well...A child my daughter went to school with was left alone with her younger brother while dad "just ran to the store for ten minutes". She had an older brother that was 11, she was 8 and the younger brother was 4.

The youngest started choking on a sourball, the kids didn't know what to do...the older one sorta tried the heimlich, but it didn't work.

The youngest child was not breathing when the Dad returned,911 had been called...( the 8 year old ran to a neighbors), but the child did not survive.

That's just one story...A LOT of things could happen, and the more children, the higher the odds...so get a grip...what could be SO IMPORTANT that you would have to leave kids for 10 minutes??? Why can't you take them???Beer, cigarettes....whatever?? If you think your children are too much of a bother to take to the store with you you should not have had any, let alone 4!!

Can you tell? I agree with everyone else that you are truly an a**.

I know I'm risking getting banned again...but oh well..it needs to be said.