How Old Should a Child Be When They Are Left Home Alone For the First Time?

Welcome to "Moms Talk," a weekly Patch feature designed to reach out to moms and families. New Milford Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in the borough.

Moms Talk will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start this week's conversation:

The National SAFEKIDS Campaign recommends that children be 12 or older before being left at home alone, for any length of time. New Jersey law has no mention of an age that is appropriate or inappropriate for leaving children home alone.

Bergen County's Department of Human Services offers a checklist for parents to help them make the decision about when is the right time for a child to be on their own without parental or other adult supervision.

If you have older kids, how old were they the first time they were left on their own at home? If you have younger kids, when do you see yourself being comfortable with leaving them home alone? Is there also a certain length of time or distance from the home that would affect your decision?

Tell us what you think in the comments.