We've recently begun allowing our nine year old son to stay home while I run his eight year old sister to CCD or dance class (five minutes tops into our small suburban town). I also take the five and three year old with me too. He's done well, although it just about kills me until I get home. However, he's very bright, knows not to answer the phone or open the door and has my cell phone number. Being the oldest of my four, he so often gets lumped in with my younger kids when it comes to things like bedtime time, activity choices and such. So it was about time he got to do something and be treated like an older kid. I think it's giving him small bits of confidence each time we do it, although it's giving me gray hair! Plus, we live in a neighborhood and our next door neighbor is almost always home, so there are "safeguards" in place. However, although only a year apart, I would not leave my eight year old daughter at home. She just doesn't have the common sense yet nor the maturity.