I have 7 children, 5 who attend school. Our oldest is 14 years old, then 12, 11, 9, and 7. Occasionally, they get home from school and I am running late because of long lines at the store. They know the routine-snack, homework, then they can play on the computer/watch tv. With my 14 year-old at home, I am comfortable letting them be home without me for at least an hour, while I have my two youngest ones with me running errands just around town. They know they can call me on my cell phone when they need to talk to me. The rule is that they do not go outside or let anyone in while I am not there. If kids know the rules and understand their importance, I am ok with them staying home for short periods. As far as letting them have the freedom to do the things I used to do as a kid, I think I'd have an anxiety attack every day unless they had a "homing device" on them. You just can't be too careful in this new world of abductions and depravity in the general population. Blame it all on the media with shows that glorify heinous crimes!