I’ve read stories about the Civil War where children younger than 10 did all the hunting and work of an adult while dad went off and fought. The longest serving man in the Army joined up, as I recall, at 9 and fought in battles. He killed his first man at 9.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/the-boys-of-war/?_r=0
When I was quite young in the 60’s I was left home by myself for up to ten days. It was a wonderful experience and made me self-reliant and confident. It depends on the child. Children rise to what’s expected of them. I sometimes think we expect too little from children and protect them too much. (Donning flame protective gear and ducking under cover.)
When I was 11 years old, into and through my teen years, I lived at home by myself for weeks at a time. This was during the late 80s/early 90s. Took care of myself, did the grocery shopping, walked to school, and took care of the place. I kept the house spotless. My grandmother would just give me some money every week, until I got old enough to get a job.
Had friends over, but there was never any kind of ‘partying’. We’d just watch movies, baseball, listen to music, and play video games. We WOULD however venture out to roll an occasional yard from time to time, if someone was deserving.
My grandmother was taking care of 3 sisters for weeks at a time when she was about the same age. The youngest sister had polio and granny’s parents spent lots of time 175 miles away in Ann Arbor at the hospital. (horse drawn wagon trips)
At 9 years old my sisters and I took care of ourselves a lot. We were expected to keep the house clean, do laundry etc in the afternoons while our parents were at work.
I don’t disagree. We continue adulthood into the 20s. We don’t expect responsibility from 16 year olds.
I was a latch-key kid myself. Although it would have been nice to have my mom around sometimes, I enjoyed it.
Amazing what little humans can do.
Mom objected at first and insisted on spending the week with us, but discovered we were capable one week when a neighbor reported we'd driven the tractor into town to buy some ice cream and go for a swim at the local lake.
Of course, we got scolded, but she understood we would have means to get into town if necessary.
I sometimes think we expect too little from children and protect them too much.
(((
No flaming from this quarter. I agree. Part of the reason we have some blithering idiots among the Millennials. And the parents raising children born in this century seem to be even worse.
I agree that kids are way over protected nowadays.
Just look at how many school districts do not have playgrounds, nor do they allow kids to play tag, etc because they may get hurt.