I think it's fine for an 8 yr old to stay in the car to finish her book if you're just running in quickly. I do take issue with the baby she's left to watch... couldn't someone stay?

I wouldn't leave my kid in the car. No way. I mean, there are psycho's out there. There are crazy drivers who slam into cars in parking lots. As a kid, I was terrified to be in the car alone. Since I was scared as a kid, I guess I am scared as an adult thinking about what I would do with my kids. My parents never left either of us in the car. I would rather take the time to get the kids put together and out of the car and take them in for a 2 minute trip than compromise their safety.

Ehhh...this is tough. It really depends on the neighborhood, how long you'll be gone, and the maturity of the kid. I only started leaving my little cousins when I go in for gas this year, and only because she's 9 and he's 12 and almost 6'2". I think he could fight someone off. I probably am a little more wary about it because they're not my kids, so I really couldn't say.

I think an 8 year old watching a baby in a grocery store parking lot is perfectly fine. Most 8 year olds are capable of watching a kid for 5 minutes.

I leave my 6 yr old, 3 yr old and 7 mo old in the car when I grab the mail, but it's in a parking lot for about 10 cars and about 10 steps to the building and about 20 steps inside for the mail. The round trip takes me about 5 minutes at most. It's usually only on very cold/hot/rainy days when we've had to drive somewhere for something. The kids are always buckled so they can't play with the car, the doors are locked and the windows closed. I will leave it running with the auto start in the hot summer or cold winter, so even if someone tried to move the car, it would turn off. It's also only about 5 blocks from our house, so it doesn't happen often as we normally walk it.

i would probably have stuck around until the parents showed up. we were over by costco a few weeks ago, at a speciality food store. there was a car parked on the street with a child about 6 in it. she was looking around a little nervously and not seeing anyone i walked over to where she was and asked where her mommy was. she knew enough not to talk to me, so i walked (with my girls) about 15 feet away and waited.

it was about 5 minutes before her dad came out of a pool supply store across the street. it's not a very nice area, and i thought it was a poor choice. then he glared at me i don't leave my kids in the car alone EVER. my husband will, for something like a receipt at the gas station, or to get a replacement item at the drive through. i wish he wouldn't.

12 seems old enough to be in the car w/o adult supervision during the day, in a nice neighborhood, safe weather (lol, guess it will be awhile).

I think children can be left in de car from about 6 years old. Especially if it's more than 1 child and it's just for a few minutes.

If someone would keep watch on my car I would probably glare at them too! We all parent differently and should respect each others choices.

i would never leave a child in the car alone or with another child. it only takes a few seconds for someone to snatch up a child. a child or even two can not fight off a adult who is trying to take them. age 12+ then maybe if its only for a short time and i leave them with pepper spray or something to protect them.

I agree with Akpril. 8 is pretty old.

I waited in the car reading all the time when my mom went grocery shopping. It was win-win.

I lived in the suburbs of the Midwest and spent countless minutes sitting in the car when the weather permitted with my little sister (three years younger than me) waiting for Mom or Dad to come back from the bank, the post office, Lowe's or the grocery store. If it's not too hot or too cold, I wouldn't think twice about leaving a seven or eight year old in the car if I was just running quick errands, as long as we lived in a safe neighborhood (like I did as a child). It was never "You stay in the car and wait for me to come back," though. We were asked on essentially every shopping trip, "I'll only be a minute, do you want to wait in the car?"

I'm with you, dani. It really depends on so many factors. My initial response was to say around 10, but it's so situational. It depends on the child(ren), the length of time he will be left alone, the neighborhood, etc.

well I guess it depends on where you live but I would never leave my kids in the car. If they are 8 or older what kind of trouble will it be for them to just go into the store with you. Aside from that it is absolutely illegal to leave your children in the car in Texas, I am not sure what the age cut off is but I am pretty sure an 8 year old cannot be left in charge of an infant or toddler. The police can actually take you to jail and have CPS pick up your kids and they have!

just today in norwalk california a man left his kids in the car while running into the store, when he came back his car was gone along with his children. a local buisness caught the whole thing on tape so hopefully they will find the kids

the car was found in Compton...the children were 4 and 2 and the father had left the car running...the kids were ok, luckily.