If I could have my way I wouldnt leave them alone ever, but my husband and I work outside the home and the kids go to school Mon - Friday so we leave Missy & Max home together for 5 hours each day. We are gone from 9 - 2, they seem to do just fine. I am sure they sleep in till almost noon then have 2 hours of play time with eachother. I take a few days off of work a month and stay home with them and thats usually how their day goes