The table below shows the minimum age at which children can be left home alone, classified by state, in the United States. Please note that city and county ordinances may have more definitive and restrictive laws in each state. Call your state`s DHS or local child protection agency to learn more about age guidelines in your area. The national SAFEKIDS campaign recommends leaving no child under the age of 12 alone at home. Finally, if it is necessary to leave children alone at home – at least if older children are involved – you can follow these recommendations: When it comes to the age of the child, eight different areas are acceptable for each state. These areas are the ones that states have decided to have the most acceptable age. In this way, as the child grows, he can begin to adapt to the change and govern himself accordingly. This age is used to determine what age is suitable for children to start babysitting. The ranges and number of states that adhere to this age are: This question can only be answered on a case-by-case basis, but there are some guidelines to consider when deciding whether it`s best to leave siblings together at home. Children who are disciplined enough to follow these rules, even when you`re not looking, may be willing to be left alone. It could also help you calm down and calm down if you can`t be with them during the race. If you have no choice but to leave your (quite old) children unattended for long periods of time, it`s absolutely worth investing in a home security system, especially one with video capabilities (a feature preferred by 74% of ADT survey respondents).
Although your children seem capable and mature enough to be left alone, there are still some concerns. Can they handle an emergency? Are they able to make decisions about situations you don`t know and follow your instructions? Before leaving your child home alone, consider the important variables that are unique to your situation: your child`s physical and emotional maturity; how left they are left to fend for themselves; how long you plan to leave them alone; if there are younger siblings to consider; and the safety of your neighbourhood. (For more information about your state`s specific laws and policies, contact your local child protection agency or visit their website.) Your children who are left alone always need someone to talk to or call at any time in an emergency. Being able to go through crises on their own is great, but having an adult who can help them with that is much better. That`s why it`s best to have someone who can reach them, such as their grandparents or a trusted neighbor. There are also last-minute babysitting apps that can help you if you can`t find anyone in an emergency. There are consequences if you leave a child alone illegally. Each state applies the same specific penalties for these parents, but they can also modify some of them to comply with state rules. If there is a suspicion that a child is being illegally left alone at home, the Child Protection Service (CPS) will launch an investigation to determine the child`s safety in the household. If the investigation reveals that only the child was in danger, he or she will be taken into the care of the State. The parent can also be prosecuted for endangerment or abandonment of a child, especially if the child is injured alone at home. First of all, just because a child has the skills and behaviors described above to stay safe at home doesn`t mean they`d be as successful with a sibling.
Is your child too young to be home alone? It`s never easy to answer this question, but your state`s law provides advice. Since your child`s safety is paramount, talk to a legal expert who can give you a clear answer. A family law attorney in your jurisdiction will be able to explain your state`s laws and help you understand how to comply with them. If your child can be left home alone, give them the key to the house. Keep it safe, but hidden, such as in a zippered compartment on your child`s backpack. A phone number and the numbers of two reachable neighbors must be displayed. Your neighbor should also know when your child comes home from school. Many legislators understand that a child`s maturity — not their age — is a more precise criterion for determining whether or not a child can be left home alone.
SOURCE: Database Systems Corp. * These states do not set a specific age at which a child can legally stay home alone, but do make recommendations. Currently, only 3 states have a legal age limit to leave children at home, while another 10 have an age policy. The reality is that when a child is flagged as unsupervised, it is local child protection services that will determine whether that child has been left inappropriately – even if there is no strict law. If you`re nervous about leaving your kids home alone, the best way to relieve anxiety is to make your home as safe as possible to give you (and your family) peace of mind. Make a list of emergency contacts; show them how to lock all doors and windows; Make sure they know not to turn on the oven or stove while you`re away and let a trusted neighbor look for them. This is the first question parents want to know – at what age is it LEGAL to leave my children at home? While it`s important to understand what the law says, the truth is that many states don`t have a legal limit. Answering the above questions honestly can help you know if your child is ready for this type of responsibility. And if not, you can identify areas of growth and create a plan to help your child exhibit mature behaviors for the future. Below are general guidelines to follow when considering the age range where you can leave children alone at home: Before you leave, make sure all hazards are closed.
No matter how much you trust your child, you`ll have more peace of mind knowing you`ve left them in a safe environment. Here are some things to make sure you`ve protected yourself well: Three states legally require children to be of minimum age to be left alone for a period of time: Illinois (14), Oregon (10) and Maryland (8). But in most states, there is no law setting a minimum age — instead, many offer a list of recommended age groups and suggested guidelines to help you make an informed decision based on behavioral and environmental factors. So if you live outside of Illinois, Maryland, and Oregon, it`s up to you (and your child) to determine when to start letting them stay home without you or a babysitter. Take a look at this list and see if your child has the skills to fly around your house alone. It is important to note that no two children are the same and parents must decide on a case-by-case basis what is best for their child. Therefore, in addition to the general guidelines listed above, a parent or guardian should consider the following before leaving a child home alone: I understand – there are many factors to consider when leaving your children at home. The last thing you want is for them to replay Macaulay Culkin`s performance in the classic movie Home Alone. Then it`s time to play through a few scenarios. Does your child know what to do if: As with everything in parenting, it takes time. It`s important to make sure your child feels lonely at home before adding a sibling.
The beauty of preparing a child to stay home alone is that at the same time, you`re teaching them the skills to be a competent, responsible, and capable adult – that sounds like a win-win situation, right?! PRO TIP for Leaving Siblings Together at Home: Don`t blame one for the other – this is a recipe for sibling competition and resentment.