What age to let a child stay at home alone?

marikevr

My eldest is 9. I haven't even considered leaving him home alone. Call me overprotective. I think half of the problem is that his is sister is 6 and I would not make it his responsibility to look after her as well until he is at least 12 or 13.

Jymm

Well it sounds like she wasn't home alone long maybe an hour or less. i wouldn't let A child that age stay at home alone for much longer like all day. But it sounds like it was an emergency.

ZL9685

The law here in New Zealand is that the child may not be left unsupervised if under the age of 14

sunsnstatheart

To be honest, I don't know. My oldest is 7 and she's not quite ready yet. She now walks home from her bus stop (very close) after a long discussion with her about rules (straight home, no talking to strangers, screaming like a banshee if someone touches her). She does not wait at the bus stop in the mornings by herself though. I will say that some of these laws on the subject are a bit ridiculous. I'm finding that while you don't want to push too hard, children will respond if you teach them and give them responsibility.

rml_16

It's different for every kid. Some are more mature than others at younger ages. You know your kids. I don't. Just check with local ordinances and state laws to see if there is a minimum age where you live.

My parents left me alone for short periods starting at age 7. I wasn't allowed home alone after school until 12 (though I think that was more my mother's paranoia than that I wasn't ready). My daughter stayed by herself by age 9 and was fine.

oregonzoo

13 is the age in my ex husbands and mine custody agreement.

Capt_Apollo

The law here is 12, and I would not feel comfortable with an 8 year old home alone at all....but then, it does vary greatly with the maturity level of the child, there are probably some 8 year olds I would trust more than some 12 year olds....

this.

my 16 year old niece can't be left alone at home

vim_n_vigor

There are so many things that factor into that equation. How trustworthy is the child(ren) being left alone? How long will they be left alone? The neighborhood is safe, but what about the house and yard? I was routinely home alone when I was about 7-8. I'm sure there were plenty of people in the neighborhood that were watching me when I didn't know they were though.

My oldest is now 6, and while I couldn't imagine truly leaving him home alone, I will leave him in the house now while I am working outside or talking outside with neighbors. I keep increasing the amount of time between checking in on him to build up his confidence in being alone and my confidence in him being alone.

rml_16

Their are LAWS about this. Check your local law first.

Some states do not set a minimum age. Florida and Georgia are both examples of this.

Elma1975

It depends on the child.
I would let my older daughter to be home alone at 8 but her younger sister, no way I would have left her all by herself.

AprilRN10

It depends on the individual child and the local law. Every child is different and the law varies. Some places have a law and some don't. Call your local PD and ask. My daughter is ten. She has a key and is ok for an hour or so.

JustANumber85

Their are LAWS about this. Check your local law first.

there not their.

but actually most states dont have laws. They have recommended ages but not an actual law. OH is one.

this site (from 07) says only 2 states had laws: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/homealone.cfm
this site (though it seems to be a campaign lists ALL states and is recent): http://www.latchkey-kids.com/latchkey-kids-age-limits.htm

State


Minimum Age of
Home Alone Child


Reference


Alabama
None

Alaska
Unknown

Arizona
None

Arkansas
None

California
Unknown

Colorado
12 *

Connecticut
None

Delaware
12 *

Florida
18 *

Georgia
8 *

Hawaii
None

Idaho
None

Illinois
14

Indiana
None

Iowa
None

Kansas
12 *

Kentucky
Unknown

Louisiana
None

Maine
None

Maryland
8

Massachusetts
None

Michigan
11 *

Minnesota
None

Mississippi
None

Missouri
None

Montana
None

Nebraska
None

Nevada
Unknown

New Hampshire
None

New Jersey
None

New Mexico
None

New York
None

North Carolina
8

North Dakota
9 *

Ohio
None

Oklahoma
None

Oregon
10

Pennsylvania
None

Rhode Island
Unknown

South Carolina
Unknown

South Dakota
None

Tennessee
10*

Texas
None

Utah
None

Vermont
Unknown

Virginia
None

Washington
10 *

West Virginia
Unknown

Wisconsin
None

Wyoming
None

vim_n_vigor

Their are LAWS about this. Check your local law first.

Some states do not set a minimum age. Florida and Georgia are both examples of this.

Here is a reference for state laws and guidelines:

http://www.latchkey-kids.com/latchkey-kids-age-limits.htm

superpapa16

Oh man, I was probably 8 or 9 (I remember it was 2nd grade b/c I faked being sick). Then my parents both had to work early, and would leave about 20 minutes before the carpool picked us up for school. I faked sick and stayed home all day by myself. Lived in a city, and not in a very good neighborhood.

My son is 4 and I'll probably be right around that age with him. I've already started giving him some time by himself like if I'm working in the yard or in the car. I'm always still right there, but I'm trying to encourage his independence.

Fortunately Indiana doesn't have a stupid law about this. They do provide some information about making the decision if your child is ready to stay home. http://www.in.gov/dcs/files/Home_Alone_Brochure.pdf

rml_16

Their are LAWS about this. Check your local law first.

there not their.

but actually most states dont have laws. They have recommended ages but not an actual law. OH is one.

this site (from 07) says only 2 states had laws: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/homealone.cfm
this site (though it seems to be a campaign lists ALL states and is recent): http://www.latchkey-kids.com/latchkey-kids-age-limits.htm

State


Minimum Age of
Home Alone Child


Reference


Alabama
None

Alaska
Unknown

Arizona
None

Arkansas
None

California
Unknown

Colorado
12 *

Connecticut
None

Delaware
12 *

Florida
18 *

Georgia
8 *

Hawaii
None

Idaho
None

Illinois
14

Indiana
None

Iowa
None

Kansas
12 *

Kentucky
Unknown

Louisiana
None

Maine
None

Maryland
8

Massachusetts
None

Michigan
11 *

Minnesota
None

Mississippi
None

Missouri
None

Montana
None

Nebraska
None

Nevada
Unknown

New Hampshire
None

New Jersey
None

New Mexico
None

New York
None

North Carolina
8

North Dakota
9 *

Ohio
None

Oklahoma
None

Oregon
10

Pennsylvania
None

Rhode Island
Unknown

South Carolina
Unknown

South Dakota
None

Tennessee
10*

Texas
None

Utah
None

Vermont
Unknown

Virginia
None

Washington
10 *

West Virginia
Unknown

Wisconsin
None

Wyoming
None

I am a mother and I live in Florida and lived in GA. This is incorrect about both states. There is no law in either state.

vim_n_vigor

I am a mother and I lie in Florida and lived in GA. This is incorrect about both states. There is no law in either state.

The asterisk notes a guideline, not an actual law.

JustANumber85

I am a mother and I live in Florida and lived in GA. This is incorrect about both states. There is no law in either state.

I just copied from the site and checked the date of the site. It also said they were a guideline and listed resources for you to check out the law.

nonafit

My parents had to leave my son home alone for 2 hours once this year and his 9. It made my brother and sister boiling mad. But what made me decide that his not ready was...when I reached home. It was in food disaster zone. Cookie crumbs all over the house. He face, hands and clothes plastered with chocolate. And he was super hyperactive for the rest of the evening and night.

No thanks NOT again for me till may be his 12.

jennfranklin

I feel that it should be based on that individual childs maturity! But I never left my children at home until they were 12 years old!

Juliejustsaying

I will let my boys stay home alone when I run to the store or the gym, no more than 2 miles away. My oldest is 11yo and very, very responsible. I will not leave the 9 yo alone without his brother. And they don't like to be alone at night. But I must also point out that I have a house full of dogs and NO ONE could get near my kids to hurt them. So I always put one of the dogs in charge. lol. a la "Remy's in charge, I'll be back in an hour, text if you need me!" And they have texted before when I was at the gym, 2 miles down the road, when they got scared about a noise. I raced home. It was just a dog that had been left outside.