age at which children can stay home alone by state
Leaving a Child Alone or with a Babysitter. The law does not set a minimum age that a child must be before you can leave the child alone. Parents are responsible for deciding whether or not their child is mature and responsible enough to take care of herself or himself. Even though the law does not specify age, very young children cannot take care of themselves and should not be left alone. New York State and the New York State Child Protective System recognize certain professionals as holding the important role of mandated reporter of child abuse or maltreatment. These professionals can be held liable by both the civil and criminal legal systems for intentionally failing to make a report. Children 12 and 13 years old should be judged on a case- by-case basis but should not be left alone overnight. 1  The following is a state by state listing of specific age restrictions on home alone children. This list was obtained from information on the web as well as contacts within certain state agencies. Where no information can be found, the age restriction is listed as unknown. There appear to be very few states with specific regulations about the age of a child left at home alone. However, since the number of latchkey kids is growing significantly due to 2 income parents and single parents and guardians, there is a growing movement within state agencies to set guidelines. The legal age when you can leave a kid home is 12. But that is the legal requirement, parents should always think twice before leaving a small kid in the hands of a 12 year old. 12 year old is still a small kid and giving a responsibility of a an even younger kid to a 12 year can be dangerous. Some free-range parents claim the model allows kids to gain self-awareness and hone decision-making skills, while opponents claim the behavior can be neglectful. In Washington State, the minimum legal age kids can be at home unsupervised is 10. NOTE: Washington State has not passed a law specifying that kids must be 10 before they are left home unsupervised but has set the age as a guideline for parents and caregivers. Edit ModuleShow Tags. 1-800-342-3720. The Child Protective Specialist who answers your call will ask you for as much information as you can provide about both the suspected abuse or maltreatment and the family about which you are calling. Below are examples of some questions the Child Protective Specialist might ask you when you call. OCFS is often asked questions regarding the appropriate age to leave a child alone, or what age is appropriate to allow a child to begin babysitting. There are no straightforward answers to these questions. All children develop at their own rate, and with their own special needs and abilities. Laws for Leaving a Child Home Alone. Only a couple of states have laws that specify the age when a child can be left home alone, including Maryland (age 8) and Illinois (age 14). However, most states have guidelines with the Department of Health and Human Services or other child protective agencies that test a child's ability to be left home alone. Our iMom printable with 10 Home Alone Rules is a good start. The following table lists the minimum age at which children may be left at home alone, categorized by state within the U.S. Please note that city and county ordinances within each state may have more definitive and restrictive laws. Call your State DHS or local child welfare agency to learn about age guidelines in your area.
Maryland (age 8) and Illinois (age 14).