As a parent, you get to experience a lot of firsts. Their first steps and first words are cherished moments in yours and your children’s lives, but these happen involuntarily. When you direct your child towards a milestone, it’s difficult to tell when it’s the right time or if you should wait.
For example, you can start cooking with your children when they’re 2 years old, but they should remain supervised while preparing meals until they’re at least 12. As long as you keep an eye on your children, you can introduce them to new and exciting things without endangering them.
But when is the right age to safely leave your children at home unsupervised?
The answer depends on your individual children and, most importantly, the minimum age laws in your state.
Minimum Age and Child Welfare Endangerment Laws
Whether you want to leave your child alone at 10 or 15, you should always check if your state has a minimum age requirement. Only three states require kids to be a minimum age before they can be left alone for a period of time, including Maryland (8), Oregon (10), and Illinois (14).
While the other 47 states don’t specify an age minimum, they may recommend ages or suggest guidelines to help make a more informed decision. In the end, the age you choose is up to you.
Keep in mind that all parents across the US are beholden to child welfare endangerment laws. You should never leave your child alone for an extended amount of time without a parent figure or guardian to look after them. Otherwise, you could be charged with a fourth-degree crime.
How to Know Your Child is Ready to Stay Home Alone
While there’s no universally agreed-upon age, most parents agree that 13 is the right age. With that said, parents can do the following to test if their children can stay home by themselves.
Overall Maturity (Plus Age)
Children mature at different rates, so you shouldn’t judge your child’s ability to stay home alone based on age. Assessing a child’s maturity is a better indicator of preparedness. You can evaluate your child’s maturity by how they demonstrated responsible behavior in the past.
For example, is your child physically and mentally able to care for themselves? Are they able to make good decisions or respond well to stressful decisions? Did they ever babysit, and if so, were they comfortable being in charge, and could they handle any emergency that arose?
Individual Circumstances
When and how a child is left alone can make a difference in their safety and success. Will you leave your child alone during the day or evenings? Will you be quickly going to the store or spending the whole day at work? How have they been able to care for themselves in the past?
Although we all want to consider our children trustworthy, there’s a difference between a single child being left alone and multiple children. If you expect your child to watch over their younger siblings, you need to trust that they can properly care for themselves and your other children.
Safety and Communication
Your child must master a few safety skills before they can be left alone safely. For example, they should know who to contact during an emergency, how to lock and secure the doors, and how to avoid or use caution around common house hazards, such as firearms, medication, and alcohol.
Thanks to the invention of cell phones, your child should have the ability to contact you at all times. You shouldn’t leave your child alone unless they can use a computer, tablet, or phone. Children should be able to clearly and quickly communicate a problem to someone they trust.
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