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How to Decide at What Age Can Kids Stay Home Alone

How to Decide at What Age Can Kids Stay Home Alone
girl watching tv

By Janine Clements, 21st Century Mama

When I left my oldest daughter home alone for the first time, I felt a sense of freedom for the first time in years (although I only went to the post office). When you have kids, even running quick errands can turn into major missions, sinceΒ getting yourΒ wholeΒ crew out of the house can take forever. It’s even more of a challenge when you want to go out for an extendedΒ periodΒ of timeΒ because you need to find aΒ reliable, affordable and trustworthyΒ babysitter. When your kids are finally atΒ anΒ ageΒ whereΒ they can stay home alone, it can beΒ life-changing. However,Β you wantΒ to make sureΒ they areΒ alwaysΒ safeΒ andΒ itΒ doesn’tΒ turn intoΒ a disaster likeΒ inΒ the iconicΒ holidayΒ movieΒ franchise,Β Home Alone.Β Β 

Deciding at what age you can leave kids home alone is never easy, and there is no magic formula. Instead, it depends on a variety of factors, including: age, state laws, and common sense.    

AtΒ What Age Can Kids Be Left Home Alone AccordingΒ to StateΒ Law?

There’s plenty of debate when it comes toΒ decidingΒ atΒ what age you can leaveΒ kidsΒ home alone. Different states have different rules, so it’s important to find out what they areΒ for your family. In Illinois, the minimum age is 14, and in Maryland it’s eight, while in Kansas it’s six(!). Some states, including Colorado, have guidelines,Β but no definitive laws.Β WhileΒ New York, California, and many other states have no legal age restrictions.Β Most states will follow the Department of Health and Human Services guidelines.Β Β Β Β Β 

If you want to knowΒ atΒ what age canΒ kidsΒ be left home alone, here areΒ someΒ suggested guidelines:Β Β Β Β 

  • Under 8:Β ShouldΒ neverΒ be left alone for any length of timeΒ Β Β Β 
  • Ages 8-10:Β CanΒ be left alone forΒ up toΒ three hoursΒ Β Β Β 
  • Ages 11-13Β CanΒ be left alone forΒ up toΒ 12 hoursΒ Β Β Β 
  • Ages 14-15Β CanΒ be left alone forΒ up toΒ 24 hoursΒ Β Β Β 
  • Ages 16-17Β CanΒ be left alone for longer (if there is aΒ properΒ plan in place for responding to an emergency)Β Β Β Β 

Source: Dakota County, Minnesota     

HowΒ Do You Know If Your Kids Are ReadyΒ to Stay HomeΒ Alone?Β Β 

Knowing at what age kids can stay home alone often comes down to whether you’re confident your child has reached a level of maturity and responsibility to be able to handle it and manage themselves. This can be different for every child. For example, some 11-year-olds are a lot more mature and reliable than a hot-headed teen.    

When asked at what age canΒ parentsΒ leave kids home alone,Β early childhood psychologistΒ RebeccaΒ SchragΒ HershbergΒ said, β€œIt depends on how long you’re going to be away for and how far you’re going. For example, taking theΒ dogΒ for a walk is very different from jumping on a train and heading into the city.”     

Here are some pointers for deciding whether to leave your kids home alone or not:   

  • How old are they?Β Β 
  • What are your state’s laws?Β 
  • Do you feel/senseΒ thatΒ they areΒ trulyΒ ready?Β Β 
  • Do they feel/senseΒ they are ready?Β Β 
  • Are they anxious about being left home alone?Β Β 
  • Are they mature and responsibleΒ inΒ other aspects of their lives?Β Β 
  • Do you trust them?Β Β 
  • Do they have any special needsΒ toΒ consider?Β 
  • How will they handle emergency situations?Β Β 
  • Do they mind being home alone when it’s dark?Β Β 

TipsΒ for Parents When Leaving Your Child Home Alone

If you’re planning on leaving your child home alone, it’s essential to make sure your child is safe, so here are a few useful tips:    

SafetyΒ First

The safety of your child is your top priority, so you need to childproof your home. This could include locking up firearms, prescription medicines, and alcohol and removing matches and lighters.    

BeΒ Prepared

Unless you want your phone to ring non-stop when your kids stay home alone, make sure they have everything they might need while you’re gone,Β from preparedΒ snacksΒ to aΒ stockedΒ first aid kit.Β Β Β Β 

EstablishΒ HouseΒ Rules

It’s very helpful to set up clear rules and expectations for your child, to ensure they avoid any potential pitfalls. Ideas for some rules include:    

  • Don’t touch the oven, cooktopΒ orΒ otherΒ kitchenΒ appliances.Β Β Β Β 
  • Lock any doors from the inside.Β Β Β Β 
  • Don’t eat anythingΒ for the duration.Β Β Β Β 
  • Don’t go outside.Β Β Β Β 
  • Don’t answer the doorΒ forΒ anyone.Β Β Β Β Β 
  • If anyone calls, don’t let the caller knowΒ anyone isΒ home alone.Β Β Β Β 
  • HouseholdΒ internetΒ andΒ smartphoneΒ usage rulesΒ still apply.Β Β Β Β 

BriefΒ ThemΒ on Emergency ProceduresΒ Β 

While unlikely, your child needs to know what they should do in an emergency, such as:    

  • Make sure they can contact you if they need to for any reason.Β Β Β Β 
  • GoΒ overΒ what they should do in the unlikely case of an emergency, i.e.,Β toΒ call 911 or go to a neighbor they can trust.Β Β Β Β Β 
  • Leave a list of emergency numbers and contacts on the fridge door or somewhereΒ that’sΒ readily accessible. This could includeΒ both parents,Β grandparents,Β neighbors, friendsΒ and/or colleagues.Β Β 
  • Be sure at least one phone is available, charged and unlocked.Β CheckΒ the Contact list for accuracy.Β Β 
  • Show them where they can find theΒ first aid kitΒ and how to use it.Β Β Β Β 
  • Run through emergency evacuation procedures with them.    

StartΒ SlowΒ Β Β Β 

No matter at what age you leave your kids home alone, most children will feel anxious the first few times. Start with only being away for five or ten minutes and then build up the time. This will help increase their confidence. As kids get older and more comfortable, you can leave them for more extended periods.    

Check-inΒ Calls

It’s worth checking in on your kids if you’re going to be out longer than a few minutes, especially the first few times. If they’re anxious, it will reassure them. If you’re running late, be sure to let them know in advance that you’ll be home later than expected.    

WhenΒ Can Kids Stay Home AloneΒ andΒ SuperviseΒ Siblings?Β Β 

When considering what ageΒ kidsΒ can stay home alone while also supervising a younger sibling, the general advice isΒ aroundΒ age 12 or 13. Signing up older kidsΒ for a babysitting course through an organization such as the Red Cross is highly recommended.Β Β Β 
Β 
As we guide our kids through life, we must prepare them forΒ independence, even if it’s a little dauntingΒ at times.Β Reach out to other parents and expertsΒ for adviceΒ if you have additional concerns.Β Β 

About The Author

Casey Christiansen

Casey supports the PR team at Zulily.

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