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If you're nervous about leaving your kids home alone, the best way to ease anxiety is to make your home as safe and secure as possible to give yourself peace of mind. Make a list of emergency contacts; show them how to lock all the doors and windows; make sure they know not to turn on the oven or stove while you're gone, and get a trusted neighbor to check in on them. A stranger discovered her children were home alone when the family dogs ran in front of his car and he got out to help the kids secure the pets. The witness called the police to report the incident, stating that the kids had been left alone for 45 minutes. Neither the children or dogs were injured, and the mother was later released on $500 bail.
Let them demonstrate their responsibility while you walk down to the neighbors' to return their axe or just say hi. Child development experts say such situations often depend on the social, emotional and intellectual maturity of the child, as well as the age. One mom thought her kids would be fine, but probably now regrets her choice. Plan time after you return home to listen to your child's account of day's events and deal with problems and questions.
Questions About Leaving a Child Home Alone? Get Legal Help Today
For many people, the legalities are less of a worry than the actual logistics. Can they safely open the door and leave the house when they need to... With so many things to worry about when a child is left alone, it often doesn't seem worth it.
Violation of this law is a misdemeanor, and the person is subject to up to 3 years in prison. If a parent or guardian needs to leave a child who is younger than 8 years old, the parent or guardian must ensure that a reliable person, who is at least 13 years old will stay to protect the child. Failure to provide a reliable person to babysit the child is a misdemeanor, and the parent or guardian is subject to a fine up to $500 and up to 30 days in prison.
At What Age Can Kids Be Left Home Alone Overnight?
Only 3 percent of survey-takers believed parents should wait until their child is at least 18 years old, and only 2 percent thought a child of 7 years or younger is fine to be left unsupervised. The law also says a child is not “unattended” if they are in the care of another child at least 13 years old. This means 13 is the minimum age for a babysitter in Maryland.
Our Monthly newsletter will keep you up to date with the latest legal news and how it will impact you, your business and your family. Every parent will need to decide that for themselves and their own child. Even if your child is over eight years old, it may not be a good idea to leave them alone.
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Not only will it give your teen a chance to prove that they are capable of taking care of themselves for a short time, it also helps prepare them for both the freedom and responsibility of college life. All these questions and more may run through your mind as you consider which choice to make. Despite the potential risks, allowing your teen to stay home alone can actually be an important step in their development. "Z was definitely younger than 14 when he stayed home alone for the first time," shares Chicago mom, Christina M. "I was a single mom, and he often got home from school before I could get home from work. I think he was about 12 when he first started staying home alone. By high school, he was watching his little sister after school."
If you're concerned about your state's laws for leaving children home alone, contact your local or county child welfare agency for more information. The U.S. Child Welfare Information Gateway maintains a contact list for agencies in each state. It's a universal debate—how young is too young to be left alone? For many areas, there are no hard and fast rules, but parents like blogger Mique from Thirty Handmade Days have tried to create guidelines.
Poor Hygiene in Children
Though, not all of these might be options during emergencies. You might be surprised to know that most states actually don't have legal age requirements for kids to be left by themselves. The states that do, however, seem to vary quite significantly on how old a child should be before you leave them home alone. There is no federal law that governs how old a child must be to walk to school alone. In Massachusetts, such issues are generally addressed on a case-by-case basis. The state has held Walk and Bicycle to School Day, as part of its Safe Routes to School, to encourage such traffic, as a healthy choice, in communities where it is possible.
Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help. Never allow a child to work the oven or stove without a parent or adult caretaker. Designate a "safe house" to run to if the child ever feels that they're in danger. Post a list of emergency, local, and long distance numbers to call in the event of an emergency.
If, however, you need to be selective about which friends can and can't come over when you're not home, it might just be simpler to enforce a "no friends period" rule. If you'll be unreachable, establish a time for your child to check in with a neighbor or call the aunt who works from home nearby. Maybe even arrange for them to have dinner with their best friend down the street.
A Maryland couple has been in the news recently for allowing their 10-year-old son and six-year-old daughter to walk unaccompanied from a park to home, about a mile's distance, on a Saturday afternoon. According to news reports, someone in their suburban residential community called police after seeing the children along a busy avenue on Dec. 20. Contact a qualified family law attorney to make sure your rights are protected. The Maryland Department of Human Resources has a great brochure you can read with tips on things to consider before you leave your child unattended.
But it’s important to base your decision on your individual teen. Verywell Family articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and family healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Leave your child home alone while you run up the street to get gas for tomorrow.
The failure to report the child’s death is a misdemeanor, and the person is subject to up to 3 years in prison. "The first day my 3rd grader came home alone, I sent our neighbor and family friend to check in on her... and she wouldn't answer the door!" said Debbie H., of Fort Myers, Florida. Maggie Seaver is the digital health and wellness editor at Real Simple, with seven years of experience writing lifestyle and wellness content. She spends her days writing and editing stories about sleep, mental health, fitness, preventive health, nutrition, personal development, relationships, healthy habits, and beyond.
Age a Child can be Left Home Alone by State 2022
The more people who have scheduled contact with your child during their time alone, the more likely you are to be alerted promptly if something goes wrong. Cell phones make it nearly impossible for someone ever to be entirely alone or unreachable. However, tweens do occasionally leave their cell phones uncharged, and younger kids may not even have cells. There are other ways to ensure your child is safe when home alone.
If you have considered all of the factors above and still have reservations about leaving them alone, it may be best to make arrangements for them to stay with someone else while you're away. Saying, "I expect you to still be home by your usual curfew and not to have any friends over without my permission" can go a long way. Go over what to do in case of an emergency, and make sure they have contact information for family members, friends, and any emergency numbers in their phone.
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