She also warns that children who stay home alone lack a lot of educational and social growth through summer activities and lose a sense of connection to a wider community beyond their parents. Having to leave a child alone at home is not an easy decision, even with a fully capable child and if your trip to the store will only take a few minutes. Depending on where you live, there may be laws to help you make that decision and where the state draws the line in neglect. In this article, you`ll learn about the laws on when you can leave a child home alone, including helpful guidelines on: The key point is that every child is different and everyone reaches the stage of independence at different ages. This is one of the reasons why child psychologist Lisa Whitfield recommends promoting independence in children. This could include leaving her alone for short periods of time, starting at age 6 and gradually increasing the duration as she ages, but she cautions against expecting routine self-care. California is one of many states that do not have a law that determines the age at which a child can be left alone. But that doesn`t mean it couldn`t be a crime if you do it when he`s too young. The court will decide on a case-by-case basis, and your child`s maturity level is usually the deciding factor. A 10-year-old might be able to fend for himself, while a rebellious 12-year-old might not. « I`m probably one of those moms who would panic if they left my child home alone, » says Joy Steuerwald, a Fremont mother who has a shabby 6-year-old son, Harrison.
« Twelve seems to be very good. » All the parents were already there. You have to run fast around town to pick up something like a gallon of milk, a dentist appointment, or something at work. You don`t want to bring your child, but you`re not sure you can legally leave them at home. Keep in mind that if your child is in trouble because you left them home alone, the law could hold you criminally and civilly liable for their actions. It`s also worth noting that there`s a big difference between leaving a ten-year-old house alone by rushing to the store and leaving them alone while you spend the night with friends. Another East Bay mother, Liz Shipsides, once briefly left her 9-year-old son home alone while dropping off his siblings at school. She came home and found that he had barricaded himself in her room out of sheer terror. If you think your child is mature enough to remain unsupervised, the California Department of Education sets guidelines for doing so. Write down the child`s rules and hang them in the refrigerator or in a conspicuous place so they can easily find and refer to them.
Explain what to say and do if a stranger calls or rings the doorbell. Make a list of emergency phone numbers and anything else you think is important given your personal situation. Beverly Bird has been writing professionally since 1983. She is the author of several novels, including the bestsellers « Comes the Rain » and « With Every Breath ». Bird also has extensive experience as a paralegal, particularly in the areas of divorce and family law, insolvency and inheritance law. She addresses many legal topics in her articles. The California Department of Education offers a checklist of factors parents should consider when assessing whether their child is ready to be left home alone: « It`s just bad and scary, » says Mother Campbell, « I leave it for 10 minutes when I pee the dog, and even then, We use walkie-talkies. » On the other side of the coin, 28-year-old Cody Cook stayed home alone after school at age six because his grandparents, who raised him, both worked. He was fine. Of course, the idea of leaving a first-grader home alone seems crazy to some parents. Unless you want to go home to find the cat with high heels and a hat. Finally, if it`s necessary to leave children home alone — at least if older children are involved — you can follow these recommendations: Right now, the state of California doesn`t have laws governing your child`s age until you can leave them unattended while you walk to the store. The only states that currently have such laws are Maryland, Illinois and Oregon.
However, that doesn`t mean you can leave your two-year-old in the crib while you opt for a quick breakfast. This « it-takes-a-village » approach often becomes the solution for parents who are not yet ready to leave their children alone at home. Options include multi-parent collaborations, shared nannies, or parents juggling work schedules so one of them is always home with the kids. California has a mandatory reporting rule, which means some professionals must report to authorities if they feel you`re neglecting your child. These include teachers and school staff, adults associated with youth organizations such as community sports teams, and health professionals. California law defines general negligence as a careless failure to provide your child with shelter, food, clothing, medical care, and supervision. California law does not specifically provide for a minimum age for leaving a child alone at home, nor a minimum age for a child to care for younger siblings. However, leaving children alone before they are ready can result in criminal charges and penalties. Similarly, California has no minimum age for childcare, and there is no law governing the number of siblings or other family members a child can keep. Use discretion when determining whether or not an older child is mature enough to care for younger siblings. While a 12- or 13-year-old may be responsible enough to take care of themselves at home, they may lack the maturity to care for their younger siblings.
Few states specify a legal age to leave a child home alone, including Maryland (8) and Illinois (14). However, most states have guidelines with the Department of Health and Human Services or other child welfare agencies that test a child`s ability to be left home alone. Factors may include the age and maturity of the child, the general safety of the environment or circumstances, and the precautions taken to ensure the child`s safety. Is your child too young to be home alone? It`s never easy to answer this question, but your state`s law provides advice. Since your child`s safety is paramount, talk to a legal expert who can give you a clear answer. A family law attorney in your jurisdiction will be able to explain your state`s laws and help you understand how to comply with them. Experts say one of the easiest ways to tell a child might be willing to do it alone for a short time is to ask. Most children will answer honestly. The signs that a child is scared and not yet ready are the desire to turn on all the lights, make the television roar or have nightmares. Called « turnkey children » because of the telltale key hanging around their necks, these children go home to an empty house after school or stay home alone in the summer. Some states, like California, offer little advice because there is no minimum age for children to be left home alone. The majority of states with laws cite 12 years as the limit, while some states are younger, including Maryland and Georgia at 8 and Kansas at six.
California lawmakers believe it should be up to parents to decide at what age their child is responsible enough to take care of themselves when home alone. States that have laws have set this age at 10 to 12 years. Child care experts are quick to point out that it should be determined from one child to another. Experts say that a key factor is the degree of maturity of the child. For a child who is immature or impulsive, or who suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, or another developmental problem, 12 may be too young. « Whaaat? It`s crazy, » says Bethany Cardwell, a mother of two under 7 who lives in Discovery Bay. « I can`t imagine leaving children under the age of 10 alone. I can`t imagine that.
Tamsin Ing, who has two children, Ollie, 6, and Charlotte, 10, knows all too well the challenges of being left home alone. Since she spent her childhood as a turnkey child of a single mother, she decided that her children wouldn`t pass that too. « Being able to stay home alone and take care of yourself is a healthy part of a child`s development and builds confidence in children, » she said. Related Articles Lifestyle | Bay Area Parents: Summer Daycare Can you afford to | Lifestyle: A theatre critic`s dream becomes a lifestyle | in « The Lion King » Trampled Underfoot A Mother`s Confession: Toddlers Aren`t the Only Ones Suffering from Separation Anxiety What should they do with their little ones all day? If grandparents are not an option, if both parents work crazy hours and money is tight, the norm in this country of astronomical housing costs, it can be a real stumbling block.