At What Age And How Long Can Kids Be Left Alone At Home?

Vital factors to consider before leaving children home alone.

Reviewed by Dr. Margaret Ann Dixon, PhD Dr. Margaret Ann Dixon Dr. Margaret Ann DixonPhD Specialty: School psychologyExperience: 30 years
Written by Bharathi V
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At What Age And How Long Can Kids Be Left Alone At Home

It is not uncommon for parents to discuss amongst themselves or with peers about at what age can the kids stay at home alone. There are days when one would need to attend to some urgent work or run a quick errand. It is not always possible for parents to take their children along. In such cases, they may have to leave their children alone at home.

However, no matter how important a task is, leaving children alone at home could be risky. It is even illegal to leave a child under a certain age alone at home in some states. Read this post to know about when a child can be at home by themselves without adult supervision.

At What Age Can Kids Stay Home Alone?

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry estimates that over 40% of children are left alone at home at some time, although rarely overnight. For some children who are not ready, being alone at home can be a terrifying experience (1).

Every child is unique and matures differently. Thus, many states do not recognize a specific age when a child can be left alone at home. However, to make parenting simpler, three states in the US have specified the minimum age requirement above which a child can be left alone at home (2).

  1. Maryland: Eight years old
  2. Oregon: Ten years old
  3. Illinois: 14 years old

A few states in the US have child protection laws that mention “failing to provide adequate supervision of a child” as a case of child neglect. Meanwhile, other states consider leaving a child without supervision at an inappropriate age or under unacceptable circumstances that can cause harm as child neglect. Some states even offer specific guidelines under which a child can be left alone at home.

Let’s suppose you are a native of Maryland, and your child is eight years old. Legally, you are allowed to leave your child alone at home. But should you leave your child alone at home? You might want to answer the following questions before making a decision.

  • Is your child comfortable being alone at home?
  • Is your child physically and mentally able to look after themselves?
  • Does your child follow all instructions and rules without being reminded about them?
  • Is your child well-aware of their surroundings and can handle unexpected situations? (Eg: the arrival of a guest unannounced)
  • Does your child always follow their routine?
  • Is your neighborhood safe for children?
  • Is your house equipped with an alarm system? Does your child know how to use it?
  • Do you have any family or friends who can reach your child in case of an emergency?

The law makes provisions to ensure convenience for parents who juggle multiple responsibilities while looking after their child. However, the final decision of leaving your child at home will always remain with you. Irrespective of your child’s age, if your answer to all of the above questions is a “yes,” and if you are confident of your child, you can leave them alone for a specific period.

How Long Can Kids Be Left Alone At Home?

The answer again is subjective and depends upon several factors mentioned above. If you have answered with a “yes” to all the questions given above, you may consider leaving your child alone for the following duration.

Children aged eight to ten years: Leave them alone only during the day and for an hour or 90 minutes maximum. Try to leave them with either books or games that will occupy them in your short absence.

Children aged 11 and 12 years: Preteens can be left alone for a relatively longer period but not too long. You can leave them alone at home during the day or early evening for around three hours, not more.

Early teens aged 13 and 14 years: They can be left alone at home even in the evening but not late at night.

Mid-teen aged 15 to 17 years: They can be left alone at home overnight and even multiple nights on their own but with regular checks through phone calls or even through a relative or friend.

Safety Tips To Follow When Leaving A Child Home Alone

Regardless of their age, a child is vulnerable without adult supervision. They need to be taught how to be cautious and deal with unexpected situations. Here are some safety guidelines to follow when leaving your child alone at home.

  1. Ensure your child knows their full name, home address, and parents’ phone numbers.
  1. Give them a list of emergency numbers that they can dial in case of an emergency. The list must include the numbers of your friends and family who can reach your child quickly if you are stuck somewhere.
  1. Set some safety rules regarding what the child should do when someone rings the doorbell or how long they should spend watching the television, and so on.
  1. Allow them to watch the television only after you have activated the parental filter on it.
  1. Show them how the door locks work and instruct them not to open the door to strangers in your absence. Also, instruct them not to let other people know that they are alone at home.
  1. Strictly warn them not to use the gas stove or oven.
  1. Discuss what they can do in case of an emergency, such as power outages, bad weather, and so on.
  1. Show them where the first-aid kit is kept and teach them the basics of first aid treatment.
  1. If your child is alone at home after school, ask them to call you as soon as they get home. You can also call them at a scheduled time to ensure they are at home.
  1. Childproof your home by keeping alcohol, prescription medicines, firearms, and flammable items out of their reach or locked up. Also, ensure that the smoke alarms function properly.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the effect on the kids who are frequently left alone?

Children being frequently left alone may be more detrimental to them than beneficial. According to a study, although older children may like being left alone to have some privacy and become more responsible, it might also lead to toxic habits such as drinking, not attending school, and stealing. Moreover, being frequently left alone at home in older and young children may lead to stress, antisocial behavior, and loneliness (3) (4).

2. Why should kids be left alone?

The benefits of children being left alone at home depend on the duration and frequency. Some of the reasons why leaving children alone at home may be a good idea are:

  • They become responsible
  • They attain the confidence to handle a problem on their own
  • They become independent individuals
  • They may be able to work on their assignments and homework better with some privacy

Kids at home alone is a topic of discussion since a uniform age bar may not be suitable for all. Some children can stay independently at home from a very young age, while others may not. You may leave your child alone based on their personality; if they can manage alone, or will they get into trouble, can follow instructions, and are aware of their surroundings. However, also remember that failing to provide adequate supervision to a child is considered child neglect in many countries.

Key Pointers

  • If your child is comfortable, can be fine physically and mentally, follows the rules, then it may be fine to leave them home alone.
  • Children aged 11 to 12 years old can be left alone for 3 hours.
  • Ensure they know all their personal details by heart, give them emergency numbers, and instruct safety rules.

References

  1. Home Alone Children; American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
    https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Home-Alone-Children-046.aspx
  2. Leaving Your Child Home Alone; Children’s Bureau
    https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/homealone.pdf
  3. Satomi Doi et al. (2018); Relationship Between Leaving Children at Home Alone and Their Mental Health: Results From the A-CHILD Study in Japan
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5980989/
  4. Dangers of Children Home Alone
    http://www.oceantwp.org/content/5935/6581/6584/6662.aspx
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Dr. Margaret Ann Dixon
Dr. Margaret Ann DixonPh.D. Psychology
Dr. Margaret Ann Dixon is a psychologist in private practice in the state of Nevada, USA. With 30 years of experience in the field, she provides therapy for couples and individuals - young and mature. She has a background in school psychology and has worked with parents, children, and school teams.

Read full bio of Dr. Margaret Ann Dixon
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