How old can a child stay alone at house a couple hours?

Answer 1

I am Canadian and it's 12 years old here. That depends though on how responsible your child is. If you are in the States it's best to check with Child Welfare in your particular State because it can vary. If you don't check this out and a neighbor or police ever catch wind of you leaving an under-aged child alone for hours you can be jailed for this and your child (children) can be taken away.

My sister just visited from Wisconsin, and she said that children can watch their own siblings by the age of 10 legally, but not others children. Personally, as a mother, I think that it all depends on the child and how responsible they are. 11 seems like a good age to start babysitting siblings and/or others children.

In Davidson County, NC there is no set age, the answer given by DSS CPS is when you the parent feel that the child is responsible enough to care for them self for the amount of time he will be left alone.

I live in Nevada, and it's 13 here.

Legal AgeThere are very few states in the U.S. with legal minimum ages for children home alone, but many state agencies have published guidelines. Georgia, Illiniois, Maryland and Oregon are a few of the states with specific ages mentioned in their laws.

Twelve years of age appears to be the most common recommendation. Below in Related Links is an article entitled Home Alone Children Legal Age Limits which provides a state by state comparison with references.

One guideline from a California child welfare representative suggests that 8 year olds and over can be left at home for a brief period of time, usually just after school, and no more than a couple of hours, and if there are no younger children there at the time.

Answer 2

Only five states have laws which state when a child can be left home alone. The National SAFE KIDS campaign recommends that children not be left alone before the age of 12, however, some children may not be ready until later than that.

Illinois law states that a minor must be 14 years of age or older to be left home alone for an extended period of time.

Maryland law says age 8 for a child to be left home alone.

New Mexico law says age 10 to be left home alone.

North Carolina law says age 8 to be left home alone.

Oregon law says age 10 for a child to be left home alone.

Answer 3

Legal AgeThere are very few states in the U.S. with legal minimum ages for children home alone, but many state agencies have published guidelines. Illiniois, Maryland and Oregon are a few of the states with specific ages specified in their laws.

Below in Related Links is an article entitled Latchkey Kids/The Law which provides one guideline from a California agency representative who suggests that 8 year olds and over can be left at home for up to several hours (usually after school before a parent gets home from work). This site also provides a state by state comparison with references.

Answer 4

Legal AgeThere are very few states in the U.S. with legal minimum ages for children home alone, but many state agencies have published guidelines. Illiniois, Maryland and Oregon are a few of the states with specific ages specified in their laws.

Below in Related Links is an article entitled Home Alone Children Legal Age Limits which provides one guideline from a California agency representative who suggests that 8 year olds and over can be left at home for up to several hours (usually after school before a parent gets home from work). This site also provides a state by state comparison with references.

Answer 5

to leave a kid home alone they should be at least 12 years old but that is just Canada i am not sure about other places... you can visit your local fire department if your have any other questions or if you live in a different place.

Answer 6

11 or 12 only if you trust hem to be alone

Answer 7

depends on how they act

Answer 8

3