Photo: Furknsaglam

Can I leave my 5 year old home alone for 15 minutes?

Kids should never be left alone until they are 8 years old, and kids between the ages 8-10 shouldn't be left for more than an hour-and-a-half or during night-time hours.

simplemost.com - Chart Shows When It's OK To Leave Kids Home Alone - Simplemost

What is the most mentally challenging game?

Golf is definitely of the most mentally challenging sports in the world. Whether you are a professional or a rookie, it can be a really fun sport...

Last updated Jun 25, 2019

What do hackers study?

An individual planning to become a hacker will need to learn about programming, which is considered to be a vital step. A variety of software...

Last updated Sep 24, 2022

Promotion

Leaving your child home alone for the first time is a fairly major milestone in a parent’s journey. As the mother of two young kids, I’m glad this moment is still several years away.

Still, like most parents, I wonder: At what age is it OK to leave kids home alone?

It’s a big question, and one that’s become hotly debated in recent years. Lucky for us, one mom blogger’s done some fact-finding to help parents make this decision. Keep reading to see her chart, and here’s what you need to keep in mind when making this decision for your own family.

Get Familiar With Your State’s Laws

Curiously, some states have laws that specify the age kids need to reach before they can stay home alone (Illinois is 14 for example, whereas Maryland is 8). Others offer a “suggested age,” and some states don’t touch the matter at all. Becoming familiar with your state’s law is important, as there can be serious legal repercussions for leaving kids alone before the law deems them ready.

Get Input From Guidelines

From her research, Mique, the blogger and founder of the site Thirty Handmade Days, crafted some general guidelines. Kids should never be left alone until they are 8 years old, and kids between the ages 8-10 shouldn’t be left for more than an hour-and-a-half or during night-time hours. Don’t assume they’re looking up at the night stars with a telescope made for children. Kids ages 11-13 may be left alone up to three hours but not “late at night.” Per her research, only kids 16 and up may be left unsupervised overnight. RELATED: This Chart Shows You When You Should Put Your Kids To Bed

Remember: You Know Your Own Child Best

I have to say, some of these recommendations sit better with me than others. Can I envision my 8-year-old nephew being fine if left alone for an hour in the middle of the day? Yes.

But as with most child-rearing decisions, it depends on the kid.

A less mature elementary-age child perhaps should not spend time alone until closer to age 10. As a mom, this chart is a helpful start for knowing when it will be OK to leave my littles home alone (Is “never” an option? Just kidding. Sort of…). The true answer lies with what you and your family are comfortable doing and what your state law specifies, if you live in a state with such legislation in place. Mique pulled information from this FindLaw article, a website called Latchkey-Kids.com and she spoke to police officers in her home state of California before putting her recommendations into this helpful chart:

Thirty Handmade Days

What do you think is an appropriate age to leave kids home alone? Share your thoughts on Facebook.

How do you survive inflation?

How to hedge against inflation Reassess your spending habits. If inflation is making it difficult to stay within budget, take a moment to reassess...

Last updated Sep 22, 2020

Who made gamers anime?

Gamers! (Japanese: ゲーマーズ!, Hepburn: Gēmāzu!) is a Japanese light novel series, written by Sekina Aoi and illustrated by Saboten. Fujimi Shobo...

Last updated Dec 30, 2019

Promotion

What age can a brother and sister share a bedroom until?

10 While it's not illegal for them to share, it's recommended that children over the age of 10 should have their own bedrooms – even if they're siblings or step-siblings. We know this isn't always possible. If kids are sharing, try to have regular conversations with them about how they're feeling.

nspcc.org.uk - Siblings Sharing a Bedroom: Guidance | NSPCC

When should a child legally have their own room?

As kids grow up they might want more privacy and need their own space, especially if they're sharing a bedroom with a brother or sister. While it's not illegal for them to share, it's recommended that children over the age of 10 should have their own bedrooms – even if they're siblings or step-siblings. We know this isn't always possible. If kids are sharing, try to have regular conversations with them about how they're feeling. We've got tips and ideas to help make sure they're safe and happy sharing a room. It's important to know there are laws in place to help make sure everyone's home is safe and comfortable. Legislation states that children of the opposite sex over the age of 10 should not share rooms - and that this can be considered overcrowding.1 Read more about how this might affect if you if you live in or are applying for social housing below.

Has there ever been a 10.0 earthquake?

The large quake likely generated a tsunami that hit the coast of Japan. Many people have wondered if we could see a 10.0 magnitude earthquake...

Last updated Jul 17, 2021

What distance do you need for 20 MOA?

600 yards If your goal with the 6.5 creedmoor mentioned above is target shooting out to 600 yards or 1000 yards and beyond, then a 20 MOA base is...

Last updated May 14, 2018

Promotion

How did they keep meat from spoiling in the 1800s?

The meat was rubbed with salt, placed it in wooden barrels and topped off with water, making a brine. The brine kept the meat moister and more...

Last updated Mar 11, 2018

Promotion

What did humans eat before fire?

Between 2.6 and 2.5 million years ago, the Earth got significantly hotter and drier. Before that climate shift, our distant human...

Last updated Apr 2, 2019