Now that school is over, more parents may be leaving their children at home alone while they are at work.
Currently, there are only three states that have laws regarding a minimum age for leaving a child home alone.
Illinois law requires children to be 14 years old before being left alone; in Maryland, the minimum age is 8, while in Oregon, children must be 10 before being left home alone. As for now, there is no specific requirement for Texas.
Carla Olson, the Executive Director for the Parenting Cottage, an agency within Lubbock Area United Way and the South Plains Child Abuse Coalition that focuses on building strong families, said parents must use good judgment calls as to what age to leave their child at home. She says while there is no minimum age set in Texas, that she would not suggest leaving a child under the age of 12 home alone. but that parents must also take into consideration their child’s maturity level.
“I think what’s more important in the process is not the chronological age, but maybe their emotional maturity and you know, how comfortable that child feels staying home alone,” said Olson.
Some other tips Olson adds for parents to consider before leaving their kids at home for the day:
- Considering the emotional maturity of your child
- The layout and safety of the home or area
- The child’s ability to handle emergency situations
- The child’s accessibility to other responsible adults
If you believe you that any of your children are too young to be staying home alone, Mrs. Olson also suggests taking advantage of the several camps that will be held throughout the city this summer.
