Is it illegal to leave your child at home alone?

There’s no legal age a child can be left home alone, but it’s against the law to leave a child alone if it puts them at risk1. Every child matures differently, so it would be almost impossible to have a “one size fits all” law.

Can a 10 and 8 year old stay home alone?

8 to 10 Years – Should not be left alone for more than 1½ hours and only during daylight and early evening hours. 11 to 12 Years – May be left alone for up to 3 hours but not late at night or in circumstances requiring inappropriate responsibility. 13 to 15 Years – May be left unsupervised, but not overnight.

Is 12 old enough to stay home alone?

Maturity Check

Most states don’t have laws stipulating how old a child needs to be to stay home alone. … Most experts say that by age 10 or 11, it’s OK to leave a child alone for short periods of time (under an hour) during the day, provided they’re not scared and you think they’re mature enough to handle it.

When can I leave my child home alone?

Only three States currently have laws regarding a minimum age for leaving a child home alone: Illinois, 14 years old; Maryland, 8 years old; and Oregon, 10 years old.