Beverly Bird has been writing professionally since 1983. She is the author of several novels, including the bestsellers “Comes the Rain” and “With Every Breath”. Bird also has extensive experience as a paralegal, particularly in the areas of divorce and family law, insolvency and inheritance law. She addresses many legal topics in her articles. Leaving a child home alone has some benefits, said Sabrina Schuck, Ph.D., executive director of the School of Child Development at UC Irvine. California lawmakers believe it should be up to parents to decide at what age their child is responsible enough to take care of themselves when home alone. States that have laws have set this age at 10 to 12 years. Child care experts are quick to point out that it should be determined from one child to another. Right now, the state of California doesn`t have laws governing your child`s age before you can leave them unattended while you enter the store. The only states that currently have such laws are Maryland, Illinois and Oregon. However, that doesn`t mean you can leave your two-year-old in the crib while you opt for a quick breakfast.
If you think your child is mature enough to remain unsupervised, the California Department of Education sets guidelines for doing so. Write down the child`s rules and hang them in the refrigerator or in a conspicuous place so they can easily find and refer to them. Explain what to say and do if a stranger calls or rings the doorbell. Make a list of emergency phone numbers and anything else you think is important given your personal situation. California lawmakers dictate to theory that every child is different. Some ten-year-olds are quite capable of taking care of themselves for a few hours, and some teens shouldn`t be left home alone for more than a few minutes. If something happens while your child is left alone, you can expect it to trigger a lengthy police investigation that will lead a judge to investigate the case and determine if your child`s background and personality suggest you should have left him alone. “People think we`re living in a whole new world where scarier things can happen,” says Cook, who lives in Milpitas, “but I think if you could teach your child responsible things like not blowing up the house, how to use the keys, and how to call emergency services, It wouldn`t be too bad. You can be charged with child neglect, even if you have never left your child alone at home. As a parent, you must provide your child with medical care, education, clothing, food, and basic hygiene items. Failure to do so can result in accusations of child neglect. If the court finds that you should not have left your child, charges of neglect of you will be laid. In California, neglecting children is a crime.
The California Department of Education offers a checklist of factors parents should consider when assessing whether their child is ready to be left home alone: It also warns that children who stay home alone lack a lot of educational and social growth through summer activities and lose a sense of connection to a larger community beyond their parents. Provided you do not leave and leave your child defenseless without instruction and food, and is reasonably mature, you are unlikely to be charged with criminal negligence for leaving him alone at reasonable intervals. However, this may depend to some extent on the opinions of outsiders. Keep in mind that if your child is in trouble because you left them home alone, the law could hold you criminally and civilly liable for their actions. The crucial point is that every child is different and everyone reaches the independence phase at different ages. This is one of the reasons why child psychologist Lisa Whitfield recommends promoting independence in children. This could include leaving her alone for short periods of time, starting at age 6 and gradually increasing the duration as she ages, but she cautions against expecting routine self-care. In addition to making sure your child has demonstrated that they can take care of themselves alone at home, investigators will also look to determine if you have provided them with the means to take care of themselves while you are away. This includes providing them with enough food, entering the house and giving them a list of numbers to turn to if they need help. Experts say one of the easiest ways to tell a child might be willing to do it alone for a short time is to ask. Most children will answer honestly. The signs that a child is scared and not yet ready are the desire to turn on all the lights, make the television roar or have nightmares.
All the parents were already there. You have to run fast around town to pick up something like a gallon of milk, a dentist appointment, or something at work. You don`t want to bring your child, but you`re not sure you can legally leave them at home. Another East Bay mother, Liz Shipsides, once briefly left her 9-year-old son home alone while dropping off his siblings at school. She came home and found that he had barricaded himself in her room out of sheer terror. The best way to determine if your child is old enough to be left home alone is to honestly access their ability to follow instructions, behave rationally, and take care of themselves. If you have any doubts about your child`s ability to stay safe while you are away, it is in your best interest and your child`s best interest to take them with you or find someone willing to watch them until you can return. Experts say that a key factor is the degree of maturity of the child. For a child who is immature or impulsive, or who suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, or another developmental problem, 12 may be too young. California is one of many states that do not have a law that determines the age at which a child can be left alone. But that doesn`t mean it couldn`t be a crime if you do it when he`s too young. The court will decide on a case-by-case basis, and your child`s maturity level is usually the deciding factor.
A 10-year-old might be able to fend for himself, while a rebellious 12-year-old might not. California law does not specifically provide for a minimum age for leaving a child alone at home, nor a minimum age for a child to care for younger siblings. However, leaving children alone before they are ready can result in criminal charges and penalties. Similarly, California has no minimum age for childcare, and there is no law governing the number of siblings or other family members a child can keep. Use discretion when determining whether or not an older child is mature enough to care for younger siblings. While a 12- or 13-year-old may be responsible enough to take care of themselves at home, they may lack the maturity to care for their younger siblings. Finally, leave a fully charged cell phone for the child so you can call or text them to check in. It`s just bad and scary,” says Mother Campbell, “I let her for 10 minutes when I take the dog to pee, and even then we use walkie-talkies.” If you`re able to work or make another commitment where you can`t be with your child regularly when they get home from school, most child care experts suggest looking for an extracurricular activity they can participate in rather than leaving them to fend for themselves.
