The Question: At what age is it acceptable to leave a child at home without supervision?
My 2 Cents: I would say a responsible child age 13 or older can be left at home without supervision. The operative word in that sentence is “responsible.” As many of you stated, even a child older than 13 may lack the maturity to be left alone for any extended period of time. There is no across the board answer to this question, which is probably why almost all states have no legislation or policy that determines the acceptable age. In my research, I found one article that says only Illinois and Maryland have stipulated an age limit.
Note: Answers.com had some interesting information on the term latch-key child,
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Take a few moments to check out the tweets from Twitter on this subject:
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RegalRB I dont think there is a magic age, maturity has more to do with it…i have a friend with two boys and the youngest moremature
MusingMom I am old school…so I am like 13-14….during day and 16 at night MAYBE…I have a friend who left her 11 yo during day…nope
agonyofvictory 5 apparently, if you ask Anna Kournikova’s mom.
vizionheiry 12
polijunkie1020 I think 12 years olds is a suitable age for a child to be left home alone…the reason why I said 12 is because the child would be in middle/jr. high school. The child should be somewhat responsible.
watergatesummer your question,….males 36….girls 12…lol..
phaemarie I think it depends somewhat on the maturity level of the kid. I am not ready to leave my 12yo alone.
Pettra88 Never, …ever!
Ms_LaTisha Id say it depends on the maturity level and sex of the child. My dgts will be at least 12 b4 they can be home w/out supervision
jreneker 18
PROTECTED TWEETER i feel a PARENT should know when their child is ready for that RESPONSIBILITY (i truly believe age is just a number)
HoneyBeeLTL 8 years old
tclarkusa I’d say depends on the child(ren). No prob w/ responsible 10 y.o. being home alone for an hr or so, not much longer than 1 hr
Quintessence_T i was a latchkey kid at 7–nowadays it’s not safe…..i say 12
TheMarketingMom Depends on maturity & trustworthiness. My girls are 11, 10 & 5: 10 to 15 mins tylenol run. I think GA law says 11 for 2 hours.
MadApes as soon as they can dial 911. 3? 4?
jigsawverbiage Depends on the kid. I was home alone at 9. I wouldn’t leave my 9yo alone today. I might start considering it when he hits 12.
acmeek I think the legal age is 12. Don’t tell any1 but I was 8 AND I had to be responsible for other children. Shhhh!
MissMeandI I only leave my 12y/o alone for a few short hrs @ a time…I think it depends on how well the child behaves
Tazzee I think the law here is 13 but it depends on the child’s maturity level. Nvr under 13, there are some 16yo I wouldn’t leave
BANN_ED Dependsonmaturity 
Well you know some kids you always have to keep an extra eye on lol
carolynedgar I think u can leave a child alone for a few hours (not overnight) beginning at age 12, but depends on the child.
treschic67 MAYBE 16. (Sophomore/Junior in HS)Even then, its limited to a couple of hrs & child MUST check in frequently…16 – and that’s if they know how to behave. <another …
KEVIN_DMV (16)\
daNanner when that child is both double-digits and responsible enough to be left alone. Usually sometime between 10 and 12…then again, I was a latch-key kid
walkerdl 10, 11, or whatever age they seem to start being responsible
brijh NEVER!!!
md20737 If the child is 12 or over.
PROTECTED TWEETER once they become teenagers
OwlAsylum 21. If they aint left by then. Keep them afterschool programs and what not. A teen will tear it up.
mrfreshie2u I say when they are 13/14… When they are like freshmen in high school/ done wit middle school
LadyJay91 Kids are going to be kids no matter the age so it’s never acceptable *lol* to leave them at home BUT if I had to I’d say 14yrs.
AminahHanan 1st when the law says it’s legal and 2nd when the parent feels the child is able. Big responsibility Not to be taken lightly.
Mo_Rease I would say 13..
PROTECTED TWEETER It depends on the maturity. Naturally, I think 13yrs
JoshDamage I wud say between the ages of 13-15. Depending on the maturity and whether the child is responsible or not.
atane 13 is ok.
Inkognegro depends on the child. Some…as early as 8 or 9. some….never.
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The commentary doesn’t have to end!
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