Can you leave a child home alone in California now that school is out? What the law says

Finding day care for you child during the summer months can be expensive and difficult, and so you may be wondering if your kid can stay home alone in California — the answer depends on a few factors.

The laws in the Golden State are relaxed compared to a few other states when it comes to leaving your kid alone, but parental experts suggest assessing a child’s comfort level and maturity.

Here’s what to know:

At the end of this story, there is a form where you can share your thoughts on minimum age requirements and recommendations.

At what age can you leave a child home alone in California?

In California there is no legal minimum age a child can be left alone, according to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office. However, the maturity and emotional level of a child are all “factors that should be taken into account.”

Other U.S. states have varying laws and recommendations — and they can get fairly convoluted. For example, in Kansas, the state recommends a child is at least 6 before they can be left home alone “depending on their maturity level.” On the other side, Illinois has a legal minimum requirement of 14 years old if you leave your child for an “unreasonable” amount of time.

Here’s how other states approach this question, according to data aggregated by World Population Review:

In a survey conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 458 members of the National Association of Social Workers were asked what they thought was an appropriate age for child to be left home alone. The survey was conducted from October to December 2015.

The survey results revealed that most social workers agreed a child should be at least 12 years old before being left home alone. They also noted that the child shouldn’t be left for longer than four hours and if the child is hurt while alone, “they are more likely to consider a home alone scenario as neglect.”

When are kids ready to be left home alone?

“There is no sure sign to let” a parent know their child is ready to be home alone, stated the California Department of Education website. A parent can go through a checklist to evaluate, the best they can, if the child is ready.

The California Department of Education has a checklist of questions you’ll want to ask yourself before deciding to leave your child home alone.

Preparing your child

If you’re confident your child can be left home alone, the second step is to prepare you child. Establishing rules and setting a trial period can help you better assess your child’s ability to be on their own.

Assure your child they can go back to day-care if they don’t feel safe at home, and set a clear trial-period, according to the California Department of Education.

Below are some rules to consider establishing for your child, from the California Department of Education:

What do you think?

Let us know in the survey below.

This story was originally published June 20, 2023 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Can you leave a child home alone in California now that school is out? What the law says."