If you’re a parent of young children, you’ve probably found yourself pondering the right age to leave your kids at home unsupervised. Well, wonder no more! A savvy mom from the blog Thirty Crafty Days has created a useful chart for parents that outlines permissible ages and state guidelines for leaving kids home alone. Although this isn’t a strict rulebook, it serves as a helpful reference after she consulted various state recommendations and safety tips. At the end of the day, you are the best judge of your child’s maturity level—and whether your valuables are safely stashed away.
Parenting is often a game of waiting for that next big milestone—be it your little one’s first crawl, first words, or that exhilarating moment they finally learn to tie their shoes. Initially, it’s exhilarating (“They said my name!”), but before long, it can turn into, “Can’t they talk about something other than dinosaurs?” You eventually forget that there was a time when they couldn’t do that one thing you eagerly awaited.
Independence is one of those pivotal milestones that’s both thrilling and terrifying. You want your kids to grow up and be self-sufficient, but part of you wishes they would stay little forever. This chart serves as a gentle reminder that independence comes in stages. For example, the mom behind Thirty Crafty Days highlights that 10-year-olds “should not be left alone for more than 1½ hours, and only during daylight and early evening.” It’s not until age 13 that overnight stays alone should even be considered.
For many parents, discerning when to leave children home alone can be tricky, especially since few states have a clear minimum age guideline. Personally, while I’d love to whisk my partner away for a romantic weekend, I just can’t bring myself to leave my five-year-old in charge—not yet! For those parents lacking the luxury of eager grandparents or affordable childcare options, it often means no getaway or an extravagant babysitting bill for a night out.
Since my first child, I’ve dreamed of the day when they could be left alone, granting me a taste of my former child-free life. But alas, I still have a way to go before either kid reaches that coveted “home alone” age, so this chart doesn’t have me packing my bags just yet. However, it does shine a light at the end of the tunnel.
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In short, while there are guidelines regarding when it’s acceptable to leave your kids home alone, your judgment will always be your best tool.