How young is too young to be left home alone? Ohio has some guidelines for parents
Every parent has had to make the decision about whether to leave their children home alone and in Ohio there is no law governing this choice. The Ohio Department of Children and Youths says the age at which you leave them on their own is solely determined by the parents.
Whether the child is mature enough to be left home alone is also solely a parental decision and there is no legal minimum age for the child.
What factors contribute to a child’s maturity?
According to The Center for Parenting Education, a child’s maturity is not solely based on their age. There are a number of other things that can determine whether they can be home safely without supervision.
Cognitive development - the ability to understand and process information is an invaluable determining factor.
Emotional development - recognizing, managing and expressing feelings appropriately is a key aspect of maturity.
Social experiences - interactions with peers, family, or other adults can be key in a child’s development.
Previous responsibilities given - if they have an awareness and a practical understanding of how to care for themselves without prompting could make a big difference.
Beware of the penalties for bad outcomes
Even though the law is not specific about permissions for children at home alone, there are consequences if parents leave their children at home and something goes wrong.
Parents could face criminal charges for child neglect or endangerment. Ohio law considers neglect as the following:
Abandonment.
Lack of adequate parental care due to faults or habits of the parents, guardian, or custodian.
Failure or refusal to provide proper or necessary care necessary for the child’s health, morals, or well-being.
Failure or refusal to provide special care required by the child’s mental condition.
Placing or attempting to place a child in violation of adoption laws.
Causing physical or mental injury that harms or threatens the child’s health or welfare due to omission of care.
Subjecting a child to out-of-home care neglect.
If convicted, parents could face thousands of dollars in fines, more than a year in jail or both, depending on the severity and frequency of the offense.
Prepare your kids to stay home alone
If you decide your older child can be left home alone, Wellspring Center for Prevention recommends going over the below measures to ready them in the case of an emergency.
Work out an emergency plan that provides detailed guidance
Have them commit at least one emergency number to memory
Secure any environmental factors that could cause harm (secure a firearm, water and pool safety, etc).
Coach them on age-appropriate activities while the adult is gone (don’t use the stove, answer the door, etc).
Make sure the child knows how to get into contact with the designated emergency contact and practice before they’re home alone.
Tell us how old you think a child should be to be left alone.
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