How young is too young for children to be home alone? Here are the rules in each state

More and more parents are grappling with a burning question: How old is too young to leave their kids home alone?

As stories of unsupervised children making shocking decisions fill social media, experts warn that seemingly harmless independence can have dire consequences.

In September, an unsupervised 8-year-old girl took a leisurely 25-minute ride to Target in her mother’s car. Fortunately, only one mailbox was damaged in the alarming incident and it remains unclear whether charges will be upgraded in the case.

A few days ago, an Ohio mother was accused of leaving her three children at home without a phone while she was away for nearly three days.

Self-expression: A little girl couldn’t find a better support for her art work than her parents’ computer monitor, so she climbed on the table for better access.

Tasty? The photographs reveal what children do when left to their own devices; A little girl spilled half a can of Sunny D on the table and naturally started licking it.

The foam part! A group of three kids somehow managed to fill a bath with bubbles

The mother-of-three now faces serious consequences, including prison time, as a result of her questionable decision.

So what is the legal age limit at which your child is allowed to be left unsupervised?

There is no national age limit at which children can be left home alone, and although a few states have set a legal age, most have not.

But ultimately ‘it usually depends on you, the parents’. TODAY.com he says.

Family therapist Sheryl Ziegler told the publication that, in general, 12 and up is “a pretty acceptable age.” American Academy of Pediatrics.

Ziegler’s suggestion comes as he details how children ages 9 to 12 often experience slight independence, such as walking to a friend’s house or the bus stop.

But he emphasized how each child is different and that consideration of each child’s overall comfort level, maturity, emotional and physical health, environment and access to support are all factors to consider before taking a calculated risk.

But if parents choose to take this step, it is crucial to learn your state’s law and its nuances to avoid accidentally neglecting the child.

‘Many states’ child protection laws classify ‘failure to provide adequate supervision of a child’ as child neglect. US Department of Health and Human Services.

‘But in many cases states do not define what ‘adequate control’ is.

Tasty! To a toddler, peanut butter was so delicious that the only logical thing to do was cover his entire face and body with it.

How? Looks like two little kids managed to remove all the padding from the seat cushion

colorado The law, like most states, does not set a specific age after which a child can legally be left home alone, although there is an unofficial guideline of age 12 when it may be appropriate for a child to be left alone for short periods of time. ,’ according to the Colorado Department of Human Services.

Inside Georgia‘Children aged eight and under should not be left alone,’ says the state’s Department of Education. ‘Children between the ages of nine and twelve may be left alone for a short period of time (less than two hours), depending on their level of maturity; and children aged thirteen and over who have reached sufficient maturity may be left alone with parental permission for up to twelve hours and take on the role of babysitter.’

illinois The law allows children aged 14 and over to be legally left at home without parental supervision if the minor has only been neglected for a ‘reasonable’ period of time.

‘Does the caregiver leave them alone for two hours or five days? Who else, if anyone, is responsible for the child’s care?’ A spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services told TODAY.com.

maryland The Family Code states that it is an offense to leave a child under the age of eight unattended, locked or in a house, car, building or other confined space without adequate supervision.

like in maryland North CarolinaThe Fire Code states that a child under the age of eight cannot be left alone unsupervised.

Doodles for everyone: A child left blue marks on the wall, the dog and, of course, his own face

Timeout: A little girl appeared to have somehow trapped her brother in a trunk; this seems more suitable for pets rather than small children

Rest well: One little boy was visibly so tired that he fell asleep with his hand still inside an incredibly delicious-looking jar.

OklahomaThe Sooner State does not have a specific legal age requirement, but according to Oklahoma Human Services, ‘Infants and children under the age of 6 should never be left alone without adult supervision.’

‘Oregon According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, the law states that a child under the age of 10 cannot be left alone for any period of time that could endanger his or her welfare.

in both Tennessee And washington There is no law in the state requiring children to reach a certain age before being left unsupervised at home, but there is an unofficial age limit of 10, according to both states’ respective court systems.

For all remaining regions, there is no specific age requirement under state law.

But even if you trust your child, he or she may not be prepared for this milestone.

Ziegler, author of ‘The Crucial Years: The essential guide to mental health in middle childhood and modern adolescence’, suggests testing whether a child is relaxed and engaged through a daytime experiment.

She also adds that parents keep alcohol, tobacco and guns safely locked away and away from children when left home alone.

As children grow older and the line between childhood innocence and independence blurs, parents face the complex decision of whether to take a measured risk.