SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) – It`s summer and children don`t go to school, but parents still have to go to work. Between the cost of child care and the struggling economy that forces many to work overtime or take on overtime jobs, it could be tempting to leave children alone at home. *Age is recommended but not required by law. ** Although New Mexico does not have a state law that imposes the minimum age for a child to stay home alone, an ordinance from the city of Albuquerque states that children under the age of 11 cannot be left home alone. While all of this is fun and playful for kids, it brings a period of anxiety for some parents. The question that comes up at the top of the totem pole for many of these parents each year is, “Is my child old enough to be left home alone, or should I send him to daycare or find a babysitter?” • Has my child demonstrated good independent judgment and problem-solving skills in the past? Well, in Louisiana and 33 other states, there is no age requirement to leave your child home alone. In states where age is required, these age groups range from 6 to 14 years. There are consequences if you leave a child alone illegally. Each state applies the same specific penalties for these parents, but they can also modify some of them to comply with state rules. If there is a suspicion that a child is being illegally left alone at home, the Child Protection Service (CPS) will launch an investigation to determine the child`s safety in the household. If the investigation reveals that only the child was in danger, he or she will be taken into the care of the State.
The parent can also be prosecuted for endangerment or abandonment of a child, especially if the child is injured alone at home. We have great tools to get you started. First of all, just because they meet the age requirement doesn`t mean they`re mature enough to stay home alone. Here are 5 ways to tell if your child is ready. If you decide yes, we`re ready to go, here are 6 ways to train your child to stay home alone and conversation starters to talk about your expectations and concerns. And chances are you`ll have a child who will play the role of babysitter, so check out our babysitting checklist, which can be printed to make sure all the important details are covered. Deegie Lawless added: “It depends on where you live, how mature the child is and how educated you are.” The foregoing is for informational purposes only and not as legal advice. For legal advice, consult a lawyer. Questions can be asked to bguidroz@slpsheriff.com or megan@slpsheriff.com.
“First and foremost, I would like to say the observation of knowing only your child. Give them a little more independence and see if they can trust that they will be left alone. » • Does my child have the option to provide their name, address and phone number in case of emergency? This is something that has been around for years. When can children be left home alone? Many parents today face this dilemma more than anything else because of their work hours and other commitments that sometimes don`t give them much choice. So I decided to do a little research myself and see what the legal age for children is in Louisiana. The national SAFE KIDS campaign recommends that adults do not leave children home alone until they are 12 years old. However, Louisiana has a fixed age where 10 years is enough to leave a child alone. As a child, I always had someone at home when my mother had to work or take care of personal things. As I got older, I eventually reached an age where I could be left alone, but often that never happened. When I became parents, it was something my wife and I discussed for our son. When we moved here, we didn`t have family here, so he often accompanied us.
This lasted until he was old enough to stay, and it was only for a few hours before one of us went home. In many cases, this could be the first time the parent has the question. Last year, it was obvious that the child was not old enough, but this year there is much less certainty on the subject. But there`s another question to ask: “Is it legal to leave your child alone at home?” It doesn`t matter what the law says or what experts think about the subject. It`s best to know your kids and decide for yourself what works best for your kids. If you feel your child is mature enough to be left alone at 10. You may want to get involved by perhaps leaving them for an hour or two just to familiarize yourself and them with your decision. If you`re still not resolved, Dawn Hines-Bustamento added some good advice: “It`s progressive. I think we started at 10am for 15-minute runs to the charge or something like that. And he built. She is now 13 years old and babysitting for others. I wouldn`t leave her alone overnight, until she was about 17.
It depends on the child, where you live, proximity in case of emergency, number of children, etc. You may be wondering what Louisiana law has to say about this. According to imom.com citing the Louisiana Department of Child and Family Services to explain that there is no minimum age for a child left unattended at home. In fact, the source only lists a total of 16 states with minimum ages, ranging from 6 to 12 years old. With regard to the age of the child, eight different areas are acceptable to each State. These areas are the ones that states have decided to have the most acceptable age. In this way, as the child grows, he can begin to adapt to the change and govern himself accordingly. This age is used to determine what age is suitable for children to start babysitting.
The ranges and number of states that adhere to this age are: One concept that all states agree with is that children should be a certain age before they are home alone. The age of the child depends only on the respective region and its norms. Sergeant Bill Goodin of Shreveport Police says there are criminal laws that can apply to parents who leave their child alone in certain situations. “They explicitly say that a child under the age of 10 is in a situation where a child could not reasonably take care of himself. In other words, if we leave an 8-year-old 9-year-old alone in a car, alone or at home, and there is a situation that they simply cannot handle, that parent could be prosecuted. “And that`s how it could start. But the common denominator in most answers was surely that it all depends on the child. You know your kids better than anyone, so if you`re comfortable with that, it might be time to give it a try. I think I preferred Rob Brown`s answer: “It depends. Is the child old enough to load a shotgun? » • Does my child feel comfortable, confident and willing to stay home alone? • Do we have neighbours that my child and I know and trust? In some cases, it is appropriate for young children to stay home alone. These reasons are not only valid, but also necessary most of the time. Sometimes it can also mean the difference between the child`s long-term safety.
Every child is different. Before parents can leave them home alone, they must prepare their children for certain circumstances that may arise. This action requires mentoring children by asking them certain questions and teaching them specific information, such as: The following table lists the minimum age at which children in the United States can be left home alone, classified by state. Please note that city and county ordinances may have more definitive and restrictive laws in each state. Call your state`s DHS or local child protection agency to learn more about age guidelines in your area. We all know life is coming, but you don`t want to make a decision that could harm your well-being or that of your children. Visit Safe Kids.Org to learn more about how to protect your children. This is a question my wife and I had recently. We have an 11 year old and sometimes there is a situation where it would be more comfortable to leave him alone at home. Q: What is the legal age to leave a child alone at home in the state of Louisiana? Although many states do not have a minimum age to leave a child alone at home, Myer says child welfare services can still be involved. “It depends on the circumstances and the information we have been given.
If there was a fault on the part of the parent in relation to an injury or the situation that led to an injury, then child protection would be involved. “It seems that common sense should prevail in most situations. iMom.com suggested the following if you plan to leave your child home alone. Because children grow up at different rates, there is no uniform, pre-set age at which children are considered “old enough” to stay home alone for short periods of time. Parents should assess their child`s individual development and physical abilities.
