How Long Can You Leave a Child Alone For?
Where Do You Live?
Some states do have laws about how old your child has to be before they can legally be left home alone. While other states do not have a set age limit, you could still get in trouble for leaving a child alone if the child is not capable of being left alone. For example, if you have a child who regularly has a lot of seizures, and you leave that child alone for a few hours, you could still face child endangerment charges regardless of what the age of the child is. There are other considerations to take into account as well. If you live in a neighborhood with a high crime rate, leaving your child alone for a long time, particularly in the evenings, you may be putting your child into harm’s way.
How Mature Is the Child?
Your child’s level of maturity will also determine how long they should be left alone and whether they should be left alone in the first place. For example, you may be able to leave your six-year-old home alone for five minutes while you run over to the neighbor’s house to return something you borrowed. But most six-year-olds aren’t mature enough to be left alone for much longer; in fact, many shouldn’t be left home alone at all. In some cases, you may be able to leave a young child home alone with an older sibling, assuming that the older sibling is mature enough to watch after the younger sibling, and that the younger sibling isn’t going to require too much work. The largest concern is would your child be able to call and ask for help in the event of an emergency? If they cannot, they should not be left alone for a significant amount of time. Children who cannot feed themselves or leave the house in the event of an emergency (such as a fire) should not be left alone.
How Much Time Does the Child Spend Alone?
How much time your child spends alone may also be important to consider. There’s a difference between a child who’s occasionally left alone for age-appropriate amounts of time and a child who’s constantly left alone for hours on end. Leaving a child alone for long amounts of time on a frequent basis can have a decidedly negative impact on the child’s emotional development. Furthermore, the child may be at risk for engaging in antisocial behaviors such as underage drinking, substance abuse, and truancy. When it comes to decision-making, children and teenagers do not have all the skills that adults have. This is why it’s important for adults to give their children adequate attention and guidance—and that cannot be done if the child is constantly being left unattended.
Parentification and Neglect
Parentification describes a process in which a child takes on parental roles. Typically, this is done because the parents cannot fill those roles. There are two types of parentification: logistical and emotional. Logistical parentification refers to a situation where the child takes on the parents’ responsibilities. For example, a child may make their younger siblings breakfast and get them ready to go to school. Emotional parentification can refer to a situation where a child is expected to fulfill their parents’ emotional needs. For example, after a divorce, one parent is leaning on the child for emotional support instead of going to therapy. In some situations, parentification can come with neglect, especially if a child is expected to raise themself or be the primary caregiver to others in the household.
When There’s Neglect
If you suspect your ex is neglecting your children, you may need help from an attorney. Unfortunately, courts aren’t likely to act the first time something is brought to their attention if there isn’t an established pattern. The first time you suspect that your child is experiencing neglect, start documenting everything in detail. If your child tells you something, make sure you listen, but don’t prod them too much. Young children may accidentally give misleading or incorrect information when being questioned as they often will tell a parent what they think the parent wants to hear—so it’s best to let a professional with proper training interview the children. If you suspect your child is experiencing neglect, it may be a good idea to visit with a family law attorney who can help you understand your rights and make sure that you get the best outcome possible.
