Home Alone:
Children age 7 or younger, should not be left home alone for any period of time.
Children ages 8, 9, and 10, should not be left alone for more than 3 hours.
Children ages 11, 12 and 13, should not be left alone for more than 12 hours.
Children ages 14 and 15 should not be left alone for more than 24 hours.
Child Care:
Children under age 11 should not provide child care for any younger children.
Children ages 11-15 may do child care– but the time frame should be no more than the guidelines listed above.
Any child left alone should have easy access to a parent or another adult/neighbor etc. By telephone or close proximity.
They should have an emergency plan in place.
The child must be comfortable being left alone. If any child is afraid or not wanting to be alone, they should not be left for any amount of time no matter what age.