If something should happen to your child, you will be held responsible. My 12-year-old child is home alone after school for a few hours until I get home from work. Is this acceptable under New York State law? According to the law, there is no set age at which you can leave a child alone.

You can leave school on the last Friday in June if you’ll be 16 by the end of the summer holidays. You must then do one of the following until you’re 18: stay in full-time education, for example at a college. start an apprenticeship or traineeship.

In general, a youth must be 18 to legally move out without a parent’s permission. However, laws vary from state to state and these laws are not enforced equally. Some police departments do not choose to actively pursue older runaways if they are nearing the age of majority.

Most people would agree that children need discipline, but their thoughts on how to administer it and what is excessive vary from across the street to around the world. He said corporal punishment of children is allowed in New York, but the state takes an interest when it becomes excessive.

According to the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS), children between the ages of nine and twelve can be left alone for less than two hours and children who are 13 or older can be left alone and perform the role of a babysitter.

eight years old

How old do children have to be before they can stay home alone? DC law says a child is anyone up to age 18 but does not give a specific age at which children can be on their own at home. You need to use your own good judgment.

All Services » Department of Health & Human Services Children under age 8 cannot be left home alone for any reason. Children age 8 or older can be left home alone for short periods of time, as long as a parent or other adult can be contacted. Short periods of time could be before or after school, not an entire day.

Virginia state statutes do not set a specific age after which a child legally can stay alone. * Age alone is not a very good indicator of a child’s maturity level. Some very mature 10-year-olds may be ready for self care while some 15-year-olds may not be ready due to emotional problems or behavioral difficulties.

Child Supervision Guidelines

11 to 12 years : May be left alone for up to 3 hours, but not late at night or in circumstances requiring adult supervision. 13 to 15 years : May be left unsupervised, but not overnight. 16 to 17 years : May be left unsupervised for up to two consecutive overnight periods.

There are no laws in Virginia that say when or for how long a child can be left alone. Parents are ultimately responsible for making decisions about their children’s safety. Every child is different and must be assessed based on their maturity, skills and comfort level to be home alone.

Consistent with the Fairfax County Child Supervision Guidelines, no child under 16 years old should be left alone overnight. It is recommended that overnight sitters be 18 years or older. Fairfax County recommends children be at least 13 years old before babysitting.

13-15 years old may babysit infants and children but not overnight. 16 years old and older may watch children overnight.