In the eyes of the law, at what age can a child stay home alone?
In New York State is no legally mandated age as to when a child can be left alone. Parents have a responsibility to supervise their children or arrange for proper competent supervision. Proper supervision means that the child’s minimum needs for adequate food, clothing, shelter, health and safety are met. The need for supervision varies with the age and developmental stage of the child. Very young children should never be left alone. Some 15-year-olds should not be left alone while some 12-year-olds certainly can handle being home alone for a bit of time. A caretaker must take into consideration several factors when deciding the appropriateness of leaving a child alone; these include: the child’s age and maturity; any special health or (other) special needs of the child; the relative safety of the child’s environment; the length of time the child will be home alone; the responsibilities assigned to the child (will he/she have to cook his own meals or baby sit for a younger sibling?
