Home Alone Laws for the State of Florida

There doesn't seem to be any magical age when a child is safe to stay at home alone. A child's maturity and ability to respond in a crisis are more important than any chronological point in time. Because of that, the National Child Care Information Center says most states, including Florida, have not adopted any laws that set a minimum age when a child is allowed to be left alone at home. But that doesn't mean it's all right under the law to leave just any child alone.

  1. Florida Abuse Hotline

    • Under Florida law, a person must call the state's abuse hotline if he knows or has a reasonable suspicion that "a child of any age is being left home alone without adult supervision" or appropriate care if "the child is unable to care for the child's own needs or another's basic needs or is unable to exercise good judgment in responding to any kind of physical or emotional crisis." When a report is filed, the hotline operator assesses the information provided and decides how to proceed.

    Age and Maturity

    • The Child Welfare Information Gateway states that because there is no agreed upon age when a child can safely be left at home alone, it's best to assess each child's maturity level and consider whether he tends to be responsible. The child welfare organization suggests you consider if your child is "physically and mentally" able to care for himself, whether he obeys rules and makes good decisions and if he is comfortable about the idea of staying home alone.

    Circumstances

    • Whether or not it's safe to leave a child home alone can also depend on the circumstances under which the child is being left. The Child Welfare Information Gateway states there are a number of factors to consider, such as how long the child will be left alone, the time of day, whether the child will need to fix a meal, how safe the neighborhood is and whether other children will be in the house. The National Network for Child Care offers a self-care readiness checklist on its website that can help guide parents toward making the right decision.

    Tips for Parents

    • If you decide it's time to let your child stay home alone, the Child Welfare Information Gateway states there are some things you can do to make you and your child feel more comfortable. It suggests you start by having a short trial period to see how things go. You could also do some role playing to see how your child would respond in different situations, establish firm rules about what behavior will be allowed and establish check-in times to see how things are going. Finally, it states "don't overdo it." No child should be left alone too much.

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