Is it neglect if I let my child play outside unsupervised? What Texas law says

One way to cook dinner in peace is to let your kid go play outside. However, the dangers of running around in the street may pose threats to children, and legal action for parents.

Texas law doesn’t explicitly state whether children playing in the street unsupervised is considered neglect. But, according to the Reasonable Childhood Independence law , parents can let their children play outside and engage in other activities according to the kids’ maturity level.

Here is what Texas legislation says about letting your children play outside.

What is the Reasonable Childhood Independence Law?

In May 2021, Texas passed House Bill 567 into law.

The law says the state cannot clear a convincing case for neglect based on the parent allowing the child to “engage in independent activities that are appropriate and typical for the child’s level of maturity, physical condition, developmental abilities, or culture.”

The Texas Family Code also applies to this situation, meaning a child cannot be removed from the household for a parent allowing them to participate in appropriate independent activities. Playing alone outside falls under this law.

Texas law suggests that children cannot be left at home until they mature enough, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. The same goes for Reasonable Childhood Independence law.

What counts as child neglect in Texas?

The Texas Family Code defines neglect as when a person responsible for caring for a child does something (or fails to do something), showing clear neglect with possible harm to the child’s health or safety.

Leaving a child unattended falls under neglect.

If you are considering letting your child play outside , you must acknowledge their level of maturity, physical condition and developmental abilities. If a child is not old enough to know not to run into the street, this could open up a case of negligence.

However, on the flip side, “The statute now enshrining childhood independence is part of a bigger children’s services bill ensuring Texans that the state will not intervene and remove a child unless the danger is so great and so likely that it outweighs the trauma of entering the foster care system,” says Let Grow, an organization that championed the Reasonable Childhood Independence Law.

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What are the consequences for child neglect in Texas?

Parents who abandon or endanger their child can receive a state jail felony punishment .

This can mean paying a fine and going to jail for six months, or up to two years, depending on the severity of the case. If abandonment puts the child in immediate risk of death, this can mean a hefty fine with up to 20 years in jail.