Is it legal to leave kids home alone in Illinois? Here’s what the law says

It's a timeless rite of passage: the first time you leave your child home alone because you finally trust that they will be able to take care of the house in a satisfactory manner.

This moment can be a nerve-racking one — both for you as a parent and for the child who doesn't know where the can-opener is to open up a can of chicken noodle soup.

Worry abounds when one leaves for the night without the kids, and leaving your kids at home can be traumatic. Thankfully, we've got you covered with what you need to know about giving the keys to your house to your kids in Illinois.

What does Illinois law say about when you can leave your kids at home?

Illinois state law is clear about how long a parent is responsible for the welfare of a child: until adulthood. However, there's no set age as to when a parent is legally allowed to leave a child or children home alone.

Despite this, there are some factors that are considered by law enforcement when it comes to determine if a child has been neglected for an unreasonable point in time, such as the condition of the home, weather conditions, whether there was food left over and economic hardships.

Officially, state law says that a neglected minor is anyone under 14 left without proper supervision for a period of time without regard for their health.

If I do decide to leave my kids at home, how should I prepare them?

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services says that your child should be able to develop the maturity needed to stay home alone before you give them the keys. In addition, they ask that parents be mindful of the neighborhood that they live in, along with other adults who could help if the child runs into danger

DCFS says that children should also know what to do if someone comes to the door or if they run into a stranger, kitchen safety and how to unlock windows, if they smell gas or smoke in case of a fire, basic first aid, handling a severe storm or if someone is in the house when they return.

Parents are recommended not to overwhelm their children with all of this information. Instead, they should provide it in small chunks, giving them certain situations to act out how they will respond in case of an emergency.

How neglect is determined in Illinois

DCFS says that they usually dispatch Child Protection Specialists to determine what happened and ensure that such a situation never occurs again. In some cases, they note that a child could be removed from their home if it is deemed to not be safe for them to live with neglectful parents.

The agency says that while they don't want to punish a parent – particularly if the neglect is found to be accidental – but would rather make sure that they think through everything before leaving their children home alone.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Is it legal to leave kids home alone in Illinois? Here’s what the law says