Leaving Kids Home Alone in Texas: Legal Age and Considerations

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At what age can you leave your child home alone?

Summer presents a challenging situation for many parents, who oftentimes have to find ways to occupy and safeguard their children until school resumes in the fall, occasionally without direct supervision.

How young is too young to leave your kid at home alone? 10? Is 14 old enough? What about leaving a 14-year-old in charge of an 8 or 9-year-old?

Whether it's to run an errand or all day because you couldn't take the day off or find/afford a sitter, how young is too young to leave a child home alone is a question many parents have grappled with at one time or another.

This is what the law in Texas says.

What Age Can I Legally Leave My Kids Home Alone in Texas?

Most experts agree your child's maturity, and your state's laws are the best ways to determine when it's OK to leave kids home alone.

In Texas, that means it's basically a parental decision. Per the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services website:

Texas law doesn't say what age is old enough for a child to stay at home alone.”

In other words, there is no legal minimum age requirement. However, leaving a child or children alone with the TV on and a few Hot Pockets in the freezer could result in a visit by the authorities if it's determined there has been neglectful supervision.

What Does the Law Consider Neglectful Supervision

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The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services defines “neglectful supervision" as:

Placing a child in or failing to remove a child from a situation that a reasonable person would realize requires judgment or actions beyond the child's level of maturity, physical condition, or mental abilities and that results in bodily injury or substantial risk of immediate harm to the child."

Things to Consider Before Deciding to Leave Your Kids Home Alone

The state agency recommends taking several factors into consideration before making your decision, including the age, emotional maturity and capability of the child; whether he or she has any mental, physical or medical disabilities; how long and how often the child will be left alone; and the child’s ability to respond to an emergency.

Despite the lack of a legal age requirement, having proper supervision safeguards in place and using good judgment and smart decision-making are still necessary.

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