What age can kids stay home alone in Georgia? Here's what parents need to know

One of the biggest questions that comes up in parenting is “When is it safe to leave my child home alone?” This may be particularly prevalent in the next month as schools reopen, with some students getting home before their parents can get off work.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry reported in 2017 that more than 40% of children are left home at some point. However, if they are too young and safety plans are not put into place, this could lead to injuries or worst.

Safety leaders on the state and national level have guidance on when children may be left home alone and how to do it safely. Here’s a closer look:

At what age can kids stay home alone in Georgia?

Georgia Division of Children and Family Services has a Lack of Supervision Reference Guide. In it, they list the following guidelines for determining if a child is old enough and mature enough to be left without adult supervision:

• Children age 8 or younger should not be left alone.
• Children ages 9-12, based on maturity levels, may be left alone for brief periods of time (less than two hours).
• Children age 13 or older who are adequately mature may be left alone and may be a babysitter, as authorized by a parent, for up to 12 hours.

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How do you determine if your child can be left home alone? Georgia has a checklist

Georgia DFCS' reference guide has an extensive checklist for parents to review before deciding when a child can be left at home. Here are some of the considerations listed:

• Does the child know the family's emergency plan and can they demonstrate it?
• Does the child have access to the phone numbers of caregivers, nearby relatives, neighbors, or friends? Can the child recite the numbers?
• Are there environmental factors that add impending dangers to the situation i.e. firearm safety, water safety, etc.?
• Does the child demonstrate dependability, responsibility and trustworthiness?
• Does the child have any physical, developmental, genetic, behavioral, emotional, cognitive, or psychiatric disabilities?
• How does the child feel about being left without adult supervision?
• What will the child be doing while they are left alone?

What are some things to do before you let your child stay home alone?

The American Red Cross advises parents to set rules for their children when being left alone. Here are some they recommend, according to the Red Cross's website:

• Lock the doors and, if the home has an electronic security system, children should learn how to turn it on and have it on when home alone.
• Never open the door to strangers, delivery people, or service representatives. Always check before opening the door to anyone, looking out through a peephole or window first. Ask delivery people to leave the package at the door or tell them to come back at another time. Service representatives, such as a TV cable installer, should have an appointment when an adult is home.
• Never tell someone on the telephone that the parents are not at home. Say something like “They are busy right now. Can I take a message?”
• Don't talk about being home alone on social media websites. Be cautious about sharing information about their location when using chat rooms or posting on social media.
• Never leave the house without permission. However, if the child smells smoke or hears a fire or smoke alarm, they should get outside and ask a neighbor to call the fire department.
• Don't have friends over to visit when your parents aren’t at home unless you have permission to do so. Don't let anyone inside who is using drugs or alcohol, even if you know them.