Question: How old is old enough for a parent to leave a child at home unattended? Isn’t there a law about this?
Answer: That’s a very good question. Workers at the Child Protective Services Child Abuse Hotline regularly receive calls from people with concerns about children left unattended while their parents are away at work, running errands, or otherwise absent.
Unfortunately, the answer is not that simple.
In California, no laws stipulate an age at which it is illegal to leave children alone. Children under age 5 are especially vulnerable to abuse and neglect, and obviously, it is never safe to leave a baby or a toddler unattended.
Beyond that, consensus is hard to find.
Some child development experts say no child under 10 should be left home alone. Others say 12. I’m sure there are readers who have children older than 12 whom they would not feel comfortable leaving home unattended.
When CPS social workers encounter this situation, they want to make sure the child or children are not at risk by being left alone. They look at the developmental age and maturity of the child, the times of day the child is left alone, how often and for how long the child is left alone, why the child is being left home alone, and how many other children may be involved.
Next, the worker looks for answers to basic questions such as: Does the child know what to do in case of a fire? Does he or she know how to call 911? Does the child know how to reach the parent, or another responsible adult? Is the child willing or interested in staying home alone or does the child feel frightened? Does the child know what to do if a stranger knocks on the door?
Since child safety is CPS’ number-one priority, workers assess every family to make sure the child’s immediate needs for food, clothing, shelter, and medical care are addressed. They use a risk and safety tool to assess the family. And they check to make sure the home is physically safe from hazards like exposed electrical wiring, raw sewage, and vermin infestation.
In this economy, resources are stretched to the limit, and many families are struggling to stay afloat. CPS workers aren’t there to judge parenting styles; they are there to make sure children are safe. The facts of a case have to rise to a certain level of danger to meet the legal threshold for intervention.
As resources for families continue to shrink, friends, family members, neighbors and the community play a greater role in helping to keep children safe.
If you see a situation where you think a child is in danger, call the CPS Child Abuse Hotline at 875-KIDS. Every call matters.
“Ask a CPS Social Worker” is an informational column produced by Sacramento County Child Protective Services.