What age to leave child home alone

[syskjw]

What is the name of your state? Fl.
I could not find a forum related to this sorry did not know where to post?
My question is does Florida have a law on what age a child can be left home alone?
How old can a teenager be to babysitt?

 

[CJane]

From http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/oct2000/sb20001025_473.htm

In Florida, for example, besides being a bad idea, it's also illegal to leave a child under 12 at home alone, even during the day, says Marion Mollica-Minson, a psychologist and the director of the Child, Adolescent & Family Center in Boca Raton.

I would assume, based on the above, that a child must be at least 12 to babysit.

 

[syskjw]

I personally thought 12 years old to be left alone and 13 to baby sit. But of course I did not know if there was a law and what I think does not matter but I want to make sure.

 

[stealth2]

I think I'm just gonna bang my head against the wall until all y'all sort out how to answer this question.

 

[tnr1983]

i was home alone at 9. so were my neighbors.

 

[CourtClerk]

i was home alone at 9. so were my neighbors.

That's not saying much. That's probably part of what's wrong with you today.

 

[CJane]

i was home alone at 9. so were my neighbors.

So? Did you live in FL? Did you know that just because something happened, it doesn't make it legal?

Dumb ass.

OP ~ I can't find a statute to back up what I posted from that article. You should call family services or an attorney to find out.

 

[tnr1983]

No. And that was in the early 90's. And I think it makes it ok if your child is responsible. I just sat and watched tv until my parents got home. Big deal.

 

[bononos again]

This is all depending.
The "emotional" age and the "chronogolical" age of children can differ. There are so many factors to consider that this question can not be so generalized.
Age limit, I saw 14 to babysit, there is a big but.
BUT, this depends on maturity and knowledge of the sitter.

 

[bononos again]

i was home alone at 9. so were my neighbors.

My oldest is 9. Aside from a 5 to 10 minute span, he's not ready to be left alone, and doesn't want to be left alone for long periods either.
This question is situation and child maturity depending.

 

[fairisfair]

tnr1983 is not mature enough to be left alone NOW; let alone, then.

 

[CourtClerk]

tnr1983 is not mature enough to be left alone NOW; let alone, then.

I second that.

 

[bononos again]

tnr1983 is not mature enough to be left alone NOW; let alone, then.

And...leaving your child at home plopped in front of the boob tube is NOT a good idea, no matter what age or how mature they are.

 

[mamabear4269]

This question will bring up more "personal" opinion than legal. IT really shouldn't matter what the leagal age is. It should matter that you can live with yourself if something bad were to happen to a CHILD left to fend for them selves. Anything can happen that the "mature seeming" child isn't ready to handle at that age. IF you can live with the risk, the child can live (or not) though the what if's.

 

[nextwife]

Mine will be ten this summer, I'd NEVER leave her home alone at that age!