Can I get in trouble for leaving my 6 yr old home for 10 mins?

Question

I went to the store to get some paper towels and left my daughter home by herself because she did not want to go with me, while home she was playing on the phone and called 911 and the police came. I beat the police back home, the police then file a report with DSS..This is the first time this has happen.

Answer 1

Yes you can get in big trouble, or maybe just a hand slap if you're lucky.

You need to remember who the parent is.  And are the paper towels really necessary right now or can you get them later?

The general age you can leave kids alone is 12.   BUT if you have a very immature 12 year old, you can still be in trouble for leaving them alone.

You are responsible until they are 18 years old.  I have a 15 and 17 year old, that I would trust overnight by themselves, but I can't.  They still need a babysitter if I have to travel on business.

Answer 2

Well, you can see what the consequences are already. The biggest reason for not leaving a six year old alone is that DSS will be all over you and conducting an investigation. If you resisted police, they may find grounds for neglect. These days social services jump on eveything. There are some six year olds who are able to handle the responsibility but that is not the point. First, you don't want anyone to even think the wrong thing about you as a parent if you want to keep your child. Second, someone could conceivably abduct or break in and hurt your child. Never underestimate what psycho people could be out there just waiting for the opportunity. These are no longer the days to just leave the front door open or let your kids play outside with no supervision. You are responsible and you can have your kids taken away. You'd better really work with DSS and show them the best of who you are and admit that you simply made a bad judgment call that you will not make again. Your dealings with the police should not be described as having beat them back home. Goodness sakes, they are only doing their job and trying to help. I'm sure if someone did break in and your child was alone you would be pleased to have had them show up. Most of the time they are not going to take your kids away unless their investigation turns up drugs, alcohol or signs of more serious abuse or neglect. But, you could be in for some challenges because they don't know how long you might have planned to leave he home alone. I hope you take it as a lesson learned and it will be important to show investigators and police how responsible, capable, kind and submissive you can be to their rules and how they are just trying to make sure your child is safe. Back off and let them do their job and show them that you made a simple mistake.

Answer 3

It's obvious by others remarks that you get the message unless you're a real dimwit or something.

So I won't preach.  I hope you learned your lesson and become a more responsible parent.

By the looks of others comments...you've been whipped enough.

As an adult and a parent you don't let a child make those kinds of choices.

Smarten up...eh!!!

Answer 4

You were lucky.  She could just have easily been playing with a can of Drain-o, or cut her hand open playing "mommy (or daddy) making supper, or fallen on a pair of scissors she was going to use to cut out paper dolls.  The child is SIX for pete's sake.  Who is the parent here?  You or her?

If she wanted to start smoking crack, would you let her?

Whether she wants to go or not, DOES NOT MATTER.  You are bigger, carry her. She doesn't have a whole lot of choice in the matter.  Which is worse?  A child screaming and throwing a tantrum for  a few minutes (bribery works...and popsicles are cheap) or coming home and finding her laying, pale skinned in a pool of crimson, watching the paramedics cover her face, and watching that little casket go in the ground, because you did not want to be tough as a parent and make her do something for her own safety?

Answer 5

Real brilliant there.  You are darn lucky that you were there when the police got there.  You say this is the first time this has happened...do you mean the first time you left her alone or the first time DSS was called on you?  I sure hope this is the first and ONLY time you do something that irresponsible.

What kind of excuse is "she didn't want to"?  Be a parent.  You are in charge of what she does and does not do.

Answer 6

Absolutely. You should NEVER leave a child home alone, and 6 years old is WAY to young.

Answer 7

By paper towels, do you mean crack? Because you sound like you're on it. Who leaves there young child alone?? Thirty seconds alone can be fatal to a child. I can't even begin to cover all the things that could have happened.  It's a good thing your child had the sense to call the cops, "accidental" or not.  Maybe that will wake you up to your poor parenting.

Answer 8

Well now you know NEVER Leave your little ones home alone. That is the least that could happen.  Next time she could get in to pills,  Or try and take a bath and drown.   IF you need to go some place quick get someone to watch her for 10 min.  OR WAIT!  Going to get pepper towels is not worth your child's life or you getting in trouble with the law.

Answer 9

Yes, you can... You sould NEVER leave a child alone even if it was just for 5 mins...  Alot can happen in 10 mins...  As others have stated, she could anything could of happened... SHe could of cut herself badly, she could of gone outside and ran off to which you would of gotten back home to have her missing...  ANYTHING....  6 yrs old is too young to stay home alone....  Luckly nothing really bad happened, Next time you may not be so lucky....

Answer 10

I would have said, "Sure" but I've done it and my daughter and her brother get into even worse trouble when I do that then when I'm just down the hall. The more people that know, the worse it gets as well. I wouldn't worry too much about CPS. As long as you don't run into a real hardnose, you can convince them that you have definately learned your lesson and admit it was a mistake. Then don't do it again. You never know what can happen. It's true.

Answer 11

You can get into lots of trouble. A 6 year old can not look after herself. If you have to go somewhere and your child who's very much under the legal age of staying home by themselves you can definitely into trouble with the police becuase of it.  If you tell your daughter that you're going to the store and she's coming with there's no questions about it she's going with you. If she refuses you tell her again that she's coming with you because she can't stay home by herself and if she still give you attitude about it you take her over your knee and spank her!

Answer 12

Are you sure this is the first time????? You never leave a child at home! Never!

Answer 13

Did this really happen?  What an improbable story.  And very unfortunate for you, of course.

Nonetheless, a six-year-old is too young to be left home alone, even for a short time.  Take her along with you the next time you need to run out to do a quick errand.

As for DSS, if this is the first time you've been in any trouble, I should think they'll let you off with a warning.

Answer 14

Yes you could get in trouble. Why couldn't you take your 6 year old with you, if it was only 10 minutes? If they find out it happens again, you will be in trouble for sure.

Answer 15

why the h**l did you leave her their alone .

your lucky that it was only the phone

she could of hurt herself

you are lucky

you could  be without a kid right now.

your her dad you should of took her with

Answer 16

No duh. You're lucky she wasn't playing with knives or fire. She could've died and it would've been all your fault. Have you ever heard of TOWELS? They're a lot better than paper towels! Thank goodness my mom doesn't leave me home alone! I'm twelve. And I probably have more common sense than you.

Answer 17

Oh my....yes you are in trouble.

At one time the law was that you could not leave a child under 14 home alone then it was lowered to 12.

Whether she wants to go or not...you are the adult.  You don't give children that young a choice.  Tell her she can choose a treat when she goes with you.

Make a shopping list for next time before you go out so you can both go out and spend some time together.

That 10 minutes...to go out for 1 item could cost you your child.

I hope it will be the last time and you plan your trips better.

Please....for your sake...and your child's...never leave her home alone.

Answer 18

There should never have been  A FIRST TIME

You are asking the wrong question it should be

Could your 6 yr old get into trouble while you are out

if he does then you will be up to your neck in trouble and maybe your child will be taken from you

WHAT IS YOUR MALFUNCTION