What age can you leave your child home alone?

Question

I know someone who leaves there 2, 4, 6, and 11 year old home with a 13 year old. Is that legal? I am in SC, but willing to hear about other states.

Answer 1

in the u.k you can only leave a child at home when they are 13 but if you have a younger child to be looked after the youngest you can leave them with is 14. i'd hate to be that 13yr old talk about too much responsibility tell her mum to look after her own kids and let her eldest daughter have her own life!

Answer 2

I know in VA its any age  

Answer 3

I don't know but i'm 15 and i still haven't been left home alone for more then a couple of hours.

When my parents go out for the night, my brother always has to look after me !

Answer 4

in the uk you can leave a child over night alone when they are 16 and as for looking after minors its the same age! a 13 year old is not responsible enough to look after anyone younger as they are children also!

Answer 5

i started staying home at eleven.

Answer 6

In the UK you can leave a child in the care of a 14 year old BUT if anything happens to the child being looked after it will not be the responsibility of the 14 year old, because they are a child and not a responsible adult.  It will be the responsibility of the parent.  So the parent could be charged with neglect if the 14 year old does not look after the child properly.  

In your case I think it is very irresponsible for the 13 year old to be left looking after such young children.  What if there was a fire?  Would the 13 year old be capable of coping with that, and being able to take care of all the children?  I don't think so.  Even an adult would find it difficult to cope with.  Parents should always stop to think of the potential responsibilty a teenage may have to cope with before deciding whether it is safe to leave them in charge.  

Answer 7

I'm not sure when a child can stay at home alone but if whoever you are talking about leaves the 13 yr. old in charge of the other 4 kids, I would despise my parents!!  I'm an adult with 2 young children and it's hard for me to handle, can't imagine being that 13 yr. old...I guess the 11 year old is old enough to help but still...anyway...just my opinion!