{"id":35276,"date":"2025-02-19T18:55:50","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T01:55:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/co4kids.org\/?p=35276"},"modified":"2025-02-19T18:55:55","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T01:55:55","slug":"when_to_leave_kids__home_alone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/co4kids.org\/es\/community-blog\/when_to_leave_kids__home_alone\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it okay for my kid to stay home alone?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Back to Blogs<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Community Blog<\/a><\/div>\n\n

Is it okay for my kid to stay home alone?<\/h1><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Child<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n
\n

<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By Yolanda Arredondo
September 2020<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is not a specific age in Colorado when a child can legally stay home alone. It is your decision. <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The laws of Colorado do not set a specific age after which a child legally can stay home alone. When thinking about leaving children alone, whether, for a short or long time, it is important for parents to consider the risks involved. There are many potential risks to children that must be considered. There are also risks for parents as well. Parents in all states are legally responsible for their children’s welfare until they reach adulthood. Part of caring for children is providing adequate supervision. Under some circumstances, a parent can be charged with neglect for leaving children unattended. In general, Colorado has accepted the ages of 10 to be alone and 12 to babysit as a guideline<\/strong> for when it might be appropriate for a child to be left alone for short periods of time. This standard is based upon the Colorado Child Labor Law, which deems 12 years as the minimum age for employment, for example, as a babysitter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things to think about when deciding if your child is ready to be more independent:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

When determining your child\u2019s readiness for more independence, it may be helpful to think about the same things that a child protection caseworker would<\/strong> when determining child neglect. <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n