In New York, there’s no specific law setting the minimum age for leaving a child home alone, according to the Office of Children and Family Services. Instead, parents are expected to judge their child’s maturity, preparedness, and the situation’s circumstances when making that call.
While kids under 12 typically aren’t ready, experts suggest some may be responsible enough by age 12 or 13. Key signs include how well a child follows rules and handles responsibility in school and at home.
Though legal age limits don’t exist, parents can still face child endangerment charges if something goes wrong while the child is unsupervised. Safety and common sense remain the best guides…