Can I leave my child home alone in IL or MO during summer break? What the law says
Summer and the end of the school year can put pressure on many parents to find child care solutions as work continues.
The strain of finding appropriate child care amid shortages is matched by sky rocketing costs across the U.S. In Illinois, the average family pays $13,762 annually for infant care — with monthly bills exceeding that of the mortgage for some.
Given the pinch, parents may be considering leaving their child home alone for a period this summer. But is it legal to do so in Illinois and Missouri? It depends, and varies by state.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services website says the first thing to look for in your child is “a desire and willingness to stay alone.”
Here’s what to know about laws regulating leaving children home alone in Illinois and Missouri.
When can you leave a child alone in Illinois?
In Illinois, it’s illegal to leave a child younger than 14 alone for an “unreasonable period of time without regard for the mental or physical health, safety, or welfare of that minor,” according to state law.
The law considers this neglect and outlines several factors that may determine what situations qualify as unlawful, including but not limited to:
The child’s age
The number of children left
Any disabilities or medical needs the child may have
Duration of time left alone
The condition and location of where the child was left
The time of day or night the child was left
Weather conditions, including whether the child had adequate protection from the elements
Whether the child was given an emergency phone number and was capable of making a call
Illinois police officers are able to lawfully take temporary custody of a child who has been neglected or abused, without a warrant, in certain situations.
What constitutes neglect in Missouri?
Missouri law does not specify an age at which children can or cannot be left home alone, according to a 2014 document from the Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division.
State statutes define neglect as “the failure to provide, by those responsible for the care, custody, and control of a child under the age of eighteen years, the care reasonable and necessary to maintain the physical and mental health of the child, when such failure presents a substantial probability that death or physical injury or sexual injury would result.”
Neglect can carry felony charges in Missouri.
How to know if your child may be ready
Responsibility, situational awareness and independent decision-making skills are necessary for children to be successful at home alone, Illinois DCFS reports.
Agency officials recommend preparing your child to know what to do in these situations before leaving them home alone:
“What to do or say if someone calls or comes to the door.
How to lock and unlock windows.
What to do if approached by a stranger on the way home.
What to do if they think someone is in the house when they get home.
Kitchen safety (use of appliances, knives and tools).
What to do if they smell smoke or gas, or in the event of a fire.
What to do during severe storms.
Basic first aid techniques.
Appropriate and inappropriate reasons for calling parents or other adults for help.”
Another consideration is how long your child will be home alone and the availability, if any, of nearby adults to help.
After teaching your child about how to be safe alone, DCFS officials advise setting up a trial period to see how your child does alone.
“During this time, talk frequently with your child about his or her feelings and periodically review house rules and safety information with your child,” the Illinois DCFS website says.
