Can I leave my child home alone in Kentucky during summer break? What state law says

Child care in Kentucky is at the full-blown crisis stage. Half of the state’s children are living in a child care desert, where there are simply no providers to turn to.

The problem has only grown in the last 10 years, over the course of which some 1,700 providers have closed their doors for good. That leaves about 159,000 child care spots for Kentucky’s 316,000 children under the age of 5, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.

And that doesn’t brush affordability. In 2019, Kentucky families paid an average of $6,611 for child care, figures from the Federal Reserve of St. Louis show. The cost has no doubt increased given inflation.

All of this puts a lot of pressure on working parents, especially during the summer when school is out. Some might wonder at what age they can leave their older children at home, possibly to watch a younger sibling.

At what age can I legally leave my child home alone in Kentucky?

Unlike some states, there is no law in Kentucky that sets an age at which a child can legally be left at home alone.

Under state law, a parent is guilty of abuse or child neglect when the child’s health or welfare is harmed or threatened with harm by a lack of “adequate care, supervision, food, clothing, shelter and education or medical care necessary for the child’s well-being.”

Sherri Hannan, a registered nurse and the coordinator of Safe Kids Fayette County, points out Kentucky sees the issue as one that has to be assessed case by case, given that some children develop faster than others. Obviously, young children can’t be left alone, but older children can, so that leaves somewhat of a gray area for parents to navigate.

“It really is a parent’s decision,” and one to be thoroughly considered, Hannan told the Herald-Leader.

Still, some states do require children to be a certain age, including nearby Illinois, where the minimum age is 14.

How to decide if your child is old enough to be left at home alone

According to Hannan, though most states do not have minimum age laws for self-supervision, many child safety and pediatric experts agree that children under the age of 11 should not be left home alone. Those younger than 11 often cannot handle emergency situations on their own.

If considering leaving your child alone, parents should ask themselves several of the following questions, Hannan says:

• Is my child emotionally ready to be left home alone?

• Are they physically capable of being by themselves unsupervised?

• Do they follow rules well?

• Are they responsible about doing their chores and homework?

• Are they aware of what could happen while grownups are away? Do they know how to handle those scenarios?

• Is your home properly secured? Is there a pool in the backyard? Are there guns in the home?

• Are they willing to look after and care for their younger siblings, if applicable?

• Do they understand what to do in an emergency?

• Do they have a way to call 911 or is there a neighbor nearby they can turn to?

• Do they know how to be safe and understand the importance of safety?

According to Hannan, it’s best to start slow: take a quick trip to the grocery store nearby and check in with your child afterward, for example. If the child does well home alone, you can consider gradually increasing the time you spend away from them. However, children shouldn’t be left unattended for 24 hours, Hannan said.

You should also set some ground rules, Hannan recommends. Examples include not answering the door for anyone and not using the stove.

Children should also understand the content they post or view online can pose a safety risk, Hannan said.

Ultimately, parents should weigh several factors and not just their child’s age, Hannan said. It may be best to let the child earn the privilege of being home alone, she added.

“Kids have to be able to show that they can make good judgments and prove to their parents that they’re capable,” Hannan said.

Do you have a question about Kentucky law for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.