At what age is it OK to leave a child home alone in KS? What to know this summer

With children out of school for the summer, you might be wondering if your child is ready to stay home alone.

Federally, and in Kansas, there are no specific laws or regulations that can answer that question for you. Rather, you’ll want to ensure you are not endangering or neglecting your child by leaving him or her home alone.

To help you make this decision, the Kansas Department of Children and Families has some guidelines updated earlier this year that you can use to determine if your child is ready to be home alone.

How to know if your child is ready to be home alone

DCF officials say children under 7 should never be left unsupervised.

Kids ages 7 to 9 might be ready to be left alone for short time periods, but they shouldn’t be responsible for watching over other children, according to the department. Children 10 and older may be ready to be home alone, but length of time and the time of day should be based on their maturity level.

“The majority of children are developmentally ready to be home alone around the age of 12 or 13,” DCF officials said, adding that parents should use their own judgment when determining if it is appropriate to leave their child at home.

“For example, if you have an impulsive 13-year-old who is a big risk taker, you might be hesitant to leave him or her alone,” Safe Kids Kansas says. “On the other hand, a thoughtful 11-year-old who has a good track record of following household rules might be ready.”

How to prepare your child for staying home alone

DCF has 10 tips to set your children “up for success” before leaving them home alone:

1. Provide your child with a fully-charged phone and a list of numbers they can call or text for questions or emergencies. DCF suggests providing the number of a neighbor or another nearby trusted adult, if possible.
2. Ensure they know when to call 911.
3. Make sure they know what smoke and carbon monoxide alarms sound like and practice two ways to get out of every room. Remind them they shouldn’t go back in for pets or belongings.
4. Teach them the sound of severe weather alerts and sirens, along with where to go during a tornado warning.
5. Lock the doors and tell them not to answer it. Also make sure they don’t tell anyone they are home alone.
6. Show them the first aid kit and how to treat cuts and burns.
7. Prepare snacks and meals ahead of time, so your kids don’t need to cook. If an older child will be cooking, teach them kitchen safety.
8. Don’t allow your child to swim or be near a swimming pool.
9. Safely store all weapons, medications and potential poisons. Don’t allow your children to burn candles while home alone or take medicine without adult permission.
10. Print off this DCF handout (at dcf.ks.gov) with tips for your child, which includes space to add any household rules and expectations.