At what age is it OK to leave your child home alone in SC? Here’s what state law says
Do you need a babysitter for this weekend?
If you live in South Carolina, technically one isn’t necessary.
Some states have explicit laws that specify when a child is too young to be left at home alone. South Carolina has no such a law.
However, that doesn’t mean leaving children of a certain age home alone wouldn’t constitute as a type of neglect. Also, some health care professionals do recommend that children of a certain age never be left at home unattended.
Here’s what to know about leaving children unattended in South Carolina.
Neglect in SC
According to the South Carolina Department of Social Services, if a child can’t be made safe at home, law enforcement or the courts can remove that child.
“Neglect is when a parent or guardian does not provide for the basic needs of a child, though capable of doing so,” the S.C. DSS states.
Unattended age recommended by physicians
Dr. Deborah Greenhouse, a pediatrician with Prisma Health, recommends that no child younger than 9 years old should be left home alone, even for a short period of time. By about 10 years old, a child who is responsible may be left for 30 minutes, but no longer than an hour, Greenhouse said.
“The decision to leave your child at home alone, even for a brief period, should be based on common sense,” Greenhouse said. “You need to establish a very well-defined set of ground rules.”
How to know if your child is ready to stay home alone
When deciding if your child can stay home alone, here are some things to consider, according to the Children’s Bureau, a service of the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Does your child obey rules and make good decisions?
- How does your child respond to unfamiliar or stressful situations?
- How long will your child be left home alone at one time and will it be during the day or at night?
- How many children are being left home alone? Children who seem ready to stay home alone may still not be ready to look after younger siblings.
- How safe is your neighborhood?
- Can you or a trusted, nearby adult be easily contacted by the child?
- Does your child know how to call 911 in case of an emergency?
Preparing a child to stay home alone
If you’re planning to let a child stay home alone for the first time, here are some suggested rules to establish, according to Prisma Health.
- Don’t let anyone in the house when a parent is not there
- Keep the doors locked and don’t leave the house
- Don’t tell a caller that you are home alone
- Do not use the stove or microwave when at the home alone
- In a house with a pool, stay away from it unless an adult is present
