State Issues Parental Reminder Concerning Kids at Home Alone Guidelines

(KNSI) — School is out for summer, and the State of Minnesota is reminding parents and caregivers of the child supervision guidelines.

Minnesota law does not have a specific age for when a minor can be left unsupervised, but guidelines layout in a general way the length of time kids can be left at home alone and the amount of time older siblings can be in charge of younger children.

State guidelines say kids under seven shouldn’t be left home alone.
Kids between the ages of eight and ten can be alone for up to three hours.
Between 11 and 13 years of age up to 12 hours. That age group can also be left in charge of childcare for up to 12 hours.
Fourteen and 15-year-olds can be left alone for up to 24 hours and be left in charge of childcare for the same amount of time.
Sixteen and 17-year-olds may be home alone for more than 24 hours with adult backup supervision and a plan in place on how to respond to an emergency. They can also provide care for more than 24 hours with adequate adult backup supervision.
Kids under ten are generally not allowed to be in charge of child care for any length of time.

Experts caution that several factors should go into deciding to leave minors home alone or in charge of child care. They say parents and guardians need to consider a child’s mental ability and maturity level, accessibility of the parent, guardian, or designated caregiver to a child by phone and/or in person, and behavioral history of a child.

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