Question: What is the legal age to leave a child at home alone in the state of Louisiana?
Answer: Children left unsupervised or in the care of young siblings are at increased risk for accidental injury.
Louisiana does have a set age of 10 years old that a child can be left home alone, but we also expect parents to take all of the circumstances into account when deciding what level of supervision is needed.
If a child is left at home who is below the age of 10, that parent or guardian can be criminally charged with criminal abandonment.
Because children mature at different rates, there is no single, pre-set age at which children are considered "old enough" to stay home by themselves for short periods.
Parents must evaluate their child's individual development and physical capabilities.
The National SAFE KIDS Campaign recommends that children not be left alone before the age of 12. Many other children will not be ready until later than that.
Also, experts caution that older siblings are generally not ready for the responsibility of supervising younger children until the age of 15 or older.
The following are some questions families should answer before making this important decision:
? Is my child comfortable, confident and willing to stay home alone?
? Does my child consistently follow my rules and guidelines?
? Has my child demonstrated good independent judgment and problem-solving skills in the past?
? Is my child able to stay calm and not panic when confronted with unexpected events?
? Does my child have the ability to provide his/her name, address and phone number in an emergency?
? Do we have neighbors that my child and I know and trust?
Source: Louisiana Revised Statue 14:79.1