As summer break approaches, many working parents and families in Detroit face a pressing question: Is my child old enough to stay home alone?
If you are searching for local laws for a specific number or age, you will not find one. In Detroit and across the state of Michigan, there is no legal minimum age for leaving a child home alone.
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Key takeaways
- The bigger picture: There is no specific legal age requirement for leaving your child home alone in Michigan or Detroit. Parents are expected to use “reasonable judgment” based on their child’s maturity level or the situation at hand.
- More details: As a general rule, children 10 years old or younger are not responsible enough to be left home alone.
- Why this matters: Maturity level can matter more than age. A responsible or more mature 11-year-old may be fine for an hour or so, whereas a less mature 13-year-old may not be ready at all.
- What to remember: You can still be charged with neglect or abandonment, despite your child being a teenager, if the situation was clearly unsafe, such as leaving them for numerous days without resources.
The law: Parental responsibility and neglect
While the state does prohibit children under the age of 13 from being left alone in a car for “a period of time that poses an unreasonable risk of harm or injury to the child or under circumstances that pose an unreasonable risk of harm or injury to the child,” as stated in Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.135a, Michigan law does not explicitly specify an age.
Rather, it imposes a continuous duty on parents to supervise their children. According to the Michigan Legislation, this duty includes arranging “proper supervision for the minor when the parent must be absent.”
The Michigan Child Protection Law defines neglect as “harm or threatened harm to a child’s health or welfare by a parent, legal guardian, or any other person responsible for the child’s health or welfare.” This can occur through negligent treatment, including the failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter or medical care, as well as placing a child at an unreasonable risk to the child’s health or welfare. If a neighbor, school official or other mandated reporter communicates concerns that a child was left in a dangerous situation, Child Protective Services has the authority to investigate. If found to be negligent, parents could face legal consequences.
Parent’s checklist
Since there is no specifically designated number, you must be the judge of your child’s readiness. Before you leave them home alone, the State of Michigan asks parents to consider factors like:
Age and maturity
- Is your child physically and mentally able to care for themselves?
- Does your child obey rules and make good decisions?
- Does your child feel comfortable or fearful about being home alone?
Circumstances
- How long will your child be left home alone at one time? Will it be during the day, evening or night?
- Will the child need to fix a meal?
- How often will the child be expected to care for themselves?
Legal guidelines
- How many children are being left home alone?
- Is your home safe and free of hazards?
- How safe is your neighborhood?
Additional tips for parents
The state also recommends additional tips for parents, such as;
- Trying a trial period. Leave the child home alone for a short time while staying close to home. This is a good way to see how they will manage.
- Role playing. Act out possible situations to help your child learn what to do.
- Establishing rules. Make sure your child knows what is (and is not) allowed when you are not home. Some experts suggest making a list of chores or other tasks to keep children busy while you are gone.
- Checking in. Call your child while you are away to see how it’s going, or have a trusted neighbor or friend check in.
- Talking about it. Encourage your child to share his or her feelings with you about staying home alone.
- Don’t push it. Even a mature, responsible child shouldn’t be home alone too much. Consider other options, such as care programs offered by schools, babysitters, youth organizations and more to help keep your child busy and involved.
In Detroit, the answer to “what age” is not a specifically named number, but rather a judgment call made by you. However, that judgment may come with legal risk. If you are unsure, err on the side of caution. The consequences of a Child Protection Services investigation or a neglect charge are far more costly than paying for a babysitter or arranging a summer camp or youth program.
FAQs
Q: Does Detroit have stricter rules than the rest of Michigan? A: No. Detroit follows state law, which has no minimum age.
Q: Can my child babysit a younger sibling? A: There is no law setting an age for babysitting. However, you are legally responsible for both children. If the older sibling cannot handle an emergency and they or the younger child are harmed, you may face neglect charges.
Q: At what age can my child stay home overnight? A: It is generally not recommended that children under the age of 16-17 should be left alone for overnight stays.
from Metro Parent https://ift.tt/nfquSJ2
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