According to the Eau Claire Police Department, there is no legal age for a child to stay home alone. 10 years is the general guideline, but of course it all depends on the child. Health experts and law enforcement agencies say the top three questions a family must answer are whether caregivers believe the child is ready, whether the home and neighborhood in general are safe, and whether the child feels ready. Choosing the right babysitter to take care of your kids can make a difference in how you feel when you leave them with a stranger. Understanding the legality of babysitting in Wisconsin and choosing a babysitter who follows these guidelines can help you feel more relaxed and confident that your children are being well taken care of. My child goes to daycare after school, where he stays until I`m done working. She`s 10 years old, she`s pretty responsible, and I sometimes leave her alone to do quick errands. Is there a law that says when she is old enough to stay home alone? As another school year draws to a close, many parents will grapple with the question of when they can leave their children home alone. „Wisconsin does not set a minimum age beyond which children are legally allowed to stay home alone,” said attorney Brian Weber, who deals with the issue through his 8- and 11-year-old sons. The legal question is whether a parent can be considered negligent by allowing their children to be at home unsupervised.
Wisconsin law states that a child is neglected if the person responsible for the child`s well-being, for reasons other than poverty, fails to provide the care, food, clothing, medical or dental care, or housing necessary to seriously endanger the child`s physical health. A child could be removed from a home and his or her parents charged with criminal negligence, based on a number of factors, including actions that „create a substantial and unreasonable risk of death or serious bodily injury to others.” „The court will consider a child`s willingness to be left at home and the seriousness of the situation that poses a risk to a child`s physical or mental health,” Weber said. For practical reasons, he recommended two sources to help parents assess the problem. The first is a babysitting course. Local organizations, including the Red Cross, offer online courses for children 11 years of age and older. The same skills used in babysitting apply to staying home alone. The other is a website called „Kids Home Alone” created by the Greater Madison Safe Community Coalition. The site answers a number of questions that parents can ask to determine if their children are mentally, physically, socially and emotionally ready. It is also helpful to leave children alone at home for a short time to see how they are doing. „Leave them for an hour and go to dinner and see how they go. If they call all the time, you know they`re not ready to stay home alone,” Weber said.
More information about the Red Cross babysitting training can be found here. Here are tips on what to do before leaving your child home alone, click here. *The age shown is the recommended minimum age at which a child can be left home alone instead of a minimum/legal age. If you are looking for someone to watch your children for a few hours and occasionally, keep in mind that the minimum age for a babysitter is 11. While it is not mandatory for anyone in Wisconsin to hold a certificate as a babysitter, it is highly recommended that those who wish to babysit a babysitting course take a babysitting course. These courses are offered by the Girl Scouts of America or the American Red Cross, and the minimum age for registration is 11. In addition, employers are prohibited from taking steps to replace babysitters who turn 20 with younger ones to pay minimum wage for teenagers. UW-Extension also has a useful website with videos and activities to try with your family. There are guides on everything from fire safety to medical emergencies to how to deal with your siblings when no adult is home.
Most states don`t have laws setting an age requirement for child custody, and only some have guidelines on how old a child is before being left home alone. These guidelines range from six to 14 years. Here is a list of states with this policy: Colorado: 12*, Delaware: 12*, Georgia: 8*, Illinois: 14, Kansas: 6*, Maryland: 8, Michigan: 11*, Mississippi: 12*, Nebraska: 7*, New Mexico: 10*, North Carolina: 8, North Dakota: 9*, Oregon: 10*, Tennessee: 10* and Washington: 10*. The American Red Cross offers childcare and childcare classes to prepare course participants with universal skills and techniques that every babysitter should have. These courses are available online for those who prefer to study as they please or in a personal classroom with access to highly qualified teachers and classroom activities. These courses include basic care for infants and children, basic first aid, child behaviour, emergency protocols, leadership and age-appropriate activities. The Red Cross also offers CPR/AED first aid and certification courses. If a babysitter is under 20, she is exempt from the minimum wage law.
However, individuals under the age of 20 can earn at least $4.25 per hour for the first 90 consecutive calendar days of child care for a single employer. After these 90 days of employment, or as soon as the employee turns 20 (whichever comes first), the babysitter must begin receiving minimum wage. New Mexico does not have a state law setting a minimum age for a child to be home alone; However, an Albuquerque ordinance states that children under the age of 11 cannot be left home alone. The rest is ultimately a verdict of the parents of the children in need of care and the parents of the child who wants to keep the children. Age, maturity and experience with young children are important factors and first aid training. Babysitters need to understand safety and how to respond in an emergency. Kern said it`s important to determine if your child will also care for younger siblings. Children can participate in the Red Cross babysitting course at the age of 11. He teaches what is necessary. The „right” or „minimum age” to let someone start caring is a subjective issue. Factors such as the age and maturity of the child or dependent children and the maturity of the caregiver are important to consider, as well as the amount of care the child or dependent children require.
This includes the number of hours and special care the child or children require. If you want to offer child care, you should get a licence. This protects children, because to be authorized, the daycare is checked for safety risks. 6 months ago by Johns, Flaherty & Collins, SC, Family Lawyers La Crosse WI What is the minimum age for a child to be home alone? „Basic first aid, so you definitely know summer things like bee stings or scraped knees and things like that,” Kern said. Kimberly Loftin began writing professionally in 2006 for several print and online publications, including Imagine Magazine and the Toronto Sun. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Journalism from the University of Phoenix. The Red Cross has a number of resources to prepare children for emergencies, including a free app called Monster Guard, which allows the child to play games and practice important safety exercises. All these activities must be done together as a family.
When assessing your child`s willingness to be home alone, consider their maturity in four areas: physical, mental, social and emotional. The following checklist will help you assess your child`s readiness. You may need to do detective work to answer these questions. Try asking your child to open a window, fix a sandwich, pick up a message, and open the door. Play „What if?” – Games to learn if your child can handle emergencies safely. For example, ask what to do if the smoke alarm sounds or if he or she has a bad cut when he or she is home alone. If possible, let your child play his reaction. Sometimes children can give the right answer, but don`t do the right thing. Children use the knowledge they gain from the course in their daily lives. A few weeks after completing the training, an 11-year-old girl from Onalaska used what she had learned in an emergency. There are times when it`s not a good idea to leave your child home alone. I want to start the process of becoming an emancipated minor.
Here are some resources to help you understand the law and what might be best for your situation. „I`m not afraid of being able to call 911,” said Justin Kern, director of communications for the Wisconsin Red Cross. All parents eventually make the decision to leave their child home alone for the first time. There is no agreed age at which a child can safely stay home alone. Since children mature at different rates, you shouldn`t base your decision solely on age. (Source: childwelfare.gov). Select a tag below to see all posts with that topic. Soberg said age is not as important as a child`s maturity and ability to cope with stress. If you are sure that your child is safe and making wise choices, you will feel better leaving them alone at home. If you think he or she is willing to be alone, you may feel good about your child and yourself as a parent. „If you`re on the fence, I would tend not to leave your child home alone.
Then, start the practice process when you are on the fence. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will feel, the more comfortable your child will feel,” Soberg said. The Red Cross said their training can help children cope with stressful situations. There is no magic age where children develop the maturity and common sense they need to be alone.