Legal Age Restrictions For Latchkey Kids

This webpage was developed by Database Systems Corp., a leading provider of community services including CARE (Call Reassurance) . CARE is an automated service that calls home alone individuals to ensure their well-being. CARE can be managed online by the individual or family member. If the person does not respond to this call, family members or community volunteers can be contacted to check-in on their loved ones to ensure they are OK. CARE also can be used to checkin on home alone children, sometimes refered to as Latchkey Kids. DSC also provides a community organization program called eCARE that allows communities to provide these services to its members using an online program.

At what age can a child be legally left at home alone?

(See the chart below).

The National SAFEKIDS Campaign recommends that no child under the age of 12 be left at home alone.

However, consider a child's age and maturity level. For example, if a child is extremely impulsive, it might be best to wait until he or she is older than 12.

There appear to be very few states with specific regulations about the age of a child left at home alone. However, since the number of latchkey kids is growing significantly due to 2 income parents and single parents and guardians, there is a growing movement within state agencies to set guidelines.

Lynn Yaney, spokeswoman for the agency that handles child welfare in Contra Costa County, California, states:

"A general rule of thumb is that kids under age seven aren't capable of thinking logically and putting cause and effect together," Tanner said. "They are reliant on caregivers to structure their day." Children between ages 7 and 10 years aren't generally ready to self-supervise for an extended period, but in a routine and predictable environment, such as just after school, they can manage, Tanner said. Children 12 and 13 years old should be judged on a case- by-case basis but should not be left alone overnight.

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Latchkey Children Age Restrictions By State

The following table lists legal age restrictions for children left at home alone categorized by state within the U.S. Please note that city and county ordinances within each state may have more definitive and restrictive laws. Call your State DHS or local child welfare agency to learn about age guidelines in your area.







State

Minimum Age of

Home Alone Child

Reference

*

Guideline ONLY

CARE Latchkey Kids Calling Solutions

Database Systems Corp. provides an automatic phone system that calls seniors and latchkey children to ensure they are OK. This system is called CARE (Call Reassurance) and is provided to organizations such as police departments, sheriff's offices, fire departments, and other non-profit and for-profit community service organizations. These organizations are refered to as CARE Providers.



Enrollment in these programs is often free to citizens in these communities. In many cases, CARE systems are purchased using grants from major charitable organizations such as United Way.



DSC also provides individual CARE calls to seniors and latchkey children on a subscription basis. This service can be obtained through a simple Online Registration.

Online Enrollment - Sign-up online using our secure website.

- using our secure website. Child's Profile - Specify your child's profile (window of time to make calls to your child).

- Specify your child's profile (window of time to make calls to your child). Name Contacts - Identify who we need to contact if we can't reach your child.

- Identify who we need to contact if we can't reach your child. Secure Payment - Choose one of several enrollment and payment options and pay online using Visa or MasterCard.

Create A Community Account For Latchkey Kids

You can create and manage a community organization eCARE™ account using our online registration process. With this account, you can enroll children and other community members using various different profiles including home alone children calls. Individual members of this community receive special discounts when enrolled through a single eCARE account.

Telephone Reassurance Calls - single and multiple calls per day.

- single and multiple calls per day. Medication Reminder Calls - single and multiple calls per day.

- single and multiple calls per day. Home Alone Children Calls - check up on children left at home alone.

Enter your organization's name, a valid email address along with your own password, and we will establish your eCARE account. eCARE can now be used as your primary calling program for seniors in your community or can be a backup to any other system that is currently making these calls. eCARE is a pay-as-you-go service and you only pay for the calls that we make.

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