What age should children be allowed to get left home alone in Illinois?

I thought the movie "Home Alone" was a little far-fetched but entertaining. A family accidentally leaves their son home alone when they take a trip over the holidays. The boy is forced to fend for himself until his mother can get back. Of course, he has many adventures during that time.

What about home alone in real life? I'm not talking about leaving your kid at home while you go on vacation. I'm thinking more like when they come home from school or for a couple hours on the weekend to run errands.

What is a good age for children to be left alone at home?

Starting in middle school, I would come home to an empty house after school. Sometimes my parents would go out for a couple of hours at night. I never seemed to have any problems.

"Current Illinois law states any child under the age of 14 cannot go without adult supervision for an unreasonable amount of time."

The state of Illinois feels that the minimum age could be younger.

"The measure would allow children 12 or older to be left home alone. It also would permit that child to babysit younger siblings."

If this new law is passed, it would be relying on the parents to decide if their child is mature enough to be left alone.

"Under current law, parents can be charged with neglect and, in some cases, lose custody of their kids for leaving a minor under the age of 14 at home without supervision."

I believe this change would work out well. My friends and I did fine being left.

Of course, there will always be some knucklehead that will try and pull a "Home Alone" for real. Hopefully, the state can protect kids from that happening to them.


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