What Illinois Law Really Says About Leaving Kids Home Alone

At what age is it ok to leave children home alone? That is one big question my husband and I are tangling with this summer, and now I want to know what Illinois law says.

When Can Kids Start Staying Home Alone in Illinois?

For the majority of the work week, my husband and I only see each other in passing. I'm gone in the morning, and he doesn't get home from work until I'm going to bed. While only seeing each other for like 30 minutes a day is not great, this schedule is perfect for our kids, especially during the summer.

READ MORE: New Illinois Laws Beginning on July 1st

On a normal day, I get home from work about two hours after my husband leaves for work, so that means we only need a sitter for like 2 hours each weekday, but do we really? Here's what Illinois law says.

Is It Illegal to Leave Kids Home Alone in Illinois?

When I started looking up Illinois laws regarding kids staying home alone I quickly discovered one thing: it's very confusing.

Some people say age 14, others say 12, and some people say Illinois doesn't state a specific age when it's legal for kids to stay home alone.

Only one of those answers is right.

When Is It Legal to Leave Minors Home Alone in Illinois?

Long story short, Illinois doesn’t have a specific law that sets a minimum age for when a child can be left home alone.

Illinois law does state it is illegal to leave children unsupervised for an "unreasonable period of time."

So, what does that mean?

When Are Kids Ready to Stay Home Alone?

Basically, the decision of when of a child is ready to stay home alone is up to the parents.

In my case, our oldest daughter is responsible, has a phone, and has a certain set of rules to follow like no answering the door and no leaving the house until I get home.

Before leaving your child home alone for the first time, here are some important things to consider according to experts:

• Does your child feel safe being home alone?
• Does your child have access to a phone and know how to dial 9-1-1?
• Does your child know how to lock and unlock doors?
• Does your child know how to make a snack or get a drink?
• Does your child know basic first aid? (Like how to apply a bandaid)

As a parent who is still a nervous wreck leaving my children home alone for just a short time, I will say this:

• Calling and FaceTiming your child a billion times while they are home alone is encouraged.
• Installing security cams does wonders for your peace of mind.
• Letting them stay up later so they are still sleeping when you get home is cool too.

Seriously though, if you feel like your child is responsible enough to stay home alone, give it a try in baby steps and trust your instincts!