Unfortunately, there is no magic age at which children develop the maturity and good sense needed to stay alone. Your child should show a desire and willingness to stay alone, should be showing signs of accepting the responsibility, and should be able to make decisions independently. Children who are able to get ready for school on time, solve problems on their own, complete homework and household chores with a minimum of supervision, remember to tell you where they are going and when they will be back are demonstrating some of the skills they need to care for themselves. For many children this is between the ages of 10 and 12.

Several other factors must also enter into your decision. These are: the neighborhood in which you live, the availability of adults nearby, and how long your child will be alone. If you neighborhood is unsafe, if there is no adults nearby to call in case of emergency, or if your child must remain alone for a very long time, it is best to continue to use some form of child care even if your child seems ready to to stay alone.

Children need to know how to react in situations, such as:

• Being locked out
• Being afraid
• Being bored
• Being lonely
• Arguments with brothers and sisters

Children need to know house rules, such as:

• Leaving the house
• Having friends over
• Cooking and use of kitchen equipment
• Appropriate snacks and meals
• Talking with friends on the phone/computer
• Duties to be completed while home alone

Children need to have:

• A list of emergency numbers
• Knowledge of what to do and say in an emergency situation
• How to respond if someone calls the house or comes to the door
• Understanding of appropriate and inappropriate reasons for calling parents or other adults for help
• How to lock and unlock doors and windows
• What to do if approached by a stranger on the way home
• What to do if they think someone is in the house when they get home
• What to do if someone touches them inappropriately
• Kitchen safety skills (use of appliances, knives, and tools, etc.)
• Basic first aid techniques and how to know when to get help

Providing your child with such knowledge gives them confidence in their abilities and will help them deal with emergencies that may arise. When teaching your children give them information gradually rather than all at once. Too much information at one time is difficult to remember. Present your children with a number of different circumstances and have them act how they would react.

While recognizing that many factors apply, Illinois law lists 15 specific factors to be considered when deciding whether a child has been left alone for an unreasonable period of time. They include:

1. The age of the minor.
2. The number of minors left at the location.
3. Special needs of the minor, including whether the minor is physically or mentally handicapped, or otherwise in need of ongoing prescribed medical treatment such as periodic dosages of insulin or other medications.
4. The duration of time in which the minor was left without supervision.
5. The condition and location of the place where the child was left without supervision.
6. The time of day or night when the minor was left without supervision.
7. The weather conditions, including whether the minor was left in a location with adequate protection from the natural elements such as adequate heat or light.
8. The location/physical distance of the parent or guardian at the time the minor was left without supervision.
9. Whether the minor's movement was restricted, or the minor was otherwise locked within a room or other structure.
10. Whether the minor was given a phone number of a person or location to call in the event of an emergency and whether the minor was capable of making an emergency call.
11. Whether there was food and other provision left for the minor.
12. Whether any of the conduct is attributable to economic hardship or illness and the parent, guardian, or other person having physical custody or control of the child made a good faith effort to provide for the health and safety of the minor.
13. The age and physical and mental capabilities of the person(s) who provided supervision for the minor.
14. Whether the minor was left under the supervision of another person.
15. Any other factor that would endanger the health and safety of that particular minor.

Illinois defines a neglected minor, in part, as "any minor under the age of 14 years whose parents or other person responsible for the minor's welfare leaves the minor without supervision for an unreasonable period of time without regard for the mental or physical health, safety and welfare of that minor."

Juvenile Court Act, 705 ILCS 405/2-3(1)(d)

Source: Deparment of Children and Family Services http://www.state.il.us/dcfs/index.shtml