Beginning in October of 2014, the Meitav family of Silver Spring, Maryland was investigated three times by CPS for allowing their children, ages 6 and 10, to play at a neighborhood park and to walk home without direct adult supervision. Their case was finally closed in May of 2015, but parents in all 50 states were left wondering where CPS in their state draws the line between nurturing independence and committing child neglect. Georgia law does not provide any specific guidance on this issue, but on its website in 2007, Georgia DFCS provided the following guidelines for leaving a child alone without adult supervision:
•Children under 8 years should never be left home alone, even for short periods of time.
•Children between the ages of 9 and 12, based on level of maturity, can be left home alone for brief periods of time.
•Children 13 and older can generally be left as babysitters, with the exception of children in foster care. It is not recommended, however, that 13-year-olds babysit infants, small children and children that require special attention due to medical conditions.
•Children 15 and older can be left home alone overnight, depending on the level of maturity of the child.
More recently, Cherokee County DFCS published more detailed guidelines about leaving children home alone, including additional considerations for children under the age of 13.
•Children under 8 years should never be left home alone, even for short periods of time.
•Children between the ages of 9 and 12, based on level of maturity, can be left home alone for brief periods of time.
•Children 13 and older can generally be left as babysitters, with the exception of children in foster care. It is not recommended, however, that 13-year-olds babysit infants, small children and children that require special attention due to medical conditions.
•Children 15 and older can be left home alone overnight, depending on the level of maturity of the child.
More recently, Cherokee County DFCS published more detailed guidelines about leaving children home alone, including additional considerations for children under the age of 13.
RSS Feed