Home Alone: At What Age Can Children Be Left Alone At Home In Texas?

A popular Christmas movie that many of us watch this time of year is the movie starring Macaulay Culkin, Home Alone. It is a favorite in a lot of households but none of us would ever want to actually be in that situation. Leaving your kid home alone before you are allowed to legally would be any parent's nightmare.

Maybe now is the time to ask yourself that question. In the state of Texas, how old does my child have to be to be left home alone while mom and dad go out for an evening or when they're at work?

HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE IN TEXAS?

*At what age can kids stay home alone in Texas? I had heard the age was 13 but according to The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, there is no law in Texas that states what age children can stay home alone. Common sense must be exercised in this situation. I personally would never leave a child younger than the age of 13 home alone. But there are a series of questions that you as a parent can ask yourself to help make that decision. Find them here.

*At what age can a teen get a job in Texas? State law is that children as young as 14 can get a job but can work no more than 8 hours a day, cannot work more than 48 hours a week and are not able to go to work earlier than 5 am.

*At what age can I child ride in the front seat? There is no specific Texas law that states at what age a child can sit in the front seat, however I have always heard that a child must be at least 80 lbs, 4 ft 9 in in height and typically the age of 9 in most cases.

As a parent of 3, I have used my own discretion and common sense when it comes to what works for our family.