What Age Can I Legally leave My Kid Home Alone In Texas?

Growing up I watched cartoons like Team Rocket and Rugrats and always wondered how these kids had so much freedom. There is a whole Rugrats movie of the babies servicing in the wilderness and I wasn't even able to stay home alone until the age of 13. Now that I think about it, setting the toaster on fire because I thought I found an efficient way to make grilled cheese probably contributed to it.

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Now that I have children of my own I understand why my mom waited until I was older to leave me home alone. If you are anything like me, you overthink every decision made as a parent. One thing that has always plagued me is whether there is a legal age to leave a child home alone.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

According to the Texas Department of Family And Protective Services, Texas doesn't have a legally required age for children to be left alone. There are several conditions you must consider before leaving your child home alone.

• How old, emotionally mature, and capable is your child?
• What is the layout and safety of the home, play area, or other setting?
• What are the hazards and risks in the neighborhood?
• What is your child's ability to respond to illness, fire, weather, or other types of emergencies?
• Does your child have a mental, physical, or medical disability?
• How many children are being left unsupervised?
• Do they know where you are?
• Can they contact you or other responsible adults?
• How long and how often is the child (or children) left alone?

Even though this may not be the exact answer you were looking for, these questions can help you decide if you should or shouldn't leave your kids home alone.