Home Alone in New Jersey? Here’s What Parents Need to Know Before Leaving Kids by Themselves

Back to school is just around the corner here in New Jersey, and with those school buses, backpacks and early-morning alarms comes a question all of us parents eventually find themselves asking:

“Is my child old enough to stay home alone?”

Maybe you only need to run a quick errand. Maybe your work schedule doesn't line up perfectly with the school day. Or maybe your child is getting older and you're wondering if they're finally ready for a little more independence.

And then there's Home Alone.

Home Alone is one of those movies we've all watched and laughed at. Kevin McCallister gets accidentally left behind while his entire family heads off on vacation, and what follows is a whole lot of crazy, and completely unrealistic, chaos.

What Is the Legal Minimum Age to Stay Home Alone in New Jersey?

Here's the part that may surprise you:

New Jersey does not have a law that specifically says a child must be a certain age before they can legally be left home alone.

That doesn't mean, however, that parents can simply leave any child home alone and assume everything is fine.

There are still questions about a child's safety, maturity and ability to handle being alone.

Every child is different. And, it's totally up to the parent if they think their child is responsibly enough to be left alone.

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One 10-year-old might be responsible, calm and capable of handling an unexpected situation. Another child who is older might not be ready for that kind of independence.

What Does the National SAFE KIDS Campaign Recommend?

According to NJ Family, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign recommends that no child under age 12 be left home alone as a general guideline. This is a guideline, not a New Jersey law.