I’ve just started working 4 days a week. My son is 12 and in first year of high school and my daughter is 10 and in year 5. At the moment my son rides his bike to and from school (3km) and my daughter walks to and from school (less 600m)
Two days a week, my daughter walks home and lets herself in, she gets home about 3. My son gets there around 4 and their stepdad gets home around 5. The kids have routines and rules while they are home alone, we know all out neighbours and most of them are home at that time, and several good adult friends are within a 5-10 minute drive. The kids, my partner and I are all comfortable with this arrangement. The problem is the kids father is not, and he is threatening to call DCP. Mind you he isn’t offering to help out either, and given he refuses to pay child support, my job is what supports our kids.
My question is does he have a leg to stand on? Can I get in trouble? The law is so ambiguous about this!
Can I get in trouble for leaving my kids home alone?
Can I get in trouble for leaving my kids home alone?
Posted in:
Kids
9 Replies
Depends what state you are in but I think Queensland is the only state with a age limit
Just google it.
But I think it’s around your own judgement.
It may get looked into but I don’t think anything will come of it
You could consider after school care for the 10 year old so theyre not home alone.
Yes I believe you could for the 10 year old. Definitely consider after school care like the above comment said.
Or if you have no after school care available at your school, look into local daycare centres. At my sons school, they pick up some of the kids up from school and take them back to the centre. You could be in trouble with the ten year old, I would organise ASAP, you don’t want cps in your life.
Yes you can, depending on your state. I believe the age requirement is 12. Even allowing your daughter to walk to school without you with her is potentially against the law.
So technically, anyone could report you and it'd be followed up. It sounds like their father is a dick. To cover your ass, I'd enquire with the school about after school care and show a genuine interest to sign her up, so that if someone does check up on the report then you have made an effort to do something about it. Also, I'd chat to neighbours and maybe have them check in on her every X amount of time.
First of all, what a douche!
He's not concerned about the kids he's just trying to make your life harder.
Secondly, the laws around this are a bit of a grey area because each child and family is different, some 10 year olds would be more than capable of this and others wouldn't be, that's why a lot of states don't have a specific age limit because it opens up a loop hole that allows parents to leave children alone who aren't capable. So the general consensus is that it comes down to the discretion of the parents to make this choice based on their child.
Obviously, if he did make a report it would need to be looked into.
Your 12 year old is at the legal age to be home alone and you won't find anywhere to have him anyway. Personally I wouldn't want him on his own. I would think for safety and anxiety reasons they will be better left together, and 10 year olds are more than capable of looking after themselves. I was leaving an 8 year old home with his older siblings, completely fine.
I know so many people who leave kids under 12 at home alone and never had any involvement with DCP. I doubt they would do much for a 10 year old and 12 year old at home, be different if they couldn't care for themselves. But in case they do check things out, make sure you have emergency numbers written near a land line (you should get one if you don't) make sure they know your rules etc and they each know how to get a drink of water and something to eat (sounds stupid but they will check that). I think you will be fine.
Thanks everyone. I am the OP.
I’m in WA so there is no legal age limit here which is why I’m not sure. My kids are both very mature and they are totally comfortable with the arrangements, my daughter really doesn’t want to go to after school care as she would be the only one her age there. We have a landline and my son has a mobile, and they have plenty of people to call that are close by if they are worried. Ex is just being difficult but I just wanted some reassurance!
You know your kids and what they can handle, my son is almost 11, and can’t do anything without being reminded a million times to do his routine ( has had the same routine for 6 years, still doesn’t do it until I literally go bat shit crazy, then I have to go batshit over every step of the routine as he will only do one thing then sit down, and say he’s finished )!!! So clearly not ready to be trusted to be left alone!
My biggest concern would be the ex turning up and taking the kids while no adult is home, just to prove his point of view!