This is tricky.
There is no minimum age for a child to be left alone in Connecticut. I am sure some parents wish there was. It would make their child care decisions a lot easier. When the parents make the wrong “call” it could lead to a DCF Investigation for child neglect or an arrest for risk of injury to a child.
Ouch.
Make the right decision by considering the following:
Age of the child. While it’s not the law, most experts believe age 12 is the minimum. Age 15 for a child to care for a sibling.
Child’s maturity and judgment. This is probably the biggest consideration. Some children are wise beyond their years. Others not so much.
The child’s feelings. If the child is nervous, anxious or simply does not want to be left home alone they clearly are not ready. But the converse is not true. A child who cannot wait to be left alone may or may not be ready!
Length of time to be left alone. A parent running an errand or taking a trip to the supermarket is one thing. Staying out late is another.