Home Alone Laws in MN: What Every Minnesota Parent Must Know

Every year, parents struggle with multiple decisions when it comes to raising kids:

• Should I give my kid an allowance?
• Is my child eating enough vegetables?
• What extracurricular activities should my child sign up for?

But one specific question becomes a hot topic once summer hits.  That is, "What age can kids stay home alone in Minnesota?".

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What Age Is It OK for Kids To Stay Home Alone in Minnesota?

If you just googled that question and Google brought you here, you aren't alone.  75% of parents are turning to Google and other online sources for solutions when it comes to raising their kids.

The idea of letting our kids stay home alone is a huge step for the parent and the child.  At some point in this child-rearing stage, you will start to wonder if your child is ready for this next step.  Is it allowed to have my kid be in the house while I run and get gas real quick for the lawnmower?  Is there a specific age when it is ok to leave the house for a little bit without our child in tow?

There are two sides to this answer:

1. What your gut is telling you based on what you know about your child, and
2. What is the legal response?

Assessing Your Child's Readiness to Stay Home Alone

Before we get to the legal side of things, here are a few points to consider as you do an easy assessment to see if your child is ready to be home alone:

• Comfort & Responsibility: Are they responsible enough to follow rules and stay calm.
• Danger Alert: Can your child recognize potential dangers?
• Life throws curveballs: If something unexpected happens while your child is home alone, can your child think fast on their feet?

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Checklist to Go Over With Your Child Before They Stay Home Alone

You've assessed your child's readiness and now you are thinking of running to Kwik Trip or Target for a quick errand.  Before you give a hug and say goodbye, go over the following checklist with your child:

1.  Emergency Contact Name and Number: teach your child how to dial 9-1-1 and the type of situations this should be used.

2.  Lost Key Woes: what should your child do if they come home to an empty house after school but they lost their key?

3.  Doorbell Dilemmas: what to do if the doorbell rings or someone knocks on the front door.

4.  Phone Protocol: what to do when the phone rings?

5.  Home Alone Activities: what is ok and not ok to do when a parent or guardian is not at home.

6.  Boo-Boos & Burns: locate the first-aid kit, ensure it is fully stocked, and make sure your child knows where it is located.

7.  Fire Safety 101: go over the plan if there was a fire while you were away.

8.  Your Return Time and Contact Info: write your phone number and time you will return so your child can look at it if they can't remember.

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Legal Response: What Age Are Kids Allowed To Stay Home Alone in Minnesota?

This next point is something that I know has shocked quite a few parents.  We have laws for so many things but when it comes to the safety of our kids, Minnesota doesn't give a specific age for solo kid time.

However, the state of Minnesota does emphasize the fact that kids need to be properly supervised, and each county sets its own guidelines.

Below are the general guidelines:

• Under the Age of 8:  shouldn't be left home alone at all
• Age 11 or 12:  may start spending a small amount of time home alone during the daytime (small amount of time after school by themselves, quick errand, etc.)
• Age 12 or 13 (typically):  after your child is comfortable being home alone during the day, they are probably ready to stay home alone for parts of an evening.

Clay County in Minnesota has a document that lists a few more breakdowns with ages.  These aren't the guidelines for every county but you could use it as a gauge to see if your child is ready for this next stage.  You can find those guidelines here.

If you'd love to dig in a bit more on this topic, a few additional resources to check out are Minnesotaparent.com and Childrensmn.org.