Should My Kids Stay Home Alone

Georgia’s Guidelines for leaving a child without adult supervision

• Children 8 years old and under should never be left alone, even for short periods of time.
• Children between the ages of 9 and 12, based on level of maturity, can be left home alone for brief periods of time (2 hours or less). 
• Children 13 and older can generally be left as babysitters, with the exception of children in foster care. It is not recommended, however, that 13 year olds baby sit infants, small children and children that require special attention due to medical conditions. 
• Children 15 and older can be left home alone overnight, depending on the level of maturity of the child.

Department of Child and Family Services
http://dfcs.dhs.georgia.gov/