Thinking of leaving your kid home alone in Nevada? Here’s what the law says

Show Caption

Nevada children are largely done with school for the year and ready to relax and have fun for summer break.

And with summer break comes the inevitable question for parents — what do I do with my child this summer? If the parents aren’t able to watch their children all summer long, they are likely searching for daycare, babysitters, summer camps and other forms of child care.

If you don’t already have child care lined up, some parents of older children may be wondering if their child is able to stay home alone.

Here’s everything Nevada parents need to know before they leave their children home alone, what the law says and a checklist of questions to consider.

What age can kids stay home alone in Nevada?

There is no state law in Nevada mandating an appropriate age for children to be left home alone, though one municipality has a law on the books.

While there is no age specification in Nevada, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign recommends that children under 12 not be left home alone. The campaign also advises that older siblings should be at least 15 before being responsible for looking after younger children.

Reno’s municipal code states, “It shall be unlawful for any person who is a parent or guardian, or for any person who has been entrusted by a parent or guardian, to fail to supervise and attend a child or children under the age of 10 years.”

The Nevada Division of Child and Family Services said in a statement: “When determining if a child is safe, child protective services would consider a variety of factors.”

These include “whether the child has access to a phone, the length of time left alone, the child’s maturity or any disabilities, access to adult help (neighbor, friend), if they know what to do in an emergency, if they are expected to watch/oversee other younger children in the home and other such factors.”

What to consider before leaving your child home alone

Judy Krysik, associate director for academic affairs at Arizona State University’s School of Social Work, developed a checklist of things to consider when evaluating whether a child can be trusted to stay home alone safely.

• Is the child comfortable being home alone? If the answer is “no,” look for other child care options, Krysik said.
• Have you rehearsed the “home alone” scenario? This allows parents to gauge how children will respond to different situations before ever leaving them unattended. It also helps prepare them for the day you do decide they are old enough.
• Can your child do these basics? The child should be able to calmly and clearly give their name, address and phone number in case a call to an emergency number is needed.