• Georgia’s Guidelines for leaving a child without adult supervision:

    • Children under 8 years old 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.
    • 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-old 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.
    Other safety precautions to consider when leaving a child unaccompanied:
    ** Don’t leave the child responsible for food preparation that involves the stove
    ** have a neighbor or relative check in regularly or have the child check in with an adult
    ** make a safety plan that includes 911, and rehearse it with your child.
Last Modified on September 13, 2022