Is it legal to leave your kids home alone in Kentucky? What the law says and what's recommended

With summer in full swing in the Bluegrass State, some parents might wonder how to keep their children best entertained during work hours. If they aren't signed up for something fun like summer camp or daycare, some are likely considering leaving the kids home alone. But, is it legal?

Here's what we know.

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Is it legal to leave your kids home alone in Kentucky?

While there is no Kentucky law specifying the age at which children can be left home alone, KRS 600.020 determines what constitutes as child abuse and neglect, said Mike Wynn, a spokesperson with the Legislative Research Commission, to The Courier Journal in previous reporting.

The statute says abuse or neglect of children occurs when a child's "health or welfare is harmed or threatened with harm" as a result of actions from their parent or person in charge. This includes not providing adequate care, supervision, or food and abusing the minor.

At what age can children be left home alone in Kentucky?

Kentucky doesn't have a specific age for when children can and can't be left alone, but rather follows the definition of the United States Code, which considers "activities or items that are generally accepted as suitable for children of the same chronological age or level of maturity or that are determined to be developmentally-appropriate for a child, based on the development of cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral capacities that are typical for an age or age group."

How do you know what age you can leave your kid home alone?

Children being left home alone should be evaluated on a "case-by-case basis," according to the Child Protective Services division of the Department for Community Based Services. They recommend considering the following:

• Don't base your decision to leave children home alone solely on age. Everybody matures at a different pace.
• Consider the circumstances before making the decision. This includes the time of day, the number of children being left alone and their preparedness to stay by themselves.
• Consider the children's safety skills.
• Think about if there's more than one child in the house and if the oldest one can take care of the rest.
• Consider if the child has a reliable method of communication to call the parent or guardian, or 9-1-1.