The arrest of a Florida mother who left her four children, aged between nine and 14, home alone has reignited a parenting debate in Australia, where only Queensland has a specific law on leaving a child home alone.
In Australia, there is no definitive answer to what age is safe to leave children home alone.
Queensland is the only state or territory with a law specifically addressing the issue. It is a criminal offence to leave a child under 12 unsupervised and without care for an unreasonable period, which is determined by factors such as the child's health and the length of time alone. Everywhere else, parents are legally obliged to ensure their child is safe, but there is no minimum age requirement.
Carol Markie-Dadds, country director for the Triple P - Positive Parenting Program, says there is no magic age that works for every child. She says parents know their child best. “They may consider if they’re ready by thinking about things like their child’s maturity, confidence, judgment and ability to cope if something unexpected happens,” she says. She advises parents to assess their child's ability to handle scenarios such as an unexpected knock at the door, a power outage or a fire alarm.
Raising Children Network director Derek McCormack recommends a gradual approach. He suggests leaving a child home for 10 minutes to start and building up from there. “It’s also a good idea to have rules about what they can and can’t do while they are home alone; for example, you might say they can’t have friends over or swim in the backyard pool when there is no adult around,” he explains. Planning for different scenarios is also helpful, including having an emergency plan and ensuring a trusted adult nearby knows the child is home alone.
Elisabeth Shaw, chief executive of Relationships Australia NSW, points out that sibling dynamics add another layer. “It is critical that older children are left in charge only when ready to do so, and if younger children will comply with their direction,” she says. If a sibling has special needs or is very young, the eldest child needs to be older before being given a substantial burden of care. Shaw says the time alone needs a defined end. The article also says parents should check in regularly.
Other factors include neurodiversity, medical conditions, confidence levels, anxiety and previous experience. “What works well for one child may not be right for another, even if they’re the same age,” Markie-Dadds says. When parents return, Markie-Dadds says they can discuss what the child did well and, if needed, what they could do differently next time. She says to gradually build up to longer periods as the child demonstrates increased maturity, responsibility and confidence.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Australian parents outside Queensland face legal uncertainty, as general duties of care can be interpreted differently across states.
- The debate highlights the difficult work-life balance many parents face, particularly during school holidays or unexpected work commitments.
- Expert consensus backs nuanced, child-specific assessments over rigid age limits, which could influence future policy discussions.
Background
The current debate was sparked by the arrest of a Florida mother who left her four children, aged nine to 14, at home for days while she attended a work trip. In Australia, Queensland is the only jurisdiction with a specific minimum age for leaving a child alone, setting it at 12. Other states and territories rely on general child safety and neglect provisions that do not define a minimum age.
Key Perspectives
Queensland Government: Has set a specific legal threshold by making it an offence to leave a child under 12 alone for an unreasonable period, unique among Australian states.
Carol Markie-Dadds (Triple P): Emphasises that there is no single safe age and that the child's individual maturity, confidence and capacity to respond to emergencies are the true measures of readiness.
Elisabeth Shaw (Relationships Australia NSW): Stresses that the number of children and their relationships with one another matter, and that older siblings should not carry a substantial burden of care too early.
What to Watch
- Whether the renewed public attention leads other states or territories to consider introducing a specific minimum age.
- The outcome of the Florida mother's legal case and whether it prompts any policy changes in the United States.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedQueensland is the only Australian state or territory with a law specifically about leaving a child home alone.The Age - Latest News: “Queensland is the only Australian state or territory with a law specifically addressing leaving a child at home alone.”
- SupportedExperts discuss maturity as the Florida case reignites the parenting debate.The Age - Latest News: “The case has reignited the parenting debate over what age is considered safe to leave your kids home unsupervised.”
- SupportedA Florida mother was arrested after leaving four children aged nine to 14 home alone.The Age - Latest News: “Last week, a Florida mum was arrested on several charges of neglect after leaving her four children, aged 14, 12, 11 and nine, at home alone for days”
- SupportedAustralia has no definitive answer to what age is safe for a child to be left home alone.The Age - Latest News: “It’s a dilemma that, in Australia, has no definitive answer.”
- SupportedIn Queensland, leaving a child under 12 unsupervised and without care for an unreasonable period is a criminal offence.The Age - Latest News: “Here, it is a criminal offence to leave a child under 12 unsupervised and without care for an unreasonable period.”
- SupportedElsewhere in Australia, parents must ensure their child is safe, but there is no minimum age requirement.The Age - Latest News: “Everywhere else in Australia, you are legally obliged to ensure your child is safe, and their needs are met, but there is no minimum age requirement.”
- SupportedMarkie-Dadds says parents know their child best and may assess readiness by considering maturity, confidence, judgment and ability to cope with unexpected events.The Age - Latest News: “Parents and carers know their child best, so they may consider if they’re ready by thinking about things like their child’s maturity, confidence, judgment and ability to cope if something unexpected happens”
- SupportedMcCormack recommends starting with 10 minutes home alone and building up gradually.The Age - Latest News: “Start by leaving your child or children home for 10 minutes and build up from there,”
- SupportedMcCormack recommends rules such as not having friends over or swimming in the backyard pool without an adult present.The Age - Latest News: “It’s also a good idea to have rules about what they can and can’t do while they are home alone; for example, you might say they can’t have friends over or swim in the backyard pool when there is no adult around.”
- SupportedShaw says older children should be left in charge only when ready and when younger children will comply with their direction.The Age - Latest News: “It is critical that older children are left in charge only when ready to do so, and if younger children will comply with their direction,”
- SupportedShaw says time alone should have a defined end.The Age - Latest News: “The time being alone needs to have a defined end,”
- Partly supportedMarkie-Dadds says parents can discuss what the child did well and what the child could do differently next time.The Age - Latest News: “Talk about what they did well and, if needed, what you could both do differently next time,”