With schools out until at least May 4, some parents still working as long as they are able, and grandparents not recommended as options for child care during the COVID-19 pandemic because of their higher risk for illness, what to do with your kids has become even more of a concern than it normally is in Brown County, where child care options are scarce.

We asked Sheriff Scott Southerland what the law is about leaving children at home to care for themselves or each other. He checked in with Mary Florence at Brown County Centerstone, and this is what they both agreed with:

“As far as I know, there is no minimum age or law around it,” Florence said.

“Honestly, the policy we tell parents is that it’s truly up to them if they feel their child is old enough to stay home alone. I know I was babysitting at age 12 home alone, but I was pretty mature. The issue is when there is a problem. If you leave your 12-year-old home with two toddlers, and the toddlers leave the house and are in the road, then that would constitute a DCS (Department of Child Services) call. It’s on the parents to determine if their children are old enough and mature enough.”

Prevent Child Abuse Indiana has a flier about this topic, “When Is It OK for Your Child to Be Home Alone,” which lists some advice and a few questions parents should ask themselves:

• Can your child handle fear, loneliness and boredom?
• Is there a responsible adult nearby, like a relative or neighbor, whom they can call for assistance?
• Does your child know emergency procedures? Have you reviewed fire escape routes? Is there a first aid kit available, and does your child know how to use it?
• Does your child perform everyday tasks, like fixing a snack, dialing the phone and writing messages?
• Does your child regularly solve small problems without assistance, knowing when it’s OK to ask for help?
• Are there siblings who will also be home? Does your child manage conflicts with/among siblings without adult help?
• Is your child comfortable with the idea of staying alone?

Parents considering this should do very short “experiments” first before leaving a child for any extended period of time, like a whole work day, Prevent Child Abuse Indiana says. Also, make sure these measures are in place first:

• Make a basic agreement or “contract” about what is expected, what the rules are and what is off-limits.
• Remove any safety risks, like firearms and alcoholic beverages, and check access to kitchen appliances, especially those that use gas.
• Make sure your child has every key available to get into the house, including any interior locking doors, and a plan for what to do if the keys are lost.
• Put emergency phone numbers and the home’s address near every phone, including a number where they can reach you immediately.

If you have a concern about children who are being neglected or abused, the Indiana Child Abuse Hotline is 800-800-5556.