How old do kids need to be to stay home alone for virtual school? Expert weighs in

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) – Many kids will be starting the school year virtually over the next couple of weeks. And that forces parents to find childcare or other ways to stay home with their kids to keep them on track. If they can’t do either, parents might have to make the choice of leaving their kids home alone.
But what age is safe to do so? One local expert tells us it depends on the child, but there are some ages where kids are developed enough to stay on their own.

“It’s not safe to leave your child who’s under the age of 12 years home alone,” said Dr. Charles Peters, Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine for Mayo Clinic Health System.

Peters says there are not any clear guidelines for when kids should be left home alone, but he says it comes down to safety and responsibility.
He says a safer option is to find childcare, citing places like the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club.

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