The Legal Age You Can Leave Your Children Home Alone in NH

Editor's note: This article was written by a Townsquare Media Northern New England contributor and may contain the individual's views, opinions, or personal experiences.

Do remember the first time your parents let you stay home alone? Such liberating times!

I didn't realize each state has laws that establish the minimum age a child can legally be left home alone.

This may come as a surprise to you, but according to the Washington Post, there is no specific age requirement where a child is allowed to legally be left home alone in New Hampshire. In fact none of the New England states have one!

According to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human services, experts suggest that the age of 10 is the youngest appropriate age to leave your children home alone. If you are considering leaving your child alone for the first time, it is important to go over the following:

Make sure your child is aware of what to do in an emergency and who to call.
Review basic first aid and make sure they know where to find the first aid kit should they need it.
Set ground rules and establish what is allowed while you are not there, use of appliances, whether friends are allowed to visit, etc.

In my opinion, I think it also varies on how mature your kid is. Some children are self-sufficient and could be comfortable being left home alone at 9 or 10 but others really aren't ready until they are 12 or 13. Like so many other things, it is a case-by-case basis and is dependent on the child.

How old were you when you were first stayed home alone? Do you feel comfortable leaving your kids alone at the same age you were left alone?