Many parents wonder when it’s safe—and legal—to leave their child home alone. In Colorado, the answer might surprise you.
Unlike some other states that have a strict legal age, Colorado does not have a specific law stating the minimum age at which a child can be left home alone.
This means the decision mostly falls on the parents. The Colorado Department of Human Services says that parents must use their judgment based on the child’s maturity, safety skills, and comfort level.
That said, Colorado does offer some guidelines. For example, they suggest that children under 12 years old are usually not ready to be left alone for long periods. This isn’t a law—it’s just a general recommendation meant to help families decide what’s best.
According to state resources, signs that a child might be ready to stay home alone include:
- Knowing how to call for help
- Understanding basic safety rules
- Feeling confident being alone
- Following instructions well
But if the child has special needs or feels anxious when alone, it might be better to wait. Parents should also think about how long the child will be alone, whether it’s day or night, and how safe the neighborhood is.
The state also warns that leaving a child home alone can lead to legal issues if something goes wrong. For example, if a child gets hurt or a neighbor calls Child Protective Services, the parent could be investigated for neglect.
So while no law says “You can’t leave your 10-year-old home alone,” a bad situation could lead to legal trouble.
Colorado does have laws on child neglect, and one of the ways neglect is defined is “lacking proper supervision.” That means if a child is left home alone and something unsafe happens, it could be viewed as neglect, even if the child is over 12.
In 2020, a bill was introduced in the Colorado legislature that aimed to set the minimum age at 12 for leaving a child home alone or allowing a child to play outside without supervision. However, that bill didn’t pass. So as of now, there’s still no legal minimum age in Colorado.
That puts a lot of responsibility on parents to decide what’s best. Experts suggest starting slowly—maybe leaving the child home for 15–30 minutes at first—and seeing how they handle it.
Parents can also walk them through different situations, like what to do if someone rings the doorbell or if there’s an emergency.
Some local programs also offer “home alone” safety courses for kids. These programs teach children important skills like how to use the phone in an emergency, how to lock the doors, and how to stay calm when they’re by themselves.
Ultimately, Colorado’s approach is about trusting parents to make informed choices. They’re expected to know their child well enough to judge when it’s safe to leave them alone. And while that freedom can be helpful, it also means there’s no clear rule to fall back on.
If parents aren’t sure, they can always call their local county’s human services office or check resources provided by the Colorado Department of Human Services at cdhs.colorado.gov. For safety tips and child protection policies, you can also visit the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services at childwelfare.gov.
So if you live in Colorado and are wondering whether it’s okay to leave your child home alone, there’s no single answer.
It depends on your child’s maturity, your comfort level, and whether the situation is truly safe. Just make sure to be cautious, because even without a clear law, parents can still be held responsible if something goes wrong.