HOME ALONE: WHEN ARE CHILDREN OLD ENOUGH?

Many parents took a day off or made special arrangements for their children when Cape Girardeau public schools dismissed early Thursday for teacher in-service training. But countless other children likely ate lunch at home and stayed alone until their parents arrived.

Neither Missouri nor Illinois has a law addressing children being left at home alone. Both states have laws regarding child endangerment, but the laws generally aren't applicable unless a crime occurs or a child-welfare hot line is contacted.

"Our only laws are with children under 12 being left alone for more than 72 hours," said Don Rose, a child protection supervisor with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. "Anything else is misdemeanor child endangerment and is investigated on a case-by-case basis."

Incidents are handled much the same in Missouri. Social services worker Linda Hodges with the Division of Family Services said no child under 8 should be left home alone under any condition. However, there may be 8-year-olds who are mature enough to handle a couple of hours alone.

"If we get a hot-line report about children being alone, we ask children a series of questions about whether they're capable and comfortable to handle it," Hodges said. "A lot of questions asked have to do with safety."

Hodges and Rose said parents must make sure their child is old enough and mature enough to handle time alone. They should understand fire safety, rules for preparing food, how to handle telephone calls or visits from strangers, and where to go or call if they are frightened.

"It is left to what a reasonable person would consider being a safe environment for a child," Rose said. "There are some 15-year-olds who should not be home alone because they're juvenile delinquents and can't protect themselves from themselves."

When parents can't be home and a friend or neighbor is unable to watch the child, it might be best to enroll the child in an after-school program, Hodges said.

Most area child-care providers who work with school-aged children are licensed by the state and restricted on the number of children they can enroll. In addition, those day cares cannot accept students who have not previously enrolled in the center.

"We don't take drop-ins, but as long as we have their records here then we can pick them up on special days off," said Leslie Martin, who owns A Small World day care.

Christina Gonzales, assistant director at A Step at a Time day care, said she plans ahead for extra staff and food when she knows local schools will be dismissing early. Scheduling often is made easier because officials provide day cares with school calendars or call if dismissals are caused by inclement weather.

"It's a very nice thing to do, because in a preschool setting you don't always listen to the radio," Gonzales said.

In the end a parent must use their own judgment to decide when their child is ready to be left home alone.

Beverly Delph, who has two school-aged sons and a son in preschool, said her husband stayed home with them Thursday, but there are instances when the oldest son has been left in charge.

"We check on them constantly, and they know the rules about what they can and can't do," she said. "You always wonder if they're old enough, but you just never know about anything these days."

WHEN CHILDREN ARE HOME ALONE

The law

There is no law in Missouri or Illinois that states at what age a child may be left home alone. Reported problems are handled on a case-by-case basis.

Recommended guidelines

* Children under the age of 12 should not be left home alone regularly or for any length of time.

* Never leave children under 8 home alone.

Youth at home alone are more likely to...

Have lower grades and test scores.

Be victims of violent crime especially from 2 to 6 p.m. when juvenile crime rates triple.

Experience isolation, loneliness, have poor self-adjustment and decreased self-esteem.

Use cigarettes, alcohol or marijuana.

Become teen parents.

Tips for preparing your child

* Agree on ground rules for times when you are not home including if cooking is allowed, leaving the house or having friends over.

* Assign your children tasks to accomplish while you're gone.

* Post phone numbers including where you can be reached, emergency, neighbors and relatives.

* If your child will arrive to an empty house, be sure to call and check in with him or her.

* Enroll children in a course on safety procedures including how to protect themselves.

* Talk to your child about their concerns when they are home alone.