The youngest legal age to stay home alone is 6, although it depends on the state.
Some states have no age requirements on the legal age to stay home alone, but even then I wouldn't leave a 6 year old home along longer than 30 minutes to an hour at most.
But it also depends on the child's maturity and how well they can take care of themselves.
I used to stay home alone for up to an hour at age 6 years old after school, as my parents and my dad would not get home until an hour after school and my mom worked a few hours later.
I was okay, but not every kid at age 6 is okay to leave alone, so it depends on the individual child.
Also some states also have minimum legal ages to stay home alone, which range from 6 to 14 and some states require the child to be at least 10 years old to 12 years old.
For example in Maryland and North Carolina the legal and minimum age for a child to stay home alone is 8.
The legal and minimum age for a child to stay home alone in Georgia is 9 years to 12 years old.
The legal minimum age for a child to stay home alone in Kentucky is 11 years old.
The legal minimum age for a child to stay home alone in Illinois is 14.
But other states like Washington, California, Florida and Tennessee don't have a legal minimum age for a child to stay home alone, but they do offer specific guidelines and recommendations.
And in states that don't have a specific law on the age that a child can stay home alone, child protective services can still get involved if a child is left in a dangerous situation.
And even without a legal minimum age for the child to be left home alone, you should also consider your child's maturity level, like the child's ability to follow rules, handle emergencies and be responsible.
Some kids are ready to be left alone at home at younger ages than others, depending on the child's individual maturity level.
You should also discuss any rules and expectations with your child to ensure they have a way of contacting you in case of an emergency.