Q. At what age is it safe to leave your child alone? My husband thinks that it is OK to leave our 10-year-old son home alone while we go out for a few hours. I think he is too young. Are there guidelines for this situation?

The panel pointed out that there are only three states that have laws regulating a minimum age for leaving a child alone: Illinois, age 14; Maryland, age 8; Oregon, age 10.

“The ages are all over the place,” panelist Pam Wallace said.

“Which explains why there aren’t more laws,’ panelist Erin Stalsitz said. “There are guidelines, but no laws in Pennsylvania. It depends on a child’s maturity, and if he knows how to look out for dangers.”

Wallace said that the parents need to consider if their son is mature enough to be left alone. ”Is he able to make good decisions? Does he know how to call 911; how to handle an emergency?”

“It is up to the parents to teach their children these things,” said panelist Wanda Mercado-Arroyo.

Panelist Denise Continenza suggested having a trial period. “Begin by leaving him alone for a short period of time. Start with 15 minutes, then 20 minutes.” She also recommended role-playing as a way to teach the boy how to manage possible situations, such as visitors at the door or phone calls, in ways that don’t reveal that his parents aren’t at home.

Stalsitz said the parents also need to establish guidelines for the boy while he is alone, such as: no cooking: “There should also be rules about use of the telephone, the TV, computers and other electronic devices. Especially, include the Internet.”

Wallace urged the parents to make sure the child knows where they are going to be, and suggested providing a cell phone with speed-dial to the parents’ phone number.

If the family lives in a dangerous part of town, or in an isolated area, Continenza said it would not be a good idea to ever leave a child alone.

The most important thing to consider, Stalsitz said, is if the child is afraid to be left alone: “If he is scared, no matter what he knows or what the parents discuss with him, he should not be left alone.”

For information on child supervision, the panel recommended: findlaw.com.

There also is information on child-alone issues at: childwelfare.gov.

This week’s team of parenting experts are: Pam Wallace, Program Coordinator, Project Child, a program of Valley Youth House; Denise Continenza, extension educator; Wanda Mercado-Arroyo, former teacher and school administrator, and Erin Stalsitz, Lehigh County Children and Youth Casework Supervisor.

Have a question? Email: projectchild@projectchildlv.org

The Family Project is a collaboration of the Lehigh Valley Press Focus section and Valley Youth House’s Project Child.

The Times News, Inc., and affiliates (Lehigh Valley Press) do not endorse or recommend any medical products, processes, or services or provide medical advice. The views of the columnist and column do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Lehigh Valley Press. The article content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, or other qualified health-care provider, with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.