The kind of supervision children need depends on their age, maturity, abilities, and surroundings. Adequate supervision is essential to keeping kids safe. An adult caregiver is accountable for the child's care, and inadequate supervision can be a type of neglect (neglectful supervision). Here are some of things you should think about when deciding how closely to supervise a child:

• How old, emotionally mature, and capable is your child?

• What is the layout and safety of the home, play area, or other setting?

• What are the hazards and risks in the neighborhood?

• What is your child's ability to respond to illness, fire, weather, or other types of emergencies?

• Does your child have a mental, physical, or medical disability?

• How many children are being left unsupervised?

• Do they know where you are?

• Can they contact you or other responsible adults?

• How long and how often is the child (or children) left alone?

Many states do not have laws that create a minimum age at which children may be left home without the supervision of a teenager or adult. The states that do have a minimum legal age to be home alone usually place it in the 10-14 years range—and many states provide that children age 0-6 may never be left home alone. Child Protective Services may investigate an incident or situation and determine that there was neglectful supervision of a child or children, and in some cases seek to remove the child or children from the custody of the parent or parents.

In Iowa, there is no specific law that states a minimum age at which children can be left home alone. However, the Iowa Department of Human Services provides guidelines suggesting that children under the age of 12 are generally not mature enough to handle emergencies and should not be left home alone for an extended period. The adequacy of supervision must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, considering factors such as the child's age, maturity, abilities, and the safety of the environment. If Child Protective Services (CPS) receives a report of inadequate supervision, they will investigate to determine if neglect has occurred. Neglectful supervision can lead to intervention by CPS, including the possibility of removing the child from the home if the child's safety is at risk. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to assess all relevant factors, including those listed in the topic description, to ensure that children are adequately supervised at all times.