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 Virginia, there is no specific law that states a minimum age at which a child can be left alone at home. However, the Virginia Department of Social Services provides guidelines suggesting that children under the age of 8 should not be left alone, children aged 8-9 should not be left alone for more than 1.5 hours during daylight and early evening hours, and children aged 10-12 may be left alone for up to 3 hours but not late at night or in circumstances requiring inappropriate responsibility. The adequacy of supervision is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, considering factors such as the child's age, maturity, abilities, and the safety of the environment. Inadequate supervision may be considered neglectful supervision, which is a form of child neglect. If Child Protective Services (CPS) determines that a child is not being adequately supervised, they may investigate and potentially remove the child from the home. It is important for caregivers to assess all relevant factors, including the child's ability to respond to emergencies and whether they can contact a responsible adult if needed, to ensure the child's safety when left unsupervised.