There is no specific law in Victoria that says what age children can be left alone. Victorian law is clear however, that it is a parent's responsibility to ensure that their children are appropriately and safely cared for.
No legal age for leaving children home alone
There's no one law in Australia that says how old your child has to be before you can leave them alone. In Queensland, if you leave a child under 12 years of age for an unreasonable amount of time without supervision and care, you have committed a criminal offence.
Age to Babysit in Victoria
The Commission for Children and Young People (Victoria) states that there is no law in Victoria stating what age a babysitter needs to be. The parents must judge how suitable the babysitter is.
While every child is different, we wouldn't recommend leaving a child under 12 years old home alone, particularly for longer periods of time. Children in primary school aged 6-12 are usually too young to walk home from school alone, babysit or cook for themselves without adult supervision.
Some children have the maturity to start babysitting as early as age 12 or 13. Others are better off waiting until they're older teenagers. Before you let your tween babysit, demand the same qualifications that you would from any babysitter you are considering hiring.
Can a 10 year old babysit? Yes, as long as he or she is responsible, mature, and knows how to take care of smaller children.
Home Alone has a strong cast, a lot of slapstick comedy, and some positive and important messages. But because of its violence, coarse language and some sexual references, it isn't suitable for children under 7 years and we recommend parental guidance for children aged up to 10 years.
Children left unsupervised often exhibit higher levels of fear, stress, loneliness and boredom. They are also at a greater risk to be involved in accidents and to be victimized by strangers, siblings, and friends. Children left home alone may also be more vulnerable to sexual abuse due to their easier access.
13-15 years old may babysit infants and children but not overnight. 16 years old and older may watch children overnight.
From 14 years, children are considered fully responsible if they break the law. It doesn't have to be proved that they knew their behaviour was 'seriously wrong'. Children aged 10-17 years are generally treated as 'children' by the police and the children's courts.
However, most states do not have a minimum age requirement for babysitting. However, there are two states that have established a minimum age for babysitting. In Illinois, the minimum age to babysit is 14 years old, while in Maryland, the minimum age is 13 years old.
Once you turn 16, you won't normally be forced to return home by the authorities as long as you've got a safe place to go and you can financially support yourself. If you're under 18 and leave home, the police and Child Safety may investigate the reasons why you left home.
There is no law that says what age you can leave home.
You can leave home at any age providing you have a safe place to go to. If you leave home and are considered to be in physical or moral danger then the Police or Department of Child Protection & Family Services may become involved.
There is no agreed-upon age when a child can stay home alone safely. Because children mature at different rates, you should not base your decision on age alone. You may want to evaluate your child's maturity and how he or she has demonstrated responsible behavior in the past.
When can I move out of home? There is no law about what age you can leave home, but your parents generally have to look after you until you're 18. The most important thing is you have a safe place to live.
A latchkey kid, or latchkey child, is a child who returns to an empty home after school (or other activities) or a child who is often left at home with no supervision because their parents are away at work.
It is estimated over 40% of children are left home at some time, though rarely overnight. In more extreme situations, some children spend so much time without their parents that these children are labeled "latch key children," referring to the house or apartment key strung visibly around their neck.
Latchkey child first recorded 1944, American English, in reference to children coming home from school while both parents are away at work. The older or simpler device was a latch-string, which could be pulled in to lock up; having it out was symbolic of openness.
The theme of scary terrorists roaming the neighbourhood and threatening a young boy with guns is likely to scare some children. Therefore, Home Alone 3 is unsuitable for children under 8 years, and we recommend parental guidance for children aged 8-10 years.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York sticks with the slapstick formula that worked so well for its predecessor. But Kevin's antics in this movie are crueller and his victims more hapless, so the laughs feel cheaper. The slapstick violence is also extreme, so this isn't a movie for younger children.
This all changed when the show moved to Channel Five in 2001, although very minor edits to some scenes remain, and the closing credits to the episodes were also reinstated. Home and Away is rated PS (recommended for a mature audience) in Ireland and has always aired with no edits.
Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12. No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult.
The film contains scenes where sex paraphernalia are used in non-sexual contexts for humorous effect. While this makes the film unsuitable for young children, the material is unlikely to be harmful to teenagers as the sexual meaning is akin to "toilet humour".
The Common Sense experts say the show is fine for kids 13+, while both parents and kids agree the show is appropriate for ages 12+.