Full question:
What is the minimum age a child can be left alone to get themselves up and off to school?
- Category: Child Abuse
- Date:
- State: Washington
Answer:
In Washington, child neglect refers to the negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child by someone responsible for their welfare, which can indicate harm to the child's health or safety. This includes both actions and failures to act. The law does not specify a minimum age for leaving a child alone or requiring supervision.
According to Washington law:
- Child: Any person under eighteen years of age.
- Abuse or neglect: This includes injury or negligent treatment of a child under circumstances that threaten their health and safety.
- Negligent treatment: This means actions or omissions that show serious disregard for the child's well-being, creating a clear danger to their health and safety.
It's important to note that simply sharing a bedroom with siblings does not constitute neglect.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.