Can a twelve year old cjild be left at home for 10 hours or more a day?

Question

Recently found out that my tweleve year old daughter was left at home for 10 hours a more by herself. She was suspended at school for fightening and received a three day susupension from school. The step-mother would take her five month child to day day care and leave my daughter at home by herself with very little food. The step-mother also locked the phone away in her room so my daughter could not talk on the phone. I contacted Child potective services in Texas and they told me since was daughter was of age no crime was commited. They said any school age child can be left at home by their self even if they did not have any communication. The step-mother wasnt worried about my daughter talking to friends, they would be at school any way, she was worried about my daughter calling me! Is this true and what can I do about this incidence. Her father does'nt care! He has custody because i let her go stay with him for 1 year so she could go to a better school, and he sued me for cus

Answer 1

Good grief!! What a crazy thing to happen. Any idiot could see that this is not a good situation. I hope you can find someone on your side who will help you get your daughter out of that home.

Twelve year old children do not have the maturity it takes to be alone that long. And, I imagine she was extremely frustrated and frightened by that. No wonder she's fighting at school! The home situation is making her have to take out her insecurities and feelings out on someone else.

I really hope you can find help for her. Maybe a school counselor?

Answer 2

I would say that yes, she is fine to stay home alone, but not without some means of communication. She really needs to have a phone in order to contact someone in the event of an emergency. Also, although "very little food" could mean a lot of things, she should have some means of getting a meal together if she is going to be home that long. Healthy snacks and easy things like sandwitches should be around for her. I would say the best way to go about dealing with this would be to talk very civilly to your ex-husband, and just mention that you are concerned that she doesn't have any means of getting help in an emergency and that she may be hungry if there is no food. If you can keep personal concerns (ie your daughter wanted to call you) out of the conversation, you will probably be able to make progress. Good luck.

Answer 3

at the starting up, no respected breeder should be supplying you with an 8 week previous doggy. noticeably a toy breed. it will be left with the mum and muddle associates for no less than 10 to twelve weeks. no matter if the mum can no longer nurse the pups for some type of medical project, the doggy needs to stay the position that is for perfect socialization. With that pronounced, leaving a tiny doggy on my own for 8 to 10 hours is an noticeably undesirable theory. you should locate someone who can come over and enable the doggy out a pair cases in the course of the day and likewise spend somewhat time taking section in with the doggy etc. he's very a lot a toddler and calls for further care and interest than an human being canines. Please carry off a lengthy time period and enable the doggy stay with mom some extra weeks. that is going to likely be extra perfect on everyone. EDIT: In maximum states that is the regulation that pups no longer go away their moms in the previous 8 weeks of age. And, respected breeders of toy breeds frequently do no longer enable their pups go away till they're 10 -12 weeks previous. although, this is a not person-friendly idea for funds-hungry, unreputable breeders who can't wait to promote off their sub-wide-spread pups.

Answer 4

In most states 12 years is considered an acceptable age to be left home alone. In fact tht is the age when they are legaly old enough to babysit.

But it depends on the indviual child's maturity level and how responsible he or she is. although 10 hours is still a long time for any child to be left alone. and she needs to be able to have food available, and a way to contact someone in case of emergency.

If you feel your daughter is haveing trouble where she is you should try and file for custody. (Expecially if she is getting in trouble at school) in some states the child is old enough to decide for herself what parent she wants to live with.

Answer 5

Locking the phone away is what makes that a dangerous situation. Your daughter could not call for help if she was being attacked, or if there was a fire. At the Texas Dept. of Family and Protective Services, that is against the law. The website is below.

Answer 6

i don't if that is right but I'm sure it is not that much of a worry.it depends on the child sometimes(if it's afraid of staying alone,or if it's ''little devil'' himself...)if it's a good idea to live him/her alone.
when i was 11-12 i was left home alone several times and believe me,i had no problem.
but you say ''leave my daughter at home by herself with very little food''.that puts me thinking:does she do that on purpose???
and i don't really agree on hiding the phone.she could just lock the ''bad'' numbers.
my suggestion is that before you move legally on her,you should first talk with your daughter and with the step-mother...
what ever happens i hope your daughter is well and wish good luck!

Answer 7

No, especially since the child doesn't sound competent if she is getting into fights and being supended. She might be doing those things because the parents are awful. I was left alone younger than that, but I don't recommend it.

Answer 8

get a lawyer and try to have the child custody changed, or get custody changed to both of you having custody.....the step-mom is mean and you should call the police and report child left alone. 12 years old is not "of age" in my book. good luck

Answer 9

I'm not sure about the state of Texas since laws vary from state to state,but sounds like abuse to me.

Answer 10

Why aren't YOU raising your own child....and you would not have to be concerned with the step-mother.

get yourself together and raise your daughter and daddy not caring wont matter.