What Age Can You Leave Your Child Home Alone Legally in Illinois?

Before you leave your 13-year-old home alone in Illinois, read this.

I'm trying to remember how old I was when I first started babysitting.

I had to have been somewhere between 12-years-old and 14, but honestly I have no idea when. Was I breaking Illinois law?

According to Illinois Policy, my parents quite possible could have been.

Under Illinois law, which you can read the entire law here, parents who leave their 13-year-old or younger children home alone may be guilty of neglect.

Illinois Law States, from the General Assembly:

...any minor under the age of 14 years whose parent or other person responsible for the minor's welfare leaves the minor without supervision for an unreasonable period of time without regard for the mental or physical health, safety, or welfare of that minor...

...is considered neglect.

You can be prosecuted by the law for neglect of a child.

So does this mean that a parent should not leave their child younger then 14 home alone? Let me know what you think in the comments below.