Does CT law specify a minimum age for leaving a child home alone?

Connecticut law does not set a minimum age for leaving a child home alone.

But according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, experts generally recommend that children under 11 or 12 not be left alone. The academy, the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and federal officials advise weighing factors such as maturity, comfort level and the length of time unsupervised to make a decision. Leaving younger children alone overnight is widely discouraged, with many guidelines suggesting waiting until at least the mid-teen years for that kind of responsibility.

While Connecticut leaves supervision decisions largely to parents, it imposes limits in other specific situations. Under Connecticut General Statutes § 53-21a, it is a crime to knowingly leave a child under age 12 unsupervised in a public place or a motor vehicle “for a period of time that presents a substantial risk to the child’s health or safety.”