In El Paso, it’s common to see children walking around unsupervised, which raises questions about the legality of such practices. A recent high-profile case in Georgia, where a mother was arrested after her 10-year-old son walked alone to the store, sparked national debate about the appropriate age for kids to be out on their own. While some states have specific laws or guidelines—like Illinois requiring children to be at least 14 to be left alone—Texas does not have a set age for when children can walk unsupervised. Instead, Texas law prohibits leaving children under 15 in potentially harmful situations, leaving the decision largely to parental judgment.

Texas’ Department of Family and Protective Services suggests children under 12 probably shouldn’t be left home alone, but there is no strict legal cutoff. This ambiguity means parents must assess their child’s maturity and safety risks when deciding if they can be unsupervised. The article highlights the varying rules across states and emphasizes that in Texas, the line between safe independence and neglect is subjective, relying heavily on individual circumstances and parental discretion.