Does a babysitter need to be a certain age to watch your children in Texas? What to know
Working parents may be looking for babysitters to watch their children this summer, but legally how old must they be in Texas?
The average babysitting rate for the country is $23.61 an hour, according to childcare website Urban Sitter. In Dallas-Fort Worth, the average hourly babysitting rate is $19.52 an hour.
When it comes to babysitters in Texas, is there a law about how old they have to be to watch children? Here’s what to know:
Is there a Texas law on how old a babysitter has to be?
Nope, there are no Texas laws on how old a babysitter has to be to watch children.
While there is no minimum age requirement in Texas, the American Red Cross recommends that babysitters be at least 11 years old. The organization also offers a babysitting training program designed for teens aged 11-15.
How old does a child need to be to stay home alone in Texas?
There is no Texas law in regards to how old a child needs to be to stay home, according to Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
However, the agency states that adequate supervision is critical in keeping children safe. When deciding on how closely to supervise a child, the TDFPS recommends checking a few things:
- How old, emotionally mature and capable is the child.
- The layout and safety of the home.
- If there are any hazards or risks in the neighborhood.
- How many children are to be left unsupervised.
- Does the child know where the adult is and can they be easily contacted.
What are the child endangerment laws in Texas?
Child endangerment or abandonment is defined by the state as a means to leave a child in any place without providing them reasonable and necessary care.
Under Texas Penal Code section 22.041, a person commits an offense when:
“Having custody, care, or control of a child younger than 15 years, he intentionally abandons the child in any place under circumstances that expose the child to an unreasonable risk of harm.”
The penalty for this offense is a state jail felony if the person abandoned the child or a third-degree felony if the person abandoned the child without intent to return for the child.
Another child endangerment offense happens when a person:
“Knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence, by act or omission, engages in conduct that places a child younger than 15 years in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment.”
The penalty for this offense is a state jail felony.
