Child Alone at Home – Legal Minimum Age?

The Spanish Law does not establish a minimum age for chilren to be left alone. The Civil Code, article 172 defines ´parental neglect´ in this respect when a child is ¨deprived of moral or material assistance¨. Continued or repeated deprivation can lead to sanctions and even loss of guardianship.

The national Ombudsman who has been contacted on numerous cases of parental neglect, states in his guideline that one should take the maturity of the child into account, and thus his or her sense of responsibility and abilities to face and respond adequately to unforeseen or emergency situations. The majority of experts agree that a child should reach this level of maturity between the ages of 7 to 12.

Don´t forget to leave a contact telephone number, emergency numbers and preferably alert a neighbour or good friend if your child is alone on a regular basis.

Please note: The information provided is based upon our understanding of current legislation. It is not legal advice but is provided freely to enable you to be properly informed. We recommend that if you are considering taking action, you should seek professional advice.