Between holiday shopping and ugly Christmas sweater parties, sometimes kids are best left at home. But opinions are mixed on what age staying home alone is okay.
The legal age for kids to stay at home alone varies from state to state.
Iowa has no minimum age, and neither do Wisconsin and Indiana.
In Michigan, the minimum age is 11.
And in Illinois, the strictest of all states, a child has to be 14.
For a full list of states click here.
Illinois law says a child can't be left for an "unreasonable period of time without regard for mental or physical health, safety, or welfare of that minor.
Police say it's vague, and they handle all incidents on a case-by-case basis.
Others agree.
"There is no magic age. It's not like once your child has a birthday they're going to magically be able to stay home alone. Every child's going to be different just as every child develops differently," says Child Abuse Council director Angie Kendall.
Kendall says there are a few things to consider before leaving a child home alone. Parents need to think about how long the child will be alone, whether anyone else is there with them, whether they can access help if they need it from a neighbor or by using the phone, and whether they are caring for another child.
Kendall says even if someone is out at a holiday party having a few drinks, they're not off the hook.
"You are still responsible for making sure you can get to that kiddo if they need help. And that's really important. You may not be there, but they need to be able to access you if they need help," Kendall said.