Can children shop alone in stores without their parents? Here’s GA law
Whether you want to let your child do your grocery shopping for you or just want some time alone to shop at the mall, there are a few things Georgia parents need to know before letting their child go shopping by themselves.
How young is too young to shop alone?
While there is no specific Georgia law about what age parents can let their children go shopping unsupervised, there are other guidelines to know.
According to the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), here are some parental supervision guidelines to follow:
- Children eight years or younger should not be left alone.
- Children between the ages of nine years and 12 years, based on level of maturity, may be left alone for brief (less than two hours) periods of time.
So, can you get in trouble for letting your children shop alone?
Sure, there’s no law about it, but you still can get into trouble if someone files a complaint with DFCS.
“If your child is given large amounts of independence—especially if such independence is inappropriate for their age—someone could make a report with DCFS, who may investigate and attempt to work with your family to come up with a plan to ensure the parents are meeting their child’s mental, physical, and emotional needs,” said a representative with Coil Law Professionals.
To ensure your child’s safety, here are some other things to consider.
According to Care.com, parents should also ask the following questions before letting their child go somewhere alone:
- Take a look at where your child will be walking, and even the area around it if they wander.
- Is there a proper sidewalk or bike lane?
- Are there places to stop for help or to go to the bathroom?
- Is it well-lit and lively? Does it have proper traffic lights and pedestrian crossings?
- Is there a destination point or a meeting place if your child gets lost, tired, scared or sick?
Do you have more questions? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com.
This story was originally published June 11, 2025 at 7:45 AM with the headline "Can children shop alone in stores without their parents? Here’s GA law."
