A Lehigh Acres mother is arrested for leaving her toddlers home alone after a neighbor saw them playing at a construction site.
Lee County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested Darline Sain Val, 30, Friday morning. They say she left her kids home alone last night, and a neighbor saw them playing at a construction site next door. The kids are only 2, 3 and 5 years old.
Alicia Shannon is the CEO of the Children's Advocacy Center.
"There isn't a set or legal age that you're allowed to leave your kids at home alone in Florida. But really, experts recommend any child under the age of 7 is probably unlikely to be able to take care of themselves," Shannon said.
Shannon also said it's incredibly dangerous for young kids to play outside unsupervised, especially in Southwest Florida.
"Florida is the third highest in the nation for child deaths on vehicles, on streets, and bicycles. And we're the number one state in the nation for child deaths under the age of 5 for drowning," Shannon said.
According to reports, Sain Val told deputies she needed to work and had no one else to look after her kids.
Shannons says there is always a better option.
"There's always someone. There's many nonprofits out there that can help you. You're definitely not alone. It could be much worse for you if you do leave your kids alone like that and something happens to them, which is, I'm sure, not your intention. You're trying to work to provide for them," Shannon said.
If you see something like this happening in your neighborhood, Shannon said you should call 911 and stay with your kids until police arrive. Don't bring the kids inside with you or take them somewhere else.