Question: Are parents allowed to lock children in their bedrooms? If so, what is the max amount of time allowed?
Answer: Parents have the right and the duty of care, custody and control of their children. They may do whatever is reasonable to exercise their right and duty. The question is whether their action is reasonable and it depends upon the facts of each specific circumstance.
Parents certainly cannot lock a child in a bedroom and then go out to a party. That would place the child in an unsafe situation and would constitute child neglect.
It would probably be unreasonable to lock a child in a room without bathroom breaks for too long a time, or where there is no fresh air, or where there are dangerous fumes or other threats to the health and safety of the child. They would also have to be certain that the temperature in the room was reasonable, and perhaps that water was available. It would probably be unreasonable to lock a child in a room without light, at least in the daytime.
One would also have to consider how often this occurred, and for what reasons the child was locked in their room. If this is the only way that a parent can get this particular child to sit down and do homework, and it only occurs every school day for one hour, it might very well be acceptable. There is no specific law in Arizona regarding acceptable conditions. The matter would be up to a court to decide whether the parent's actions were reasonable.
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On 05/29/09
lock u from IL said:
I do not believe children should be locked up in their rooms. It is just wrong!!!!!!!!!!! They are not animals and should not be treated as such. You can place the child in their room but the door should not be locked. Especially if the parent wants to Party with their friends!!!! It is wrong.. If they do it once then how long are they locking them in their room? For all you know they could be leaving them in there all day. for five year olds especially!!!!!!!!! If you believe the child should be locked in their room then let me lock you up and see how you like it. IT IS WRONG!!!!!!
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On 03/11/09
KAte from CA said:
My friend's mom always yells at her and says things to lower my friend's confidence. I have witnessed that, but lately, my friend has been telling me her mom is hitting her and has shown me bruises. After receiving my friends report card (with 4 F's, 1 D, an A, and a B) my friends mom put her on "lockdown" this included being locked in her room from before school starts to when it ends. her mom covered her walls with white paper and took everything out except her bed and her dresser. Nothing in the dresser or closet. Her mom then took her blankets and gave her a thin blanket and a pillow.
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On 02/19/09
Tandy from Othr said:
My nephew (4) used to get up at 2am while everyone was asleep and not tell anyone that he was awake. He'd go downstairs, watch TV and make himself breakfast which on a good day was cookies. I say "on a good day" because on a bad day he'd try to cook. No amount of instruction could convince him to tell us when he woke up or to convince him to stay in his room until everyone else woke up so I suggested to my sister that perhaps a sliding chain lock could help keep him in while he got into the habit. She wrote that off as child abuse, but I didn't think it unreasonable. Better than a fire!
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On 11/05/08
HELP from IA said:
I have a child who has expressed interests in killing and disposing of bodies. Shrink Dr's of course he sees one and counselors all of which will not take this seriously. Me on the other hand have a duty not only to him but to his 4 younger siblings a duty to protect. And my answers is YES he will be locked in his room at night (with a fire alarm in there) when I sleep and cannot monitor his actions. And by the way I'm not the bad guy here, I'm the adoptive mom trying to pick up the pieces of a shattered past. This is a touchy subject but there are times when it is the only way.
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On 02/26/08
heathe from MD said:
on the 25th of february 2008 my 11 year old brother that is special ed was put in a locked room at school for over hour there was only one little window on the door it looked like a jail sell there was hardly no light in there they even took his shoes off of him I just want to say I don't care how bad a child is you do not lock them up if there was a fire you know anything will they remember there is a kid lock in room
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