When is it Okay to Leave Children Home Alone?

At what age can parents leave their children home alone? While there are no concrete laws in our country that govern this, most counties have developed guidelines through their Child and Protective Service Agencies that can help parents make informed decisions about leaving their children on their own. These guidelines generally take into consideration:

• The maturity level of the child or children
• The accessibility of the parents or other designated adult during their absence
• How well the parent has prepared the child to be on his own
• How safe the home environment is for the child
• The length of time the child is left alone
• The comfort level of the child being left home alone

For the mature, well-prepared child, being home alone can be a positive and rewarding experience. In a recent study by the Department of Health and Human Services, 90 percent of parents questioned reported positive results from their child's self-care situation. These benefits included an increased sense of independence and newly acquired home safety skills. In the same vein, children who are left alone prematurely may experience loneliness, fear, and rejection. If left alone consistently they may become delinquent, do more poorly in school and suffer harm through accidents or sexual abuse. Ultimately it is up to each parent to determine his or her child's readiness to be left on his own.

Assessing Your Child's Readiness

The following questions will help you determine whether your child is ready to be home alone:

• Is your child physically capable of handling himself around the house without getting injured?
• Can your child handle keys and door locks to avoid being locked inside or outside your home?
• Can your child operate small appliances safely in your absence?
• Will your child be able to be home alone without feeling scared or lonely?
• Is your child free of withdrawn, hostile or self-destructive behavior?
• Is your child able to handle the unexpected without getting upset?
• Is your child able to follow important rules?
• Does your child express an interest in being home on her own?
• Can your child understand and follow verbal or written instructions?
• Will your child be able to work out solutions to basic problems without your help?
• Can your child read and write?
• Will your child be able to find something to do when alone, without getting into trouble?
• Is your child able to ask for help from friends, neighbors and police when needed?
• Is your child willing and able to call the police for help?
• Does your child understand the role of police, firefighters and rescue squads?
• Does your child get along well with other children in your family as well as neighborhood kids and adults?
• Will your child be able to reach you in your absence?
• Will you be available in an emergency? Have you designated another trustworthy adult that is close by who will be available in an emergency?
• Do you and your child both feel your community is reasonably safe?

If you answered yes to all of the questions above and have determined that your child is ready to be home alone, be sure to take the proper precautions.

Preparing Your Child for Self-Care

• Provide your child with the telephone number of a trustworthy adult nearby and make sure he or she will be available.
• Provide your child with a number where you can be reached.
• Provide her with emergency telephone numbers and practice making these calls with her.
• Walk through your home with your child and point out smoke alarms, door locks, exit routes and first aid kits, discussing the importance of each item.
• Decide together on rules for preparing snacks, talking on the telephone, leaving the house, having friends over, watching TV or movies, using the internet and doing chores or homework. Be very specific and set consequences in the event the rules are broken.
• Keep your door locked and inform your child not to let anyone in the house.
• Inform your child about how to handle severe weather situations or blackouts.

To access your county's guidelines contact Child Welfare Information Gateway at 1-800-394-3366. You will find that most counties recommend time limits for leaving children of specific ages home alone. Most experts agree that a mature 11 or 12 year-old child is probably capable of being on his/her own for at least 2 hours.

Source

Source: Martino, D. (2004; Reviewed 2008). When is it OK to leave children home alone? Raleigh, NC: Workplace Benefits.

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